Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation

by Ken Liu
Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation cover
Good Books rating 4.5
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 2141
  • Added: 2025-10-12
  • Updated: 2025-10-12
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 2
Reviews
bookmarks.reviews · Unknown · 2025-10-17
excellent 4.50

The collection offers a diverse and engaging selection of contemporary Chinese science fiction, with some stories standing out as particularly excellent and thought-provoking. The inclusion of essays on the history and rise of Chinese science fiction adds valuable context.

This anthology provides a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant world of contemporary Chinese science fiction. The stories are varied in theme and style, with some being particularly captivating and original. Highlights include 'Goodnight, Melancholy' by Xia Jia, 'Moonlight' by Liu Cixin, and 'The First Emperor’s Games' by Ma Boyong. The collection is well-balanced, offering a mix of well-known and new voices. Additionally, the essays included at the end provide insightful background on the growth and significance of science fiction in China, making this a well-rounded and enriching read.

Quick quotes

    The collection offers a diverse and engaging selection of contemporary Chinese science fiction, with some stories standing out as particularly excellent and thought-provoking.

    The inclusion of essays on the history and rise of Chinese science fiction adds valuable context.

    This anthology provides a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant world of contemporary Chinese science fiction.

bookmarks.reviews · Unknown · 2019-02-19
exciting 4.50

Broken Stars is a collection of contemporary Chinese science fiction stories that offers a broad and engaging look at the genre. The anthology features a mix of established and new authors, with stories that blend magical realism and science fiction, explore themes of time and consciousness, and provide insights into Chinese culture and politics. The translations by Ken Liu are praised for their ability to convey distinctive voices and cultural nuances.

Broken Stars is a collection of contemporary Chinese science fiction stories that offers a broad and engaging look at the genre. The anthology features a mix of established and new authors, with stories that blend magical realism and science fiction, explore themes of time and consciousness, and provide insights into Chinese culture and politics. The translations by Ken Liu are praised for their ability to convey distinctive voices and cultural nuances. The collection includes a variety of tones, from whimsical to poignant, and tackles current political and cultural situations through the lens of speculative fiction. The stories are memorable, clever, and often lyrical, making the collection a rewarding read for those interested in exploring Chinese science fiction.

Quick quotes

    Liu is almost supernaturally great at sharing stories that are, if nothing else, memorable — and, in most cases, that are also clever and strange, lyrical and addictive.

    The lovely and richly imagined 'Under a Dangling Sky' and 'The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales' brilliantly mix magical realism and science fiction to create a new kind of evocative subgenre.

    The eclecticism of these works provides testament to the breadth, allure, and challenges of Chinese-language SF as a genre that miraculously thrives even in the repressive atmosphere of the Xi Jinping era.

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