Ken Liu, an author and translator, gathers sixteen stories in this volume, which mix science fiction, fantasy, and historical elements. In the title story, a young woman in ancient China trains as an assassin under a mentor. Other stories look at memory, technology, and family, and move between historical settings and imagined futures. The collection draws on Chinese history and on Liu's interest in technology and memory, with a wide range of tones, from the intimate to the epic.
It suits readers of speculative short fiction and those who enjoyed Liu's earlier collection, The Paper Menagerie. Anyone who likes stories that mix Eastern and Western influences can sample many styles here.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- EN
