Who Would Like This Book:
Ken Liu delivers another mind-bending mix of sci-fi and fantasy tales, exploring everything from digital immortality to climate disaster and the future of consciousness. With his trademark mix of razor-sharp ideas and heartfelt character moments, these stories dig deep into the ethical and emotional fallout of technology and humanity in crisis. Fans of thought-provoking speculative fiction (think Ted Chiang or Ray Bradbury), or anyone who loves examining the big 'what ifs' of our future, will find a lot to chew on here. The interconnected stories are a treat for readers who enjoy piecing together hidden threads.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer your sci-fi light and uplifting, be warned - many stories here are quite dark, with themes like climate collapse and family grief. Some readers might miss the lighter touch or unique flavor of Liu's earlier work, or find the repeated focus on digital consciousness and parental relationships a bit much. There’s also a density of big ideas that can feel overwhelming if you binge-read, and a few stories may feel emotionally distant or heavy-handed to some.
About:
Ken Liu's 'The Hidden Girl and Other Stories' is a collection of thought-provoking short stories that delve into themes such as technology, artificial intelligence, dystopian futures, and the human condition. Through a blend of science fiction and fantasy, Liu weaves together stories that explore the impact of digitized consciousness, climate change, wealth inequality, and the consequences of modern-day colonialism. The writing style is described as enchanting, balancing brilliant storytelling with elements of traditional Chinese beliefs and societal reflections.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include depictions of grief, mass shootings, mental health issues, and themes of existential dread.
From The Publisher:
"I know this is going to sound hyperbolic, but when I'm reading Ken Liu's stories, I feel like I'm reading a once-in-a-generation talent. I'm in awe." -Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author
"Captivating." -BuzzFeed
"Extraordinary." -The Washington Post
"Brilliant." -The Chicago Tribune
With the release of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, Ken Liu's short fiction has resonated with a generation of readers.
From stories about time-traveling assassins, to Black Mirror-esque tales of cryptocurrency and internet trolling, to heartbreaking narratives of parent-child relationships, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories is a far-reaching work that explores topical themes from the present and a visionary look at humanity's future.
This collection includes a selection of Liu's speculative fiction stories over the past five years-seventeen of his best-plus a new novelette. In addition, it also features an excerpt from The Veiled Throne, the third book in Liu's epic fantasy series The Dandelion Dynasty.
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3 comment(s)
I did really love this collection of short stories!
Loved this collection of loosely connected short stories by Ken Liu, some of them seemed like episodes of Black Mirror, some were dangerously close to what we see these days around us and a couple made me cry.
Great collection of speculative fiction stories. Singularity, consciousness upload are the main themes of many stories and they are interwoven with other historical standard SF stories. Having non west point of view in majority of stories makes it a different reading experience.
What can you read after
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories?
About the Author:
Ken Liu is an award-winning American author of speculative fiction. His collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. Liu's other works include The Grace of Kings, The Wall of Storms, The Veiled Throne, and a second collection The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. He has been involved in multiple media adaptations of his work including the short story "Good Hunting," adapted as an episode in Netflix's animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC's Pantheon, adapted from an interconnected series of short stories. "The Hidden Girl," "The Message," and "The Cleaners" have also been optioned for development. Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on topics including futurism, cryptocurrency, the history of technology, and the value of storytelling. Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.
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