Scan barcode
A review by april_does_feral_sometimes
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories by Ken Liu
4.0
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories' by Ken Liu is a fantastic short-story collection. The stories use state-of-art speculative science fiction ideas to explore the intersection of human relationships and technology. I am very much reminded of the stories by Arthur C. Clarke.
Below is a copy of the cover blurb as it is accurate:
From award-winning author Ken Liu comes his much anticipated second volume of short stories.
Ken Liu is one of the most lauded short story writers of our time. This collection includes a selection of his science fiction and fantasy stories from the last five years — sixteen of his best — plus a new novelette.
In addition to these seventeen selections, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories also features an excerpt from the forthcoming book three in the Dandelion Dynasty series, "The Veiled Throne".
Contents:
- Ghost Days (2013)
- Maxwell's Demon (2012)
- The Reborn (2014)
- Thoughts and Prayers (2019)
- Byzantine Empathy (2018)
- The Gods Will Not Be Chained (2014)
- Staying Behind (2011)
- Real Artists (2011)
- The Gods Will Not Be Slain (2014)
- Altogether Elsewhere, Vast Herds of Reindeer (2011)
- The Gods Have Not Died in Vain (2015)
- Memories of My Mother (2012)
- Dispatches from the Cradle: The Hermit - Forty-Eight Hours in the Sea of Massachusetts (2016)
- Grey Rabbit, Crimson Mare, Coal Leopard (2020)
- A Chase Beyond the Storms: An excerpt from "The Veiled Throne", Book 3 of the Dandelion Dynasty
- The Hidden Girl (2017)
- Seven Birthdays (2016)
- The Message (2012)
- Cutting (2012)
Most of the stories are about an Earth which either is on its way to or has become uninhabitable because of global warming and resource mismanagement. People debate the ethics of killing themselves and uploading their minds, becoming computerized digital people - the world of the Singularity is a choice a majority are making! Some resist uploading, and there are consequences from staying alive "in the flesh" in a world which is losing most of its population. Half of the stories are connected to a previous story, jumping ahead generations in a family. A few stories are about genetic manipulation or using another spacial dimension of reality which seemed more like a fantasy, but still good. Some stories are set millennia into the future where exploring other solar systems is taking place. All of the stories focus on the characters or family life rather than the technology. I really enjoyed myself in reading this book! The writing is so reminiscent of Clarke's style to me. I am happy there is such a good writer able to honor the style of science fiction Clarke started!
Below is a copy of the cover blurb as it is accurate:
From award-winning author Ken Liu comes his much anticipated second volume of short stories.
Ken Liu is one of the most lauded short story writers of our time. This collection includes a selection of his science fiction and fantasy stories from the last five years — sixteen of his best — plus a new novelette.
In addition to these seventeen selections, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories also features an excerpt from the forthcoming book three in the Dandelion Dynasty series, "The Veiled Throne".
Contents:
- Ghost Days (2013)
- Maxwell's Demon (2012)
- The Reborn (2014)
- Thoughts and Prayers (2019)
- Byzantine Empathy (2018)
- The Gods Will Not Be Chained (2014)
- Staying Behind (2011)
- Real Artists (2011)
- The Gods Will Not Be Slain (2014)
- Altogether Elsewhere, Vast Herds of Reindeer (2011)
- The Gods Have Not Died in Vain (2015)
- Memories of My Mother (2012)
- Dispatches from the Cradle: The Hermit - Forty-Eight Hours in the Sea of Massachusetts (2016)
- Grey Rabbit, Crimson Mare, Coal Leopard (2020)
- A Chase Beyond the Storms: An excerpt from "The Veiled Throne", Book 3 of the Dandelion Dynasty
- The Hidden Girl (2017)
- Seven Birthdays (2016)
- The Message (2012)
- Cutting (2012)
Most of the stories are about an Earth which either is on its way to or has become uninhabitable because of global warming and resource mismanagement. People debate the ethics of killing themselves and uploading their minds, becoming computerized digital people - the world of the Singularity is a choice a majority are making! Some resist uploading, and there are consequences from staying alive "in the flesh" in a world which is losing most of its population. Half of the stories are connected to a previous story, jumping ahead generations in a family. A few stories are about genetic manipulation or using another spacial dimension of reality which seemed more like a fantasy, but still good. Some stories are set millennia into the future where exploring other solar systems is taking place. All of the stories focus on the characters or family life rather than the technology. I really enjoyed myself in reading this book! The writing is so reminiscent of Clarke's style to me. I am happy there is such a good writer able to honor the style of science fiction Clarke started!