Invisible Planets is a collection of contemporary Chinese science fiction stories translated into English. In his selection and translation, editor and translator Ken Liu has done an excellent job of creating an entertaining book for English-speaking readers. The content is distinctly Chinese, but very accessible for an American reader.
The stories in this collection explore the intersection between social issues and technology, and how that might play out with future technology. The science fiction elements are integral to the stories; they don’t just happen to take place in a futuristic setting, but are intertwined with their settings. The stories cover technology-related social issues, including genetic engineering and censorship. While taking place in fictional settings, they shed light on our own human choices.
A thought-provoking and enjoyable collection of well-crafted short stories that held my interest and kept me reading. I really enjoyed, with each story, stepping into a new world, as well as seeing these visions of future worlds that come out of a culture different from my own.
Review by Ellen.
Invisible Planets
The thirteen stories in this collection...add up to a strong and diverse representation of Chinese SF. Some have won awards in translation, some have garnered serious critical acclaim, some have been selected for Year's Best anthologies, and some are simply Ken Liu's personal favorites. To round out the collection, there are several essays from Chinese scholars and authors, plus an illuminating introduction by Ken Liu.