I first learned of Ken Liu as the translator of Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy (aka The Three Body Problem series), he is also the curator of a Chinese sci-fi short story collection (two volumes, Invisible Planets and Broken Stars), after reading so much work chosen by him I decided it was time to try his own original writing and delved into The Paper Menagerie, his first collection.
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories is his second collection of short fiction, primarily sci-fi, and one fantastic, albeit intense, ride. Liu has a knack for fiction settings that punch you in the gut with poignant and necessary calls to real-life problems happening now, such as the refugee crises all over the world, the dangers of unchecked technology growth or the importance of remembering past mistakes. He does this with a wealth of voices, all his own but all distinct, introducing in different stories (or different characters) the same concepts in a new way. This makes related stories feel fresh and riveting to read.
I nearly whizzed through the books in only a handful of sittings but The Hidden Girl and Other Stories really benefits from breaks between stories, to let you digest what is being told and how it relates your views of the world and current events. That said, here are some spoiler-free highlights from this collection:
Byzantine Empathy:
This story merges two pressing issues together into a compelling discussion on what to prioritise when talking about human rights issues. In it blockchain (a.k.a. cryptocurrencies) is used to revolutionise humanitarian aid, cutting out the middleman charities. Following two ex-college roommates and their differing views the story takes you through each character’s thought process and it really made me consider what it is that I prioritise when human lives are at stake.
A Chase Beyond the Storms:
Albeit a strong fantasy story, this excerpt from Liu’s The Veiled Throne (book three of his fantasy The Dandelion Dynasty) feels like an unnecessary marketing plug. As expected from book three of a series there are many new terms, from animal and machine designations to countries and geographical locations to which there are no explanations. This leaves the reader floundering for understanding through its first few pages, a feeling entirely alien in a book that otherwise is excellent at setting the scene and planting you right in the middle of it. Despite that, when you get used to the new names and start to understand the setting, A Chase Beyond the Storms is compelling story of differing approaches to the same problem, much like Byzantine Empathy.
Thoughts and Prayers:
This is a story of a family trying to move on after the death of a daughter to senseless violence, and the weaponisation of her story to politicise and incite revolution. It is perhaps the most relevant story in the book for a world that just went through the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the life-changing shooting of Jacob Blake. Grippingly told through the eyes of either surviving parent and the victim’s sister, it shines a light on issues that are still tearing through the world right now.
The Gods Will Not Be Slain:
A story of relentless capitalist greed and frightening technological growth, The Gods Will Not Be Slain is the first of a series of interconnected stories in the collection. With 21st century use of emoji to communicate complex feelings, what begins as a simple teen trouble story evolves into deep questions on what it means to be human, and what’s next.
Seven Birthdays:
If you have read Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past, this story was very reminiscent of it in scope and style, and that is high praise! If you haven’t dared tackle that behemoth series (currently being adapted for Netflix by Game of Thrones showrunners), check out this story. An account of seven of Mia’s birthdays throughout her long life, it again follows technological progression deep into the meaning of humankind.
I could carry on, plenty of other stories deserve attention (such as the titular Hidden Girl), but I believe these are enough to give you a feel of what’s waiting for you in The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. Published by Head of Zeus and currently only in hardback I have rated this book 5/5 on Goodreads, from an internal rating of 9.8/10. I cannot recommend it more!
Two in a Teacup 