Chinese science fiction, once an unknown quantity in the U.S., is making its way to the forefront through sheer excellence.
Cutting-edge, near-future science fiction from China: With a setting based on a real-world Chinese town that recycled electronic waste from all over the world, Chen's (aka Stanley Chan) first and so far only novel, originally published in 2013, comes to vibrant life in Liu's deft and informative translation.
To Silicon Isle, a vast waste dump where electronic devices and components are manually recycled, desperate workers flood in from all over China despite the extreme toxic hazards and attacks by fanatical environmentalists. Ruthless local clans enforce long hours and wretched wages. Luo Jincheng, head of the most powerful clan, despises the migrant workers and treats them with particular brutality and contempt. He refuses to do business with Scott Brandle, a mysterious American nominally representing TerraGreen Recycling, a global corporation hoping to reap vast profits from automating the processing. Brandle's interpreter, Chen Kaizong, a young Chinese-American who speaks the local dialects, hopes to find his roots; instead, he finds Mimi, a waste girl viciously abused by Luo's thugs, who dreams of earning enough money to buy her family out of poverty. Her one friend, or perhaps exploiter, is Brother Wen, an electronics genius building devices and weapons out of junk and secretly assembling an army of the downtrodden. What nobody anticipates are the active remnants of biological warfare experiments discarded in the trash, with horrifying and tragic consequences. The author patiently engineers these ingredients and personalities into a nightmarish conflict while showing a particular talent for writing viscerally gripping action. The moral dilemmas he presents are all too familiar, with seemingly little to differentiate villains, victims, and victors. China itself, of course, takes center stage, as the past—with its rich cultural backdrop, paramount loyalty to family and clan, and reverence for tradition—confronts social upheaval and the accelerating importance of artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
Chinese science fiction, once an unknown quantity in the U.S., is making its way to the forefront through sheer excellence.Pub Date: April 30, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7653-8931-2
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
An intriguing, fantastical view of humankind’s future.
One man’s sci-fi journey from nameless numbered Corporal 1412 to celebrated Commander Dray.
Paletta vividly paints a future where humans have been driven underground, existing largely in military compounds which protect groups of civilians. This future is also occupied by cults, reptilian beings bent on destroying humanity, drones, battle droids, cyborgs, advanced propulsion systems, armored bio-suits and Morphic Formula (an elixir given to Elites to super-energize them and enable them to morph into animalistic forms). Corporal 1412 and his group are being trained to become Elite soldiers prepared to engage in military maneuvers on the surface. The major warring factions, cults and humans, create and deploy drones to monitor enemy activity, especially around the Dead Zones–no man’s lands where Elites must stay undetected to stay alive. Super predators of all kinds, from python-like creatures easily able to consume a man whole, to supersized alligators, dinosaur-like lizards and massive cats all make appearances, though no one seems to know how they came into existence. The relationships between characters are stiff and thin in places, particularly between Dray and love interest Jamie, a scientist’s assistant. Several other characters–Al, Madge and Tulip–don’t add much to the plot other than some slight color. Paletta has illustrated the book, though the visuals are unnecessary, as his descriptions are vivid and detailed. Each chapter has a Latin title–fitting, since Latin-speaking allies come to Dray’s aid at the climax of the story. However, these titles smack of pretension. The book’s back states that the “paradox of the myth of love, and the pure love for another” is what allows Dray to save mankind, but Paletta doesn’t make these concepts sufficiently tangible for the reader.
An intriguing, fantastical view of humankind’s future.Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4392-0256-2
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A fantasy tome that keeps readers invested.
Fagan creates a complex and complete world in this fantasy novel about a nation on the brink of war.
The book begins with a glossary of characters, places and terms to help readers comprehend Ammanon, the Sparta-like nation of warriors at the center of the story. The title prophecy is introduced in the prologue, when young crown prince Galan and high priest Azzariah have visions of a woman who will someday help save the kingdom. A generation later, when Galan has become king, a strange young woman named Eydain arrives, and a plot against Ammanon by neighboring scholar nation Partha reveals itself. But the author has designs beyond the main characters and the two nations, which have their own distinct customs, traits, languages and personalities. She illustrates that Ammanon and Partha are two places on a densely populated map rather than simple, convenient metaphors to facilitate the action. There are countless subplots involving Eydain’s parents–former friends of the emperor and his family–and the queen mother Tsophyra and her brother, Gen. Toland, whose son is a promising cadet in the Temple Guard. Amazingly, all the characters add to the main plot–the tension between Galan and his captive bride Eydain, and the threat from Partha–rather than muddying the waters. There are real-world problems between nations, cultural prejudices and language barriers. Fagan is clearly at the beginning of an epic story and has much to draw from in future volumes. However, this presents some minor problems. The manner in which the action kicks off and Eydain discovers the Parthan plot feels a bit coincidental, and Ammanon never seems to be in real danger. Every threat is discovered quickly, every enemy dispatched with little trouble. Still, the virtues of this imagined world outweigh any issues with narrative development.
A fantasy tome that keeps readers invested.Pub Date: April 21, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-934925-04-1
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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