Ken Liu

Presents the author's selection of his best short stories, as well as a new piece, in a collection that includes "The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary," "Mono No Aware" and "The Waves."

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories

Vicky  Nuñez 

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is a collection of 15 short stories by writer Ken Liu. In this collection there's composed mostly of speculative fiction you can also find Magical Realism and Alternate History. They are all very rich stories of Chinese culture and Asian Mythology.

Each story is different than the one before it and the next one. They are all gripping and incredibly narrated.

Some of my favorites in no particular order are:
* The Paper Menagerie: The story that gives the name to the collection is also the winner of a Hugo, a Nebula and a World Fantasy award. And it deserves every bit of praise it has gotten. It is a magical realism story about a Chinese American kid and his lack of love for his culture. A sweet story about a kid and his mom that ultimately will want to make you go kiss your mother.

* The Perfect Match: A story about an intelligent personal assistant that might not be as incredible as you might think.

* The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary: The last story of the collection, but not less gripping. It is a haunting story of the horrific events that transpired in Unit 731, a facility that experimented with war prisoners. Based on a true story not many are familiar with, but it doesn't change how terrible it was and a prime example why war is never the answer.

* The Regular: A story of a killer and the detective who is looking after him. Set in an universe were cops wear emotion regulators, it is a brilliant story filled with futuristic technology.

* The Waves: The story of a group of humans who are travelling to 61 Virginis, a planet far away that they can colonize. Except someone is already there. It is a look into our future and raises the question of where our humanity ends.

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. Each story was new and smart and raised a question of our future in this planet. They are also very rich with Asian culture.

state change, good hunting, the literomancer, the paper menagerie, and all the flavors are BANGERS in this already-stacked collection of stories

Ianna Chia

Aamna

4 stars because it should have had 4-5 fewer stories. The rest are simply perfect. Ken Liu is a magician.

Some of the stories hit, some missed for me. 

Will Dawson

karol tang

Hannah Yang

I don't read short stories often, but The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories might be one of my favorite books ever. For starters, all of the stories are good. Some better than others, of course, but overall, Ken Liu's writing shines with its clarity and precision, the science fiction aspects are imaginative and not repetitive across stories, and the collection as a whole has a strong sense of cohesion.

Common themes are memory and responsibility - many of the best stories in this collection are about or are inspired by real historical events involving oppression, exploitation, and cultural erasure. What I appreciate about this collection is that it 'feels Asian' without that being the 'point' of its existence. Aside from their valuable commentary, these are genuinely enjoyable and beautifully-written stories which happen to give readers a peek into pockets of Asian culture and history. Many intentionally do not assert a position of moral superiority (the best example I can think of is the ending of The Perfect Match: those who critique the AI system ultimately end up with no choice but to contribute to improving it, which is a common tradeoff that people have to make because everyone needs to make a living - when this story easily could have gone the route of 'corporations/technology/etc are evil must destroy/abolish/boycott').

Anyways. A lot of words to say: this collection does give voice to experiences that feel particularly familiar and tied to Asianness, but it also just does a remarkable job of balancing imaginative wonder with a sort of pragmatic fairness and recognition of different sacrifices and compromises that people inevitably make throughout their lives.

A rough ranking/notes, probably spoilers ahead:

5*:
The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary
Tells the true story of Unit 731 during WW2. This was extremely powerful and dove into many questions and criticisms regarding historical manipulation/denial, state interests, moving on vs reparations, dealing with one's personal history, and even what the purpose of history/memory is. Brilliant, unforgettable, a must-read for everyone.
The Paper Menagerie
Devastating!!!!!! My friend Claire recommended this story to me, which is why I read the book (thank you <3). I really went in thinking there would be a happy ending. And can you understand how it felt when you stopped talking to me and won't let me talk to you in Chinese? I felt I was losing everything all over again. Why won't you talk to me, son? The pain makes it hard to write. and hard to read, Ken Liu. I feel unwell.
Mono No Aware
We are defined by the places we hold in the web of others' lives. [...] Individual stones are not heroes, but all the stones together are heroic. The story of the sole Japanese man left in existence and preserving one's identity. The scene where Hiroto talks to Mindy about people's reactions to the announcement that there weren't enough ships for everyone felt so familiar: "This was Japan," I tell her. And I can hear the pride in my voice, an echo of my father's. / "I guess the people were resigned [...] they had given up. Maybe it's a culture thing." / "No!" Her words irk me, like Bobby's remark about Go being boring. "That is not how it was."
Good Hunting
In mansions up on the Peak, I heard--though I'd never seen--that automatic sweepers and mops I designed roamed the halls discreetly [...] The expats could finally live their lives in this tropical paradise free of reminders of the presence of the Chinese. Themes: Loss of magic/culture in the world due to industrialization. How do we transform and adapt? Also a love story.
The Literomancer
"Dad, what does 'thalassocracy' mean?" [...] "It comes from the Greek word for sea, thalassa. It means 'rule by the sea.' You know, like 'Rule, Britannia! Rule the waves." Lilly was disappointed at this. She thought Mr. Kan's explanation was much better, and said so. Themes: The Cold War and red scare. Language, translation. ft. an unlikely friendship :-)
Simulacrum
Incredibly ulitty - even starts out with a Sontag quote (<3). 
State Change
Cute, creative story about souls and transformation. All my life I thought my soul was in those cigarettes, and I never even thought about the box. [...] Yes, life is now truly just an experiment. What can I do next? Anything. But to get here, I first had to smoke my cigarettes. What happened to me was a state change.
A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel
A tunnel is built under the sea connecting Asia to North America. What action can an individual take? This seems very foolish: to make statements that no one wants to hear, to speak when it is better to be quiet. What difference will a few boys riding a bus make? Story told from the perspective of a character who must come to terms with their involvement in enforcing forced labor from prisoners. "Please," he said. "Please let me through. I just stole some money. I don't deserve to die." He spoke to me in Hokkien, my mother tongue. This shocked me. Was he a common criminal from back home in Formosa, and not a Chinese Communist from Manchuria? Can someone in this position be redeemed?
All the Flavors
Chinese miners in Idaho pre-Chinese Exclusion Act. The magic of storytelling. "This is home," Logan said, smiling at her. "This is where I have finally found all the flavors of the world." 

4*:
The Regular
Brutal murder mystery in a world with various technological bodily enhancements - the Observer finds sex workers with video-recording eyeballs to 'create justice' against politicians; the police have emotional suppressors. 
The Perfect Match
More typical sci-fi story about surveillance and the illusion of choice. 
The Litigation Master and the Monkey King
Themes: Our responsibility to remember; erasure as a double-death; ordinary heroes.
The Waves
Immortality, change, storytelling. Intelligence, complexity, life, computation--everything seemed so small and insignificant against the great and eternal void. They felt the longing of distant black holes and the majestic glow of exploding novas. And they pulled closer to each other, seeking comfort in their common humanity.

3*:
The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species
An Advanced Readers' Picture Book of Comparative Cognition
Both of these gave me Italo Calvino Invisible Cities vibes. Very imaginative and beautifully-written as always, but comparatively less memorable.

Rohit Arondekar

My ideal science fiction & fantasy book. I like blending of historical settings, science fiction, and fantasy elements. The three stories which I loved the most in no particular order―The Paper Menagerie, Mono No Aware, and The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary. I've really come to love this particular blend of short stories and narratives. Hiroshi Yamamoto, Ted Chiang and now Ken Liu are authors I'd love to read more in the future.

Prashanth Srivatsa

If you're wondering what to pick up and read this year, don't look beyond this beautiful and thought-provoking collection of stories by Ken Liu. Rarely have tales been written with such tender care, bringing together a wide range of people, cultures, histories, and myths; Ideas that warn us of our reckless exploration of technology and its impact on our humanity. From space-travel and cosmology to alternate history, crime thrillers, fantasy and litigation, Liu writes with a mastery that sucks you into his world and lets you float in its haunting memories long after the stories have ended.

Becky A

I don't tend to be a big short story person -- I tend to want more length to sink my teeth into. But I have huge respect for people who can do them well, which Liu definitely does.

This is a really interesting collection. None of the stories are directly connected, but there are some key themes throughout: examinations of what makes up humanity/intelligence/thought; the importance of speaking truth about tragedy; the interplay of young people with their cultural history. It was fascinating to see the same ideas get poked at again and again from different angles or through different lenses.

The Hissing Saint

The standout story for me was "The Man who ended History: A documentary." It's among the longer stories in the book and uses a fictional technology as a base to put forth a debate on History and the ethical questions that come to play. Amazing stuff!

linda

Only read the titular short story so far, but it really blew me away. I cried. It’s hard to write about familial love, cultural assimilation, and identity, but Ken Liu did just that, and in an absolutely beautiful way.

Catullus 3? Boy, that really got me. I love that story. That story kept me up until 3am, dreaming about someone who would answer me back when I recited Latin to them. Welp - I think I just halved my dating pool again. 

Actually, this book is stunning. It made me cry and laugh and think critically about who I am and what is my place in the world. Ken Liu writes with the alacrity of a classicist, the technical expertise of an engineer, and the moral conscience of a lawyer. Every story in this book I loved. This book made me feel proud to be Chinese-American - to have the cultural legacy of two of the most powerful and storied countries in the world; it made me fall in love with Cambridge all over again (see you in four years?); it helped me see the broad connections between ethics and technology.

I think that’s the beauty of science fiction - by building worlds that do not yet exist, we are preparing ourselves for them. We know that the past is linked inextricably to the present, so the present is also linked to the future. We can’t predict what the future can be, but we can only hope.

Maggie Gordon

Jamie Ford is quoted on the back of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories as saying, "I know this is going to sound hyperbolic, but when I'm reading Ken Lui's stories, I feel like I'm reading a once-in-a-generation talent. I'm in awe." Jamie Ford is most certainly not hyperbolic.

Ken Lui's volume of short stories is nothing short of outstanding. It is one of the most powerful and well-crafted books I have read in a long time. The Paper Menagerie is what originally led me to pick up this book. It's a multi-award winning short story that brought me to tears, and it's not nearly the best story in this book. 

Lui is a translator, and his sense of language, unsurprisingly, is nuanced and full of depth. Thus, it is a delight to read his work. His stories are also filled with imagination and challenging ideas one does not often see in western speculative fiction. He fills his narratives with ideas from eastern Asia, and his protagonists are people of colour from these areas as well. The resulting works are intensely creative and deeply emotional. Lui often draws on historic atrocities that he explores through a speculative lens. He challenges humanity to not forget some truly tragic events. 

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is a book everyone should read. It is a great collection of literary speculative fiction, showcases some important historical and political controversies, and adds some much needed diversity to genre fiction. The book made me cry, but more importantly, it made me think and reflect. I will most certainly be seeking out other work by Lui, and pressing this book on all my friends!

Celeste Richardson

I chose to read The Paper Menagerie solely for the title story, which is one of Petrik’s most beloved short stories he’s ever read. Thankfully, Ken Liu proved to be an astonishingly gifted writer. I’ve heard his work referred to as graceful, and I can’t think of a more apt description. The man has a marvelous way with words. You can tell that every single sentence was crafted with care. This collection of stories is unlike anything else I’ve ever read in my life. While I didn’t love every single story, those I did love had a profound effect on me, and I honestly believe that I will still be thinking about them for months, if not years, to come. Below are my (very random) thoughts on each story. I’ve left said thoughts in their raw state. While I wanted to share quotes from the stories themselves, I highlighted far too many to sift through. I highly recommend this collection if you want something that will make you think deeply and treat others with greater kindness. More of Liu’s work is definitely in my future.

The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species = 5 stars 
Insanely thoughtful and original. What each of these alien races and their manner of preserving ideas says about human nature is fascinating. And absolutely delightful. One of my favorites.

State Change = 5 stars
Soul as external, inanimate object, and how said object defines your personality. Candle, feather, ice cube, etc. But what if you were wrong about what your object was? This was a brilliant story. Flawless. Also, the inclusion of T.S. Eliot made me very happy. My other favorite. 

The Perfect Match = 3 stars 
Reads like a more hopeful episode of Black Mirror.

Good Hunting = 4 stars 
Chinese magic being siphoned or somehow depleted by Western influence via iron railroad. Bad feng shui on a national level. Made Westerners seem callous to the point of evil. But the loss of the magic could be restored in a way by this new magic of technology, if one were willing to go through unspeakable pain to make themselves feel whole again.

The Literomancer: = 4 stars
Like reading a Studio Ghibli movie. Until it became devastatingly sad. It’s amazing how much hidden meaning can be found within a word.

Simulacrum = 3 stars
This one was just depressing. Whatever way you relive a moment over and over again, the end result is that you miss out on so much in the present.

The Regular = 2.5 stars 
Not a bad little crime story, but forgettable.

Paper Menagerie = 5 stars
Beautiful and devastating. I love the idea of literally breathing life into art. Also, I appreciate my mom’s love for me more than ever.

An Advanced Readers’ Picture Book of Comparative Cognition = 3.5 stars
Beautiful beginning. Very atmospheric. I got lost in some of the science, but still lovely.

The Waves = 4 stars 
Almost feels like a continuation of the previous story. Possibly the most sci-fi thing I’ve ever read. Insanely creative.

Mono No Aware = 4 stars 
Another subtle continuation. Subtle is the right word for this story. It’s quietly heroic and as achingly lovely as a haiku.

All the Flavors = 3.5 stars 
Very long. Though it was a sweet and deep and enjoyable story, I had a hard time maintaining focus while reading it.

A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel = 3 stars
Interesting premise for an alternate history but incredibly sad. Could have used a bit more development.

The Litigation Master and the Monkey King = 4 stars
This started off amusing and took a dark and heartbreaking turn. Anyone can be a hero.

The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary = 4.5 stars
Profound. Is history actually subjective? The descriptions of what took place in Unit 731 were absolutely appalling. Rarely does anything I read make me feel physically ill, but this story did. The callousness of this torture “for science” is frankly unbelievable, even though I know it actually happened. How can humanity dehumanize other humans to such an extent? Even those discussing such travesties of the past can often find a way to shrug them off or claim that they’re being over exaggerated. It’s infuriating. But the story itself is so, so powerful.

You can find  this review and more at Novel Notions.

lauren carla

Astha Prakash

I really loved the edginess of the stories. Though they were all science fiction, they had hints of fantasy, surrealism, and had a lot of heart. What surprised me the most is that the most popular story - 'The Paper Menagerie', was one that I liked the least. The ones I liked the most are 'The Waves', 'The Perfect Match', 'The Regular', even the 'The Simulacrum'.

jam 🍯

One of my favorite books I've ever read. It took months simply because it was so emotionally taxing to read story after story that were all so beautiful and all so heartbreaking (even the ones with "happy" endings). Ken Liu has a deft mastery of language, and it is a delight to read his many worlds that eclipse science fiction, fantasy, and the heart of the human condition.

Furthermore, as an Asian American, I took special pleasure in the way Liu utilizes the Asian diaspora to tell stories that are mixed between many cultures. You don't have to be Asian to revel in the beauty of these stories, but I felt such a special connection to these stories in a way non diasporic Asian stories have seldom made me feel.

I already look forward to rereading this soon.

Melody Izard

These stories sneak up on you with their magnificence. At first I simply liked them. The last story brings them in such clear focus. With a telescope zoomed in so close you can't run away.
Fragility of truth
Unit 731
The monster is us

Maria-Stefania Popa

“Every act of communication is a miracle of translation.”

Sahi K

Average Rating: 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.2

I've obviously known a little about the wonderful translations that Ken Liu has done and his own fantasy work The Grace of Kings has been on my radar for a while, but I never planned on reading any of them soon. But when our Stars and Sorcery book club chose the award winning Paper Menagerie short story as our final pick of 2019, I thought why not read the whole collection. And wow was that a great decision on my part.

I really don't have enough words to describe the beauty of this book. The stories are fascinating but brutal, the worlds are unique, the writing is sublime and emotional, and the author weaves so many important themes in so few words. And as an Asian immigrant myself, there were many stories here that felt deeply personal and really resonated with me. There is a reason why so many of these stories have been nominated or won awards, and I highly recommend anyone who loves speculative fiction, particularly hard sci-fi, to give this collection a try. 

Below are my individual reviews for the stories:


  The Bookmaking Aspects of Select Species


By telling us how every different species has it’s own way of reading, writing and interpretation, the author weaves a lovely tale about the beauty of books, albeit in their various forms. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  State Change


I really don’t know how to explain this story without spoiling it, so I’ll just say it was an interesting way of asking us all to try to live life to the fullest and not feel limited by the boundaries that have been created for us. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Perfect Match


This was terrifyingly prophetic and probably gave a glimpse of what our lives might become in the future, every step being controlled or manipulated by algorithms and all of us just falling into the trap of living in an echo chamber and believing we are happy. But it also felt very inevitable and left me feeling a bit hopeless. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  Good Hunting


This is at once a cautionary tale about how technological advances can be both good and bad, replacing ancient traditions with more material comforts; but also increase the wealth gap. It’s also ultimately a tale of ingenuity and survival and hope and I loved it. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Literomancer


CW: racial slurs and graphic torture

What started off as an innocent tale of friendship and the magic of language turned into one full of brutality. This is a story that brought to light the utter havoc that war wreaks on ordinary people. I couldn’t stop crying and wish I hadn’t read something so painful. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  Simulacrum


A very compelling futuristic tale which has commentary about the pros and cons of capturing human memories in an AI like device to always carry with us; but at its heart, it’s the story of a father and daughter who are stuck in their relationship because no one is ready to understand how the other has changed and evolved over the years. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Regular


I can’t really explain this story properly except that it’s a murder mystery but also a very interesting commentary on the perils of using advanced technology that make us entirely dependent on them. This would make a wonderful full length novel too. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Paper Menagerie


This one left me sobbing and now I totally understand why it’s won so many accolades. A beautiful but sad story of empathy, belonging, and a mother’s love for her son, even when the son is unable to find a connection to her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  An Advanced Reader’s Picture Book of Comparative Cognition


This story definitely had too much of science and jargon, so I can’t say I understood a lot of it. But ultimately it’s message is that there are lots of ways to love someone, and we shouldn’t really expect anyone to change their passion for our sake. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Waves


This story takes from many creation myths that we know and weaves it’s own creation story, albeit a more highly advanced and futuristic one. Quite fascinating with its discussions about what defines humanity and death. I liked reading it but I can’t say I understood it fully. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️


  Mono No Aware


Set in a post apocalyptic future and using the game Go as a metaphor, this is an absolutely wonderful story about the importance of being selfless and doing what’s right for the whole community, not just us as an individual. It also really demonstrates the stark difference between the cultures of America and Japan, and what it means to carry forward your heritage.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  All the Flavors


Based on the Chinese gold rush of the 19th century in Idaho, this is a tale of the resilience of Chinese men who came here to live better lives, and who in turn touched the hearts of the communities where they lived in, before all the anti-Chinese sentiment took hold in the country. A very beautiful tale of bravery, grit, loyalty and unlikely friendships.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel


Set in an alternative history timeline where WWII never happened but there was a cooperative agreement between the Western Powers and Imperial Japan, on surface this feels like a story of human ingenuity but when we dig deeper, it’s about labor exploitation and how much the glorious technological advances have been made on the backs of workers who had no choice.

⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Litigation Master and the Monkey King


CW: torture

While bringing some light upon the Yangzhou Massacre, this is a story about how ordinary people sometimes have to do extraordinary things, just because it’s right even though they may never see the consequences of their actions. A true tale of bravery. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


  The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary


CW: graphic descriptions of rape, torture and human experimentation 

Told with a time travel backdrop and in the form of a documentary, this is the story of Unit 731 of Imperial Japan during WWII and the inhumane human experiments that were conducted on Chinese and Allied prisoners and people. I was horrified that I had no idea about this part of Asian history despite being so familiar with the Holocaust which occurred at the same time. I would definitely ask everyone to read more about the history of Unit 731 after you are done with this story.

This novella raises some very important questions for which there are no easy answers - should we forget wartime atrocities so that people can move on? Is asking the states that committed such crimes against humanity to apologize not valid? How much culpability do other countries bear when they cover up such crimes for their own selfish goals? How important is it for the people in the present to feel a connection to their past and process that trauma? There are many such thought provoking questions that come to mind while reading this story and it’s left to us find our own answers. I couldn’t imagine another brilliant way to end this excellent book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily

I like the sexy sexy part.
I also like the emotionally charged book

Jenna Kathleen

I love this collection of short stories. Liu captures emotion so vividly, and it's one of those books I'll be thinking about for a long time.

Jade Flynn

Stories that span the past, present and future, transcends genres, and are rich with Asian history, mythology and culture - with many of them posing the question 'What do these scenarios say about humanity and human society?' Mini-epics. 

***** - Good Hunting, All the Flavours, The Literomancer, The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary.
**** - State Change, The Paper Menagerie, The Waves. 
*** - The Perfect Match, The Regular, An Advanced Reader's Picture Book, Mono no aware, The Litigation Master and the Monkey King. 
** - A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel.
* - Simulacrum.

Nikolay Bachiyski

Speculative, historical, and social fiction, crime story, and sci-fi of all sorts in one book. How does that sound? I was impressed with Ken Liu combining two or more of those genres in every story and immensely enjoyed the book of short, long stories, and a couple of novellas.

I rarely read science fiction and I would probably no be the best judge, but the science part was more than plausible. The highlight for me, however, was the cultural and social commentary – from various ways technology affects and transforms our lives to the glimpses into Chinese and Japanese culture and history.

The whole book is much greater than the sum of its stories.

Daryl Houston

Several of the stories in this collection just read as sort of amateurish to me, and others were either too long (without being all that interesting) or were too slender when there was potential for great interest (this is of course subjective). I felt like the collection sort of crescendoed, with a few stronger stories bringing up the rear of the collection.

This one felt oddly like the whole was a greater work than any of the parts, as it was neat to see threads throughout about how we relay and receive histories, and it was particularly neat to see that through stories about and told by Asians or Asian American characters. So, I like the project a lot but wish the stories themselves had been less uneven.

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories

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