Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation

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When I sat down to watch "Broken Star" I didn't even know about the movie, nor had I heard about it. I was given the chance to watch it, and decided to do so, because I was under the impression that it was going to be a horror movie, and it also had Tyler Labine in it, which was a plus for me. Just read 'Goodbye, Melancholy' by Xia Jia which was a fascinating story of two people woven together and AI and humans. The story plays on the real life of Alan Turing, and the fictionalised life of Lindy and AIs. The blend between history and fiction is blurry and yet fascinating, and I loved the ideas which were explored in a semi and fully fictionalised way. Definitely recommend, 4*s."

Its revealed on author Victoria Holmes' Facebook that Brokenstar's greatest fear was not being respected by others. Ah, Ken Liu, I guess our taste differs this time. I enjoyed Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation more than this one. The stories in there are more touching. This one felt a bit more distant, and I am not sure why there are stories with so many Western pop culture references in there. Good effort, nonetheless. Some of the stories in the collection were great, different yet captivating (Laba Porridge, The First Emperor's Games), but others were strange, featuring a hoard of weird ideas and unfamiliar narrative techniques (The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales comes to mind, but honestly more than half fell into this category for me). Surprisingly, many of the stories had strong alternate history themes as well, I wonder if it's a cultural thing. Tang Fei's Broken Stars. - 3*s. A reread for me but a story I still enjoyed the second time around. A pale woman who can supposedly read the stars... A father who tries to please and a girl who hides herself until she's forced out of her shell."

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Other characters include a host of extraterrestrial beings and haunting, paranormal whispers that deliver disturbing news about activities taking place on the planet. Soon, the protagonists learn they have more in store than finding a way off the planet. Will There Be a “These Broken Stars” TV Series in the Future? He's also very manipulative and easily leads others to believe him, such as when he accused ShadowClan's medicine cat Yellowfang of killing Mintkit and Marigold kit, which he did himself and the clan believed him unhesitatingly. In addition, he has inspired some of his clan mates, such as Clawface, to live by his brutal darwinistic beliefs. I give you a life for strength. This is the time you and your Clan will stand or fall. You need to be stronger than ever. The marshal arrives with his posse and hunts down Smeed inside the mine, using an alternate entry. In the meantime, Gentry, who survives the cave-in, unties himself and joins the hunt. The posse corners Smeed, who draws first, and is killed by Gentry. In the closing scene, Gentry (with his new bride, Alvarado), is presented with a new badge by Forrester and congratulated for being appointed to the position of marshal of Arizona's Northern Territory. Submarines by Han Song was a short but sad story about the world of the peasants who moored their subs in the Yangtze River. 3*s."

Ken is also the translator for Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem, Hao Jingfang's Vagabonds, Chen Qiufan's Waste Tide, as well as the editor of Invisible Planets and Broken Stars, anthologies of contemporary Chinese science fiction. He is mentioned in Sunset by Tigerstar, who reveals to Darkstripe that they're in the Place of No Stars. Darkstripe scents him and attempts to call him shortly after, but Tigerstar replies that Brokenstar won't answer him, since every cat has to walk alone in this place. Don't waste your time, apprentice! I've shared dreams with StarClan. You will have to kill me nine times over before I join them. Do you really think you're strong enough for that? An alternate history of the world kind of tale and featuring JD Salinger, the author of The Catcher and the Rye, this was again sad but reflective, and a different sort of take on communism and capitalism.

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Brokenstar: Those kits were weak. They would have been no use to ShadowClan. If I hadn't killed them, some other warrior would have. I should have killed you when I had the chance. It seems I must have some of my father's softness. I was a fool to let you leave ShadowClan alive! Length wise I felt there were too many on the novelette length size, with different numbered sections. Ken Liu must like his stories a bit longer. Zhang Ran’s story plays with the tropes of chuanyue, or a particular type of time-travel fiction in which someone armed with modern scientific knowledge goes into the past for ends selfish, altruistic, or both. I love the skillful way in which Zhang Ran’s hero not only reinvents the Internet for China of the tenth century, but also recreates much of our Internet culture. My co-translator, Carmen Yiling Yan, and I had a great time figuring out how to recast in English the deliberately playful, jejune tone of a genre that is intentionally self-parodic. Cheng Jingbo's Under A Dangling Sky is beautiful and almost fantasy in tone. It's a retelling of Delphinus and it's soft and easy to enjoy 3.5*s" In addition, three essays explore the history and rise of Chinese SFF publishing, contemporary Chinese fandom, and how the growing interest in Chinese SFF has impacted writers who had long laboured in obscurity.

Dovewing • Ivypool • Lionblaze • Jayfeather • Cinderheart • Hawkfrost • Tigerstar • Firestar • Flametail • BrokenstarFor readers interested in some context on Chinese SF, I’ve added three essays at the end from Chinese SF scholars (some of them are also authors). These essays focus on how the rising commercial and popular interest in Chinese SF has affected the community of fans and authors. Cats of ShadowClan! We have lost Cloudpelt and we grieve for him. But the life of the Clan must continue. It is time to appoint a new deputy. I say these words before the body of Cloudpelt, and in the presence of the spirits of my ancestors, that they may hear and approve my choice. Brokentail will be the new deputy of ShadowClan. True, Brokentail is still younger than most of you, but ShadowClan has never had a braver or more skillful warrior. He is an example to us all, and it will be a great honor to lead the Clan with him. I am proud of my Clan. You are all I could have hoped for as a leader. With warriors like these, I could fight any battle! And there will be a new warrior today. Brokenpaw, step forward. Broken Stars is author, translator, and editor Ken Liu’s second anthology of contemporary Chinese science fiction in English translation, and it’s been highly anticipated ever since Invisible Planets was published in late 2016. Like its predecessor, Broken Stars features some of the most accomplished Chinese authors writing in the genre today: Xia Jia, Zhang Ran, Tang Fei, Han Song, Cheng Jingbo, Baoshu, Liu Cixin (whose The Three-Body Problem won the 2015 Hugo for Best Novel), Hao Jingfang (whose Folding Beijing won the 2016 Hugo for Best Novelette), Fei Dao, Anna Wu, Ma Boyong, Gu Shi, Regina Kanyu Wang, and Chen Qiufan. Again, like Invisible Planets, Broken Stars includes essays on the growth and development of science fiction in China over the past few decades. Regina Kanyu Wang's Brain Box was a stream of consciousness experiment into what it's like to know your last thoughts are recorded. Fascinating but very short. 3.5*s."

If anything, this a disturbing and thought-provoking examination of Hollywood narcissistic, empty culture and its effects on broken people's lives and all of us. I give you a life for truth. Without it, kin is set against kin, Clan against Clan. Hold fast to truth in all your dealings and let it guide your words. I give you a life for judgement. ShadowClan stands at a place where the path ahead divides. choose to follow the right path, for the good of your Clan. Darktail has a direct kill count of 16, however if we include Raggedstar's 9 lives Brokenstar will have a higher direct kill count. Ken Liu openly states in his introduction that these stories are selected based on his tastes. There is a variety of some known Chinese science fiction writers, and some new voices. Most of them were new to me as I'm woefully behind on books like the Three Body Problem, among others. There is also an earlier volume of Chinese science fiction in translation that is probably worth the read.

This has been a gratifying result for me and my fellow translators; fans of Chinese SF; the agents, editors, and publishers who help make publishing translated works possible; and above all, the Chinese authors who now have more readers to delight. Sol | One Eye | Star Flower | Tom | Slash's Group ( Slash, Snake, Beetle, Splinter, Bee, Ember, Swallow) | Stripes's Group ( Stripes) | Jacques and Susan | Darktail | Rain | Dodge's Group ( Dodge) | Jaggedtooth | Willie's Group ( Willie, Snapper, Tess, Pounce) Brokentail: Then what are you waiting for, you scrawny old pest? Get on with it. Give me something for this pain. This was an interesting time travel story set during a struggle between the Han and Song dynasties. While it had a lot of chemistry, physics and quantum mechanics terms which I couldn’t understand, I think ultimately it was a story about how we can’t always change destiny however hard we try. Personality and traits [ ] Brokenstar is the personification of pure evil, with no redeemable features. He is manipulative, cruel, arrogant, ruthless and egotistical, [59] showing no remorse for his actions. [60] [41] When Brokenstar is made a warrior early, his vindictive nature becomes more apparent by his vigorous training of Stumpypaw. He punishes his apprentice because he was "too chatty" by making him hang from a tree branch by his teeth. Furthermore, Brokenstar makes his apprentice hunt and train relentlessly even though Stumpypaw is exhausted. [61] As he grows older, his lust for power also grows, and he goes as far as to tell Yellowfang to give up on trying to save Cloudpelt due to his own desire to become deputy. [60]