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Claudia's Reviews > The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
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Claudia's review
bookshelves: fantasy, anthologies-collections, sci-fi, books-about-books, alternate-reality, disguised-as-sff, historical-fiction, magical-realism, myths-related, philosophy, shreds-of-life, land-of-the-rising-sun
Oct 03, 2020
bookshelves: fantasy, anthologies-collections, sci-fi, books-about-books, alternate-reality, disguised-as-sff, historical-fiction, magical-realism, myths-related, philosophy, shreds-of-life, land-of-the-rising-sun
Initially I thought to write a few words about each story, as usual, but I realized that they would be repetitive, filled with words like awesome, great, exquisite and the like. Therefore, I'll just say that the whole collection is fascinating, mesmerizing, and superbly written.
He was already on a pedestal in my preferences because of his excellent translations, but after this collection I have to say his writing is flawless; he has a way with words that touches the reader deeply. Even if some of his stories are too sad for my taste, I cannot but acknowledge his writing skills.
Few writers can mingle sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, myths, history and ancient legends the way he does. I was enthralled from the first page to the last. You don't have to be a sci-fi or a fantasy fan to like this book; there is a story for everyone in it, because they are not based on technology or science, but on human condition, virtues, actions and emotions.
With on exception (The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary), all stories here were new to me. Here is the list:
The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species
State Change
The Perfect Match
Good Hunting
The Literomancer
Simulacrum
The Regular
The Paper Menagerie
An Advanced Readers' Picture Book of Comparative Cognition
The Waves
Mono No Aware
All the Flavors
A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel
The Litigation Master and the Monkey King
The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary
I truly hope you'll give it a try; you won't be disappointed.
He was already on a pedestal in my preferences because of his excellent translations, but after this collection I have to say his writing is flawless; he has a way with words that touches the reader deeply. Even if some of his stories are too sad for my taste, I cannot but acknowledge his writing skills.
Few writers can mingle sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, myths, history and ancient legends the way he does. I was enthralled from the first page to the last. You don't have to be a sci-fi or a fantasy fan to like this book; there is a story for everyone in it, because they are not based on technology or science, but on human condition, virtues, actions and emotions.
With on exception (The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary), all stories here were new to me. Here is the list:
The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species
State Change
The Perfect Match
Good Hunting
The Literomancer
Simulacrum
The Regular
The Paper Menagerie
An Advanced Readers' Picture Book of Comparative Cognition
The Waves
Mono No Aware
All the Flavors
A Brief History of the Trans-Pacific Tunnel
The Litigation Master and the Monkey King
The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary
I truly hope you'll give it a try; you won't be disappointed.
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Reading Progress
March 10, 2016
– Shelved
September 27, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 3, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)
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Agree full-heartedly, loved this collection!
Andreas wrote: "Incidentally, I‘ve just read his newest story I’m the Book of Dragons. Review’s at my blog: https://reiszwolf.wordpress.com/2020/...Paper Me..." Great review. I have this anthology on TBR as well, and plan to read it soon. State Change was so heart-warming, I loved it to pieces!
True, I also forget the synopsis after a while, but he writes so beautifully that I was at a loss for words. The feeling will remain though, and I can go back anytime to it if the need arises 🙃
Samuel wrote: "Agree full-heartedly, loved this collection!" ❤️ Indeed, one of the greatest I have read.
So far, the book of dragons is awesomesauce. You’re right, rereads are possible. But often, I loose the thoughts and interpretations I had.
Andreas wrote: "So far, the book of dragons is awesomesauce. You’re right, rereads are possible. But often, I loose the thoughts and interpretations I had." Good to hear that; I'm sure I'll like it too.
With his stories, I think you'll find a lot of other interpretations 😉
Brilliant stories: "The Litigation Master and the Monkey King" and "The Paper Menagerie". "The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species" is not really a story. I would love this book translated. I like Ken Liu better than Ted Chiang.
I think both are brilliant writers. The way I see it, Ken Liu writes for soul and Chiang for mind.I loved all the stories here, and it was a great surprise to read the one which the episode in Love, Death & Robots was based on.
Paper Menagerie was more diverse than his new collection Hidden Girl. But I need reviews for each story otherwise I forget what they were about almost instantly :)