RaveShelf Awareness... thrilling, complex ... Bardugo shifts from the dark world-building mode of the first novel to an action-heavy plot filled with horror elements. An ensemble cast of familiar and fresh characters brings new depth and much-needed levity to balance the world-in-peril spine tingles.
Cixin Liu, Trans. by Joel Martinsen
PositiveShelf AwarenessConceived as an allegory for the Chinese citizenry\'s reaction to a rapidly modernizing society, Liu\'s post-apocalyptic vision is written as a semi-fictionalized historical account. Because of this structure, character development takes a backseat to sometimes didactic overviews of geopolitical events. However, Liu shows real mastery of his concept, from the children\'s stages of grief and wonder to their inevitable human desire to conquer. He also orchestrates the evolution of the youth-led countries and the global political scene believably, channeling all the ambition, self-centeredness and happy, dangerous ignorance of childhood ... With Martinsen\'s translation, this audacious and ultimately optimistic early work will give Liu\'s English-reading fans a glimpse at his evolution as a writer and give any speculative fiction reader food for deep thought.
