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Ken Liu

    Ken Liu is an American author of speculative fiction whose works often explore the intersection of technology, history, and human culture. His writing is celebrated for its rich imagery and intricate world-building, where engineering and myth intertwine. As a translator and editor, he has also become a crucial conduit for contemporary Chinese science fiction to reach a global audience. Liu's narratives delve into how innovation and tradition shape human societies and their destinies.

    Ken Liu
    All That We See or Seem
    The Veiled Throne
    Death's end
    The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
    The Wall of Storms
    Speaking Bones
    • The Dandelion Dynasty is now a 4 book series. "And so, the trilogy has become a quartet. The final two volumes, The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones, form a single narrative cleaved right down the middle, to be published months apart in 2021 as two separate tomes."

      Speaking Bones
      4.6
    • The Wall of Storms

      • 880 pages
      • 31 hours of reading

      Kuni Garu, now Emperor of Dara, confronts the challenges of supreme power: both from within and without.

      The Wall of Storms
      4.4
    • Death's end

      • 724 pages
      • 26 hours of reading

      Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge and, with human science advancing and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations can co-exist peacefully…

      Death's end
      4.3
    • The Veiled Throne

      • 1008 pages
      • 36 hours of reading

      The epic story of the Dandelion Dynasty continues in the third book in the series.

      The Veiled Throne
      4.2
    • All That We See or Seem

      • 419 pages
      • 15 hours of reading

      From the award-winning author of the Dandelion Dynasty series, Ken Liu, ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM is a near-future thriller set in a world where the dark algorithms of AI have permeated every aspect of life, from politics to culture.

      All That We See or Seem
      3.9
    • This beautifully illustrated book showcases 100 paintings from the vast collections of the National Trust - one of the largest and most significant holdings of fine art in the world

      100 Paintings from the Collections of the National Trust
      4.0
    • Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon - now a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. 1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind. Four decades later, Beijing police ask nanotech engineer Wang Miao to infiltrate a secretive cabal of scientists after a spate of inexplicable suicides. Wang's investigation will lead him to a mysterious online game and immerse him in a virtual world ruled by the intractable and unpredictable interaction of its three suns. This is the Three-Body Problem and it is the key to everything: the key to the scientists' deaths, the key to a conspiracy that spans light-years and the key to the extinction-level threat humanity now faces. Praise for The Three-Body Problem: 'Your next favourite sci-fi novel' Wired 'Immense' Barack Obama 'Unique' George R.R. Martin 'SF in the grand style' Guardian 'Mind-altering and immersive' Daily Mail Winner of the Hugo and Galaxy Awards for Best Novel

      The Three-Body Problem
      4.1
    • Made To Order

      • 400 pages
      • 14 hours of reading

      A cutting-edge anthology, published on the 100th anniversary of the word Robot, exploring the impact it has had on the world.

      Made To Order
      4.0
    • Sixteen of Ken Liu's latest science fiction and fantasy stories - plus a new novelette. From award-winning author Ken Liu comes his much anticipated second volume of short stories. Ken Liu is one of the most lauded short story writers of our time. This collection includes a selection of his latest science fiction and fantasy stories over the last five years - sixteen of his best - plus a new novelette. In addition to these seventeen selections, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories also features an excerpt from book three in the Dandelion Dynasty series, The Veiled Throne .

      The Hidden Girl and Other Stories
      4.0
    • Invisible planets

      • 384 pages
      • 14 hours of reading

      Here are thirteen short stories from the new frontiers of Chinese science fiction, selected and translated by Hugo, Nebula, Locus and World Fantasy Award-winner Ken Liu. Hao Jingfang's Hugo-Award-Winning 'Folding Beijing' takes place in a near-future dystopia where the title city's buildings fold into and out of the earth, allowing three different strata of society to spend part of the day above ground. Xia Jia's 'Night Journey of the Dragon-Horse' describes a post-apocalyptic world where machines have outlived the humans who engineered them. In 'Taking Care of God' by Liu Cixin - author of The Three-Body Problem, the first translated novel to win the Hugo Award - a race of white-haired, white-robed beings arrive on Earth, claiming they are God, creators of everything who now want to spend their retirement years with us... Including an introduction by Ken Liu and three essays exploring Chinese science fiction, this is a phenomenal collection of strange worlds, hypnotic landscapes and unbridled imagination.

      Invisible planets
      3.9
    • Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Anthology

      • 336 pages
      • 12 hours of reading

      Celebrating fifteen years of the acclaimed podcast Escape Pod, this collection showcases new and classic science fiction stories from bestselling authors like Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, and Ursula Vernon. Edited by Mur Lafferty and S.B. Divya, the anthology highlights the innovative storytelling that has defined the podcast and its impact on the genre. This compilation is a tribute to the creativity and imagination that has captivated listeners and readers alike.

      Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Anthology
      3.9
    • The Digital Aesthete

      Human Musings on the Intersection of Art and AI

      • 300 pages
      • 11 hours of reading

      Exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity, this collection features fictional stories by renowned science fiction authors. It delves into the implications of AI taking over artistic endeavors, presenting narratives about robot painters and AI poets. As discussions about the rise of 'general' intelligence intensify, these tales provoke thought on the future of creativity and the evolving role of technology in the arts.

      The Digital Aesthete
      3.8
    • Broken Stars

      • 464 pages
      • 17 hours of reading

      Here are sixteen short stories from China's groundbreaking SFF writers, edited and translated by award-winning author Ken Liu. Including 'Moonlight' by Cixin Liu and 'The New Year Train' by Hao Jingfang - both Hugo award-winners - this anthology features stories firmly entrenched in subgenres familiar to Western SFF readers such as hard SF, cyberpunk, science fantasy, and space opera, while also including stories that showcase deeper ties to Chinese culture: alternative Chinese history, chuanyue time travel and satire with historical and contemporary allusions that are likely unfamiliar to Western readers. 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. By turns dazzling, melancholy and thought-provoking, Broken Stars celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of SFF voices emerging from China and transforming the Western literary landscape.

      Broken Stars
      3.9
    • Solarpunk

      Short Stories from Many Futures

      • 416 pages
      • 15 hours of reading

      This collectable anthology of futurist reads features solarpunk stories that inspire hope and empower communities to work towards a better future. Set in a near future, it explores how individuals and resilient groups can combat gentrification, expropriation, and loss of identity, starting from local initiatives and expanding globally. The anthology reflects a growing perception that change is essential, as echoed in the stories curated by Francesco Verso of Future Fictions. With contributions from authors across Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA, the collection showcases diverse narratives. Notable writers include Jerri Jerreat, Ken Liu, and Brenda Cooper, among others. Additionally, the Flame Tree Beyond and Within collections present tales of myth and imagination by both modern and contemporary writers, featuring a mix of voices and short stories, sometimes from a single author. The series emphasizes diverse, inclusive storytelling with elements of the supernatural, science fiction, and speculative fiction. Each volume is beautifully crafted with foiled covers and printed edges, available only in hardcover, ensuring a lasting reading experience.

      Solarpunk
      3.5
    • The Grace of Kings

      • 640 pages
      • 23 hours of reading

      The fall and rebirth of an empire. With a cast of hundreds and a world unlike any you have seen before, The Grace of Kings is epic fantasy for the 21st Century.

      The Grace of Kings
      3.8
    • A chilling anthology of 18 stories about the terrifying fears of isolation, from the modern masters of horror. Featuring Tim Lebbon, Paul Tremblay, Joe R. Lansdale, M.R. Carey, Ken Liu and many more.

      Isolation: The horror anthology
      3.4
    • Während sich ein Frachtschiff auf seinem langen Weg nach Canton Bight befindet, vertreiben sich die Arbeiter an Bord die Zeit damit, sich Geschichten über den legendären Rebellenhelden Luke Skywalker zu erzählen. Doch entsprechen diese Sagen und Legenden, die man sich von einem Ende der Galaxis zum anderen erzählt, der Wahrheit oder ist es alles nur ein Mythos? Ist Skywalker wirklich ein Held der Jedi oder nur ein redegewandter Scharlatan oder gar zur Hälfte ein Droide? Die Frachter-Crew muss sich ihr eigenes Urteil bilden als sie den Legenden von Luke Skywalker lauscht …

      Star Wars - die Legenden von Luke Skywalker
      3.0
    • Luke Skywalker ist eine legendäre Figur, die von vielen unterschiedlich wahrgenommen wird – als Kriegsverbrecher oder gar als Droide. Ehemalige Begegnungen mit ihm münden in unvergessliche Abenteuer, die seine mysteriöse Identität unterstreichen.

      Star Wars - Die Legende von Luke Skywalker
      3.4
    • Broken Stars, edited by Ken Liu, is his second anthology of Chinese short speculative fiction, following Invisible Planets. This collection is the most comprehensive yet available in English, showcasing a thrilling array of stories that reflect the burgeoning interest in Chinese science fiction. It features both well-known authors like Liu Cixin and Hao Jingfang, as well as those making their English-language debut. Most stories were originally published in Chinese during the 2010s and range from short-shorts to novellas, evoking a wide emotional spectrum. The anthology includes familiar subgenres such as hard SF, cyberpunk, and space opera, while also delving into narratives deeply rooted in Chinese culture, including alternate histories and time travel. It does not claim to be "representative" or "comprehensive," but it highlights the vibrancy and diversity of contemporary Chinese science fiction. Additionally, three essays at the end explore the history of Chinese science fiction publishing, the current state of fandom, and the impact of growing interest in the genre on previously obscure writers. This collection promises to captivate readers eager to explore the richness of Chinese speculative fiction.

      Antología de ciencia ficción china contemporánea - 2: Estrellas rotas
      3.9
    • Die Götter von Dara

      • 480 pages
      • 17 hours of reading

      Preisgekrönte asiatische Fantasy: Von der TIME zu den 100 besten Fantasy-Büchern aller Zeiten gewählt Mächtige Himmelsschiffe, fantastische Kreaturen und eigennützige Götter: Ken Lius High Fantasy-Epos mischt asiatische Mythologie mit tödlichen Ränkespielen und dem Kampf um die Macht im Inselreich Dara. Zehn Jahre nachdem Kuni zum Kaiser von Dara aufgestiegen ist, herrscht ein brüchiger Friede im Land. Kunis Feinde planen ihre Rache sorgfältig, und die Götter sind dem Kaiser keine Stütze - und all seine Pläne geraten ins Wanken, als sich an den Grenzen des Reiches eine neue Bedrohung formiert. »Lius Charaktere begeistern, die Weltenschöpfung ist ungewöhnlich und überzeugend, seine Sprache entwickelt eine eingängige Strahlkraft. Diese Saga bezaubert jeden Fan epischer Fantasy mit genau der richtigen Menge Spannung und magischen Einfällen.« Publishers Weekly »Die Götter von Dara« ist der zweite Teil der Seidenkrieger-Reihe. Die epische High-Fantasy-Serie ist in folgender Reihenfolge erschienen: Die Schwerter von Dara - Seidenkrieger Band 1 Die Götter von Dara - Seidenkrieger Band 2 Die Stürme von Dara - Seidenkrieger Band 3

      Die Götter von Dara
      3.1
    • Le Royaume de Dara est divisé en sept Etats, mais l'un d'entre eux, Xana, a pris l'ascendant sur les autres par la force et le jeu des alliances politiques. Son roi est devenu l'Empereur et a établi le règne du Céleste Diaphane. Tous désormais doivent chanter ses louanges et oeuvrer à sa gloire. Cependant, chez les nobles déchus comme chez le peuple corvéable à merci et écrasé d'impôts, la révolte gronde. Mais comment renverser cet empire dont les forces armées s'appuient sur une technologie élaborée ? C'est le défi que tenteront de relever Mata Zyndu, le dernier héritier de son clan, déchu pour avoir osé s'opposer à la Conquête, et Kuni Garu, un voyou charmeur et beau parleur qui s'apprête à embrasser une existence bien supérieure à ses ambitions les plus secrètes. Sauront-ils surmonter les défis qui les attendent pour accomplir leur destin sous la férule des dieux ?

      La grâce des rois
      2.6