Featured Novel: A Memory Called Empire, Part Two, by Arkady Martine
A Memory Called Empire won the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel and was eagerly anticipated from the moment it was announced. As various factions take turns vying for the supreme power of the empire, can Mahit, an envoy from a tiny space station, ultimately turn the tide and change the fates of both the empire and her home?
Column: The Story Behind the Story, by Sun Jia
Sun Jia won the 2020 Galaxy Award for Best Translation and has translated many outstanding works for the Chinese edition, including The Library of God, The Fractal Prince, and Starquake. There’s bound to be one that you’ll love.
Novelette: Miler, by Robert Reed
Miler tells the story that follows Marrow, and is jokingly called “Book 1.5” of the series. Yet even with that label, it reads perfectly well on its own, a complete story set in the same universe. When Miler was very young, everyone aboard her spaceship died in an accident. The ship’s systems raised her, then accidentally carried her to an undeveloped planet. Over the course of her long life, she witnessed changing powers and sweeping transformations on an alien world, yet never found a sense of belonging.
Novelette: Spouse Is Not a Meal, by Sarina Dorie
This story was nominated for the 2019 Analog Award for Best Novella/Novelette. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s a wonderful read, an easy five-star recommendation. The author’s characterization of the protagonist, Marlatina, hits all my favorite buttons: when she’s starving, she’s fierce and throws punches; when she comes to her senses, she’s lonely and withdrawn, crying all day long. The only thing that can cheer her up is music played by her sister Sophia.
Novelette: Two Wings of the Sea, by Miwa Sakuragi and Ryo Maihara
How should I describe this story? It’s like a fairy tale. Through a story about someone’s first encounter with a species, it evokes the great writer’s famous tale The Little Mermaid in a dreamlike yet slightly cruel way. This story is from Japan’s A Bouquet for the Star Clusters: An Anthology of Yuri Science Fiction (voice-over: Are you sure that title isn’t a nod to Flowers for Algernon?). And as for what yuri is, I’m sure you all know.
The story of this book is so exciting! Especially "A Memory Called Empire" reminded me of my own confusion and confusion when looking for a job. The protagonist's struggle for power is much like our own struggles in the workplace. And "Mir" made me feel the importance of loneliness and belonging. The short and novella are also very interesting, and the author's imagination opened my eyes. I think this book is not only a work of science fiction, but also a reflection on human nature and society.
The story of this book is so exciting! Especially "A Memory Called Empire" reminded me of my own confusion and confusion when looking for a job. The protagonist's struggle for power is much like our own struggles in the workplace. And "Mir" made me feel the importance of loneliness and belonging. The short and novella are also very interesting, and the author's imagination opened my eyes. I think this book is not only a work of science fiction, but also a reflection on human nature and society.