I cannot recommend the author’s short story collections enough- they never fail to be beautiful, alarming & compelling. This collection didn’t land quite as well as his prior ones (esp wandering earth) but is still absolutely worth delving into.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Tor!

A View from the Stars is a collection of stories and essays from Cixin Liu. The works included are at turns rough, reflective, and occasionally amusing. It's a mixed-bag. There are some moments where you can tell the essays are older.

Overall, I found it a good read, but I wanted a bit more. This did make me want to finally start reading The Three-Body Problem, tho.

I liked this collection of essays written by Cixin Liu. I always find collections like that bring a reader closer to the writer. And this is the case here. I felt like I can understand his work better now when I see his personal view on certain things. Also, it is amazing to have all those published text somewhat in one place.

A View from the Stars: Stories and Essays by Cixin Liu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So, here's the skinny: I hoped I would get a bunch of new stories and essays, timely or otherwise, regarding SF, science, prediction, or just the scoop on all his novels.

And to be sure, there was some talking about the novels, some about prediction, science, and the nature of SF. It was light, nothing deep, and the essays were, on the whole, solid, if not groundbreaking.

The short stories were good, but they were not new. I had read them in other locations. As were, oddly, most of the other essays.

It might be a pretty good book for anyone just getting started with Cixin Liu, or for those who have read at least the trilogy, but I was slightly disappointed that it was mostly all a re-read.

This was, overall, a delightful read.

I actually didn't realise that it was largely non-fiction - essays and musings - and a few short stories as well. Liu has been writing for decades, and these pieces were mostly written between 1999 and 2010 (one is from 1987; one is 2012, one 2014, two from 2015). There's a panegyric to Ken Liu's writing, some considerations of the differences between fantasy and SF as genres, reflections on the experiences of Chinese SF fans, and some thoughtful reflections on how SF concepts might relate to the "real world". The fiction is what I expected of Liu - thoughtful, science- and engineering-heavy, with the consequences for individual humans and collective humanity a vital aspect.

I'm very glad these pieces have been translated into English.

A wonderful foray into Liu’s writing and where his wonder comes from. In a mix of personal essays about the foundations of his work and the works himself, you get a nice appetizer in how his imagination works. Whimsy with dashes of humanity propel his work, and all of it is fixed in his fascination with life and the magic it brings to the realities he creates and the reality he lives in.

Blog Post goes live March 26th
Imgur link goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for March 29th
To be discussed in March Reads Pt 1 on Youtube

**Tl;DR**: A weirdly structured collection of essays and stories. Probably more for the devoted fans of Cixin Liu than anyone else.

I have read some Cixin Liu in the past and generally found his work interesting, if bleak and I have to say that holds true through most of the content in this collection. This is a combination of essays and stories with no clear actual structure. We’ll read an essay discussing a story and get a different story on the front and tail end. A strange choice, to be sure.

Additionally, while Cixin Liu is clearly a super smart individual we don’t agree on many things (especially his takes on ‘fantasy’) and he generally seems to be a bit of pessimist based on his writing.

For those reasons I didn’t love this collection. I can’t say I’d recommend it either, unless you’re a devoted fan of his work or just want more after trying out Three Body Problem.

As an avid follower of Cixin Liu's literary journey, I was thrilled to delve into "A View from the Stars," a collection that deftly intertwines his fiction and non-fiction works. This anthology offers a glimpse into Liu's evolution as a writer, thinker, and aficionado of science fiction, showcasing his unparalleled talent and profound insights.

"A View from the Stars" presents a captivating blend of short stories and essays, spanning three decades of Liu's illustrious career. From the gripping narratives of "Whale Song" and "The Messenger" to the thought-provoking musings on space exploration and the interplay between science fiction and fantasy, each piece offers a unique perspective on the vast expanse of the universe and the human condition.

Liu's ability to seamlessly weave fiction and non-fiction together is nothing short of masterful. In essays such as "One and One Hundred Thousand Earths" and "The Battle Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy," he delves into profound questions about the nature of space exploration and the symbiotic relationship between different genres of speculative fiction. These reflections are complemented by his imaginative short stories, which transport readers to distant worlds and challenge their perceptions of reality.

One of the highlights of the collection is the poignant essay "We Are Sci-Fi Fans," which serves as a heartfelt defense of science fiction and its enduring appeal. Liu's passion for the genre shines through in every word, making it a fitting conclusion to this extraordinary anthology.

While some of the short fiction may be hit-or-miss for certain readers, there are standout works that showcase Liu's unparalleled storytelling prowess. "Destiny," "End of the Microcosmos," and "The Messenger" are just a few examples of the captivating tales that await within these pages.

In conclusion, "A View from the Stars" is a mesmerizing journey through the mind of one of science fiction's most visionary authors. With its seamless fusion of fiction and insight, this anthology is a testament to Liu's enduring legacy and a must-read for fans of the genre. I eagerly anticipate delving into more of Liu's work in the future, guided by the illuminating wisdom found within these pages.

Modest, charming, inspiring and insightful are all words I would use to describe Liu.

But the essays stole the show here for me, I always enjoy a foreword, I call for them in anthologies, in novels, just about everything. Here, although each story does not have a foreword, the essays give us an insight into Liu and his writing. I enjoyed reading about him, reading about his experience and his thoughts and the moments that defined him.

More international science fiction is needed in the publishing world. I have said before how some of the best science fiction I have read is international.

A great collection of personal essays and short stories. Perfect for fans of Liu who wants to revisit how his brilliant mind works when it comes to crafting an engaging and absolutely wild scifi story.

This had a great use of aliens and had a great overall feel to it. I was invested in the stories that were told and had the same great writing style that I enjoyed from Cixin Liu. I enjoyed that there were both essays and stories. It had a great overall concept that I enjoyed a lot.

I skipped around, but really enjoyed some of the stories. Definitely a good read for fans of shorts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

This anthology takes thought-provoking essays spanning Liu’s career and places them alongside several of Liu’s short fiction pieces. Lie’s fiction and non-fiction are juxtaposed to enormous effect, creating an anthology that will have me returning for years. It was a pleasure to journey through Liu’s storied time as a reader, writer, promoter, and lover of science fiction.

The essays are what made this collection such a stand-out anthology for me. In “On Finishing Death’s End, the Last Book in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past Trilogy,” Liu argues that science fiction is the product of a carefree mind and that stability and quiet are needed for science fiction to interest us. While I don’t necessarily agree with this sentiment, I did enjoy this essay and hearing his opinion on what conditions are needed for science fiction to flourish in China. In “The Battle Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy,” Liu takes a more playful approach. Yes, he actually analyzes who would win between science fiction and fantasy. Broomsticks, Zeus, and Harry Potter are all mentioned. He is tongue-in-cheek but also completely serious; this was the most fun of all the essays. The final essay in the book, “We Are Sci-Fi Fans,” is the real gem of this collection. It’s a profound defense of science fiction, its readers, and its writers. The emotion in this essay is palpable and visceral, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful essay, and I would proudly wear it as a slogan for the rest of my days.

While the short fiction was a little more hit-or-miss for me, a few stand-out works made this collection incredible. I’ve summarized those three works below, avoiding spoilers as much as possible.

- “Destiny,” in which a couple honeymooning in space destroys an asteroid heading towards Earth, only to realize they may have made a mistake.
- “End of the Microcosmos,” in which scientists attempt to split the quark and must deal with the scientific and societal ramifications.
- “The Messenger,” in which a violist seeking answers receives a message from an unexpected messenger.

If you’re a fan of translated fiction, short-form science fiction, or Liu’s work, this is an excellent collection to pick up this Spring. I can’t wait to read more of Liu’s work in the future.

Thanks to Tor Books for an advanced review copy of this book! All the above thoughts are my own.

The full blog review, which will go live on November 20, 2024, can be found at this link: https://backshelfbooks.com/2023/11/20/a-very-early-arc-review-a-view-from-the-stars-by-cixin-liu/

When still a boy, Cixin Liu sneaked away on a sweltering day from the gaze and gossip of the adults, to read Jules Verne’s classic: Journey to the Centre of The Earth. The boy’s rapturous reading was abruptly interrupted when his father unbeknownst to him crept up and snatched the book from Liu’s hands. “It’s called science fiction” the father said before handing the book back to his son. This incident transformed Cixin Liu into a sponge for science fiction and led him to garner subsequent fame as one of the best writers in the genre.

A View from the Stars is a unique collection that places fiction and non-fiction side by side. A selection of short stories penned by Liu from the past three decades are interspersed with non-fiction essays and interviews. The book begins with Whale Song, a short story written in 1999 and first published in Science World Fiction. A notorious drug tycoon simply known as Uncle Warner is finding it an impossible task to dispose off his enviable stash consisting of twenty-five tonnes of pure heroin due to the advanced surveillance and technological prowess of the United States Law Enforcement. A whiz kid from Caltech, Dave Hopkins may turn out to be Uncle Warner’s saviour. A friend of Warner Jr, Hopkins produces a mind-blowing idea of transporting the stash on multiple trips in a submersible that is hidden within the bowels of a live whale! Programmed to obey instructions the whale would swallow the submersible and spit it out at the points of destination. A gob smacked Uncle Warner agrees to ride shotgun with Hopkins on their very first journey. All goes super smooth until……

The Messenger (published in King of Science Fiction in 2001), has a traveler from the future listening to Albert Einstein play the violin daily before presenting a unique violin to the genius scientist. The only condition being the violin needs to be returned when the messenger comes back for a final visit. Little does Einstein realise that the violin by itself carries a message that may trump all theories conceptualised by Physics till such time.

In the essay One and One Hundred Thousand Earths (published in Science Fiction World in 2022), Liu bemoans the lack of progress in space exploration since the time man first landed on the moon. He attributes two reasons for such a regression. The first cause according to Liu is technological. The basic and most critical aspect for spaceflight, propulsion technology, is still lagging. While the technology required for undertaking a successful planetary voyage is nuclear propulsion, space technology is still in the stage of chemical propulsion.

The second and more obvious reason is economic. The Apollo moon landings set the United States back by $26 billion (approximately $100 billion in terms of 2012 values), in exchange for about two tonnes of lunar rocks. A similar attempt today would be many times more expensive with the attendant benefits not amenable for quantification.

The Battle Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy (published in Science Fiction World in 2002), has Liu calling for a truce between advocates of two genres who are perennially at each other’s throats. “The truth is that sci-fi and fantasy have many more similarities than differences. They have the same goal: both strive to create ethereal, free worlds of the imagination from which readers can derive the shocks and delights of beauty.”

In The “Church” of Sci-Fi,” (published in 2001 on the “Science Fiction” message board of Tsinghua University’s SMTH BBS), Liu goads the sci-fi authors to be true to their readers and not to get them benumbed by resorting to prosaic and conceptual fare. Contending that science fiction is at its most charming when depicting the relationship between people and the universe, he urges sci-fi writers to treat the universe itself as a protagonist, as much as any of its characters.

A View From The Stars, is a very thought provoking, introspective and reflective collection that cleaves fiction and non-fiction in a way many could not have imagined.

(A View From The Stars is published by Tor Publishing Group and will be available on sale beginning 02 April 2024).

(Thank You Net Galley for the Advance Reviewer Copy!)

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)