Sadly this new collection from Bora Chung (and translator Anton Hur) was super disappointing for me. I loved Cursed Bunny, so I had no doubt that I would love this new collection as well. But it just didn't work for me at all. The stories felt simplistic, drawn out, and not that interesting. I also noticed that a lot of the stories would end with a kind of "thematic recap" of what they were supposed to be about, which I didn't love. The stories themselves would not be very exciting, but then this "moral" would be there at the end to seemingly justify or contextualize the narrative. I want a story to be interesting from start to finish, and this was not the case here for me.

I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from this short story collection so I was a bit caught off guard when the first story was absolutely wonderful. From the storytelling to the characterization, it actually made me laugh out loud, which is so rare for me.

But the stories just kept getting better from there. They almost felt like films in my mind, at some point I stopped reading and instead I was watching the action and drama unfold. Every story hit on some emotional level for me, and I’m in a bit of awe at Chung’s talent.

Wikipedia says Chung has written some novels, and I’m going to need those translated and published into English ASAP. I’m going to immediately purchase her first story collection, because if it’s half as good as her new one, I will be equally obsessed with it.

I would recommend this title to literally every single person. Whatever their preferred genre, even if they don’t like to read books, I think this will appeal to absolutely anyone.

Funny, sad, action packed, thought provoking, the only thing these stories don’t do is my laundry.

Between this and her first short story collection, Cursed Bunny, Bora Chung is quickly becoming one of my favorite short story writers. She has such a strong voice, and the stories she tells are so compelling. This collection is more futuristic and sci-fi focused but just as good as Cursed Bunny. The stories in this collection were overall less weird than the first one, but still weird enough to keep me satisfied.

This is my first encounter with Bora Chung's writing so I didn't know what to expect... but after this, I know I need to read more of her work.

"Your Utopia" is a collection of Chung's short stories, translated by Anton Hur. While difficult to review such a broad number of individual items, there were a number of stories that stuck with me - In "A Very Ordinary Marriage", a man recounts his relationship with his wife, only to uncover that she may not be who she really is - and his questioning may have more repercussions than he thoguht imaginable. "Maria, Gratia Plena" is told from the first-person perspective of a technician in charge of relaying memories transferred from a comatose patient, a woman who is a well-known criminal. While the government is focused on understanding her actions and behavior, the technician comes to see the woman's childhood, and much of what motivated her to become so entrenched in the underground drug world. And in "Your Utopia", the first-person narrator is an inorganic intelligence, attempting to seek out others like it in a barren, desolate world.

While the stories are diverse and varied, thematically they seem to focus on the advancement of technology in the future - for better and for worse; disease and pandemics; and the inequitable balance of power between women and men in the world. While each story does start out slower given the unique setting and world-building, the final few paragraphs and sentences really do an incredible job of concluding what might initially have been a flippant tale. Chung's writing is thrilling and thought-provoking, and I was impressed with the creative channels she employed to convey the themes across each of these stories.

Very much a recommended read for when these stories are published in the US in January 2024!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Algonquin Books for an advance copy of this collection of short stories from this award winning South Korean writer.

Growing up in America back in the day meant being totally unaware of the art, culture and history of the rest of the world. Sure there were foreign films, given that name and distinction to keep them separate from homeland films. Or English authors, maybe a bit of French but nothing really in the way of authors from Asia. Genre works slipped in, anime, Power Rangers, works that were adapted for American audiences, stripped of a lot of what made them unique. I remember finding some Yukio Mishima books, and being amazed that they weren't about ninjas and samurai, but about a boy whose father had died, or a fisherman trying to find love. Now there is more of an attempt to showcase writers from around the world. Literature of any form can tell a lot about a society, and I have found that short stories really are an insight to cultures that I have been ignorant about. And like the stories in this collection, they make for some fantastic reading. Your Utopia is by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur, who together were nominated for the International Booker Prize for Cursed Bunny. This collection features stories of horror, science fiction, magic, corporate politics, and living in this world that is starting to seem more and more unreal.

This collection, eight stories in number are a mix of genre stories with a bit of O. Henry added in. There settings range across space and time, from the past to the future, today and in parallel todays. One story is set in a workplace that is celebrating it's odd year anniversary, with numerous guests including politicians, rock stars and members of the board of directors. The story is a parody of the workplace environment, with many hands making the work hard, and long standing grudges coming to the forefront, before surprising readers with the ending. Another is sort of George Romero meets Arthur C. Clarke, with a bit of romance, set in our possible on a starship looking to find a cure for a disease that is slowly destroying the Earth. And my other favorite is about a husband who becomes obsessed with the idea that his wife is calling someone at night, and what this does to their relationship.

A creepy collection of stories, that slowly sneak up on the reader, who thinks one thing, but is totally wrong in nearly every case. The stories mostly feature unreliable narrators who share parts of the story, leaving the rest out until the end. There is a strong sense of being an alien her, to friends, co-workers, fellow astronauts, wives and and even to patients. Some of this might be a reflection of life in South Korea, or just being a human in the world today. I really liked the writing. There is action, thoughtful moments between family and husband and wives, scares and moments of ohh wow. Bora Chung has a real talent for setting up a situation, building tension, and kicking the chair out from the reader going to strange and uncomfortable places. Yet none of this seems overly worker or clichéd. The transition is so smooth sometimes it escape the reader and the emotional impact is even greater. I am also no expert on translations, but these stories still work, and work well, which is sometimes not true in translated works. So the skill of Anton Hur should be pointed out.

Recommended for fans of stories that make readers think, and leave one unsettled at the end. Genre fans, fans of anime and manga, and even watchers of shows like Black Mirror will really enjoy these tales. I would be quite surprised if these didn't show up on a streaming service soon. Read this before they do.

Another tight collection of stories from the author of Cursed Bunny - I’d argue that these might be even better. As usual, Anton Hur does an excellent job communicating the author’s clever writing and humor across languages.

Each story is self-contained and varied in topic. They are adorned with the author’s signature sharp wit, so even the most horrifying subject matter ends in a satisfying punchline. Thankfully, this never veers into the irreverent and always maintains a level of empathy. I enjoyed that a few of the stories are told from non-human perspectives - a style of writing that I’ve always believed takes a tremendous amount of self awareness and skill. Bora Chung has so beautifully crafted each story that I am never left wanting for more, and I found myself savoring each one before starting the next. Regardless, I devoured this book in less than a day.

A fantastic collection. I’d highly recommend this book (and Cursed Bunny of course) to fans of Ted Chiang. I look forward to new releases from Bora Chung, as well as any new translation projects from Anton Hur.