10 Obscure Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That You Need To Read
9. The Paper Menagerie – Ken Liu
So this one might be a bit of a cheat, as it is a collection
of short stories featuring a range of tales belonging to either genre, but to
not include it in this list would be an unfair testament to the talent of
author Ken Liu.
Offering up pieces that focus on a range of topics from the dangers of ubiquitous technology and what it would mean for censorship and control, to the beautiful evolution of Chinese mythology being used as an allegory for the impact of colonialism on rural 19th century China, each story is as unique and as powerful as each of the others while still maintaining that rich and thought-provoking style that has now become commonplace among the breadth of Liu’s work. I guarantee that the title story will have you crying and desperate to give your mum a big cuddle.
Parts Black Mirror and parts fantasy world building, one of the great beauties of this collection is its universal appeal. The broad spectrum of themes covered are a perfect parallel to the medley of ideas it blends together.
Seriously though, you should give your mum a hug afterwards. You'll thank me later.