“We still can’t reach the speed of light. But people are acting like we’ve conquered the universe. When all we’ve conquered is what the universe allows us.” This quote from Kim Choyeop’s If We Cannot Go At The Speed of Light perfectly captures the vibe and themes of this seven-story short collection. Translated from Korean…
Continue reading ➞ If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light – Seven Punches To The Heart
During my yearly visit to see my friends and fellow QTL reviewers, we ventured to New York City and escaped the cold, windy day in the OG Barnes & Noble bookstore. I couldn’t help but pick up the eye-catching pink cover of The Cabinet by Un-Su Kim while I was browsing. I discovered that the…
My local bookshop requires a dedicated trip and a drive on the congested freeway that has been under construction since now until forever. Needless to say, it had been a while since I visited the shop, but my efforts proved to be fruitful because I picked up a little-known story by Park Seolyeon called A…
Continue reading ➞ A Magical Girl Retires – Celebrate Your Spark
What You are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama was recommended to me by a friend while enjoying a latte and a huge blueberry scone one Saturday morning. She described it as a short read depicting people of all sorts encountering a mysterious librarian who recommends a random book that ultimately changes…
Continue reading ➞ What You Are Looking For Is In The Library – Serendipity
I first encountered the French novel, A Winter’s Promise, in a hidden corner of a beloved bookstore in Reno, NV back in 2018. I had never heard of Christelle Dabos or seen this book’s beautiful cover before, but this story became one of my all-time favorites because I was completely unprepared for the magic within.…
Continue reading ➞ A Winter’s Promise – Wonderland Delivered
I’ve seen the hype surrounding Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s light novel, Heaven Official’s Blessing, and felt like an outsider having not jumped into the fandom as soon as Seven Seas Entertainment published its English translation. I had a feeling I would love this story, and I’m happy to share I proved myself right. Graced with…
Continue reading ➞ Heaven Official’s Blessing – Divine Storytelling
Vagabonds, by Hao Jingfang, is the latest Chinese science fiction novel that Ken Liu has skillfully translated from its native tongue for readers’ enjoyment. While I really hope this trend continues and begins to branch out to every culture possible, I find myself struggling to grasp and enjoy Chinese Science Fiction every time I foray…
