I loved the variety of stories within Where the Stars Rise and the ways its stories defy expectations. If you have ever wanted to read a collection of speculative fiction that portrays a range of Asian identities not normally portrayed in fiction, this is for you.
Summary
Like many anthologies, this is difficult to summarize, but here is a great little snippet:
Orphans and drug-smuggling in deep space. Mechanical arms in steampunk Vancouver. Djinns and espionage in futuristic Istanbul. Humanoid robot in steamy Kerala. Monsters in the jungles of Cebu. Historic time travel in Gyeongbok Palace. A rocket launch in post-apocalyptic Tokyo. A drunken ghost in Song Dynasty China. A displaced refugee skating on an ice planet. And much more.
Review
I don’t know if I can sing the praises of this anthology enough. Not only is the purpose of this anthology wonderful to see realized, but it is a fantastic collection of stories. These are well written, colorful, and speculative in its very nature. I loved that we were able to see a variety of different protagonists who were not defined by their stereotypes or their appearance. As a Chinese American adoptee, it was affirming to read this collection. I was able to see the very diversity I was not able to find within the mainstream fiction I was able to easily find. This is a must read for anyone who loves speculative fiction and cares about diversity that defies stereotypes.
You can pick up Where the Stars Rise from Amazon(US), your local indie, and add it to Goodreads.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
Discussion
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