Hold the Sky

A new collection of stories by the great Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin, the creator of the brilliant trilogy The Three-Body Problem. Liu Cixin offers a glimpse into the future of humanity through the prism of unique Chinese culture. Science intertwines with simple human lives. The survival of the entire planet depends on a rural teacher. The universe rushes backwards, bringing back lost loved ones. Humanity, facing unprecedented indifference from an alien from other worlds, does what it does best - it fights for life. War or the creation of unique works of art - in all this, the true nature of humanity is visible, its selflessness, inventiveness, and courage. An innovative and compassionate look at how knowledge shapes and transforms humanity. Liu bases his stories on modern Chinese life and society, using the genre of science fiction to address questions about humanity's place in the universe. This is a must-read for all fans of hard science fiction. - Publishers Weekly A comprehensive look at Liu's work, showing his writing both in the style familiar to readers of the trilogy THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM and in other, perhaps more unexpected styles. Highly recommended. - Booklist These stories superbly combine hard science fiction with soft emotionality. Liu's works maintain a calm, businesslike style, even when conveying inventive brutality and beautiful imagery. - Shelf Awareness This is magic. This is a time machine; a tunnel that allows you to go back in time to see what the Chinese version of 1985, 2010, 2020, or 3000 looked like. The collection gives us a window that opens onto a different science fiction landscape, unlike what we have seen for decades. - NPR