A review of The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories
The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories is a collection of Chinese science fiction and fantasy stories written, translated and edited and designed by female and non-binary artists. It was published in March 2022 by Tordotcom, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group that publishes cutting edge and experimental speculative short fiction, collections and anthologies.
The collection features 17 short stories by 15 contemporary Chinese authors. Also included are five essays by translators and scholars covering themes such as the writing, translation, publishing and reading of science fiction and fantasy stories in China.
As can be expected, many of the stories in this collection are influenced by Chinese history and culture, especially myths and folklore. For example, “The Tale of Wude’s Heavenly Tribulation” is based on the notion that humans and animals can achieve immortality through spiritual cultivation, while “The Way Spring Arrives” is inspired by ancient tales of natural forces being seasonal change.
Other examples include “New Year Painting” and “The Portrait”, which are modern retellings of traditional ghost stories. In comparison, “The Name of the Dragon”, “To Procure Jade” and “The Mountain and the Secret of Their Names” are inspired by renowned fables and folktales.
A particularly outstanding story is “Dragonslaying”, which depicts the jiaoren, half-fish creatures that have long left their mark in mythology and folklores. Similar to the merpeople in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the jiaoren in this story are captured and forced through considerable physical modifications before being sold as playthings to the rich and powerful humans. It is quite a vivid and compelling read.
Meanwhile, those favouring science fiction stories will enjoy “The Restaurant at the End of
the Universe: Tai-Chi Mashed Taro”, which pays tribute to Douglas Adams and leads a traditional Chinese artist through time travel. Also excellent are “Baby, I Love You” and “A Brief History of Beinakan Disasters”, which explore the universal themes of parenthood and climate change, respectively.
Those readers already familiar with Chinese science fiction through translation will be delighted by Xia Jia’s “What Does the Fox Say?”. It is the author’s second story specifically written for anglophone readers that investigates the complex relationship between language/linguistics and artificial intelligence.
To this reviewer, the essays collected in this book are highly informative, offering a rare glimpse into the world of translators and researchers working in speculative fiction. Particularly valuable is “The Futures of Genders in Chinese Science Fiction”, which examines the historical, cultural and geopolitical influences on the development of Chinese science fiction since early 20th century.
Another superb essay is “Net Novels and the ‘She Era’: How Internet Novels opened the door to Female Readers and Writers in China”. Equally remarkable is “Writing and Translation: A Hundred Technical Tricks” by Rebecca F. Kuang, where the author of Yellowface, Bebel and The Poppy War trilogy tackles the impact of her work as a translator on her own writing.
In short, The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Highly recommended.
