Three Cdrama Fantasy Series to Watch if You Like Avatar

After the release of live action of Avatar: the Last Airbender, a lot of people have been saying that it lacks the brilliance of the original. As an immense fan of the animation, and its sequel, Legend of Korra, I too, know that it would have been far better for Netflix to have just thrown all the time and resources into more animated goodness. I know that we’re supposed to be getting new animations later in the year, I just hope that the performance of this rather mechanical rehashing of the source material doesn’t jeopardise it. I do understand there’s a certain appeal to seeing this vivid world and amazing fantasy “in the flesh” as it were, and perhaps, had they taken the bold step to produce a different story in the same world, it may have landed better. It may also have helped if they had turned an eye to some of the amazing fantasy series coming out of China these days, any number of which may scratch that live action itch of the average Avatar fan. Here are just three which I find myself reaching for to recommend when I see someone suffering the post-Avatar blues. One of the things I loved about the original Avatar was seeing the philosophies, aesthetics and martial arts of my own, and other Asian cultures ingeniously and respectfully adapted into a fantasy world, which was still Eastern, but provided different dynamics and possibilities. This AU approach is present in all three of my Continue Reading →


Posted in Culture

I Guess The Chinese DO Do Sci-fi! (Version 2024)

For those of you who went to my talk at the Manchester Central Library, and want to try or read some more Chinese science fiction, or more about it, here is my bibliography. BILIOGRAPHY Primary Sources (more details to follow) A Que. Flower of the Other Shore. 2018. Bao Shu and A Que. The Galaxy of Seven Kingdoms. 2020. Chen, Qiufan. The Waste Tide. 2013. Count E and Jiang Bo, Joey Yu. Void of Light series. 2020s. Fu, Tianrui. Die on Mars, 2021. Gu, Juzheng. A Country Without Air. 1926. Gu Shi, Poems of Distant Lands. 2019 Hai Ya. The Space-Time Painter. 2022. Han, Song. Tombs of the Universe. 1991. Han, Song. Red Ocean. 2004. Han, Song. A Guide to Hunting Beautiful Women. 2014. Hao, Jingfang. Folding Beijing. 2016 Hao, Jingfang. Vagabonds. 2022. Hui Hu. Once Upon a Time on Mars. 2022. Jiang, Hu. Starship: Library. 2015 Lao She. Cat Country. 1933. Ling Chen. Leaving the Face of the Earth. Lu Hang. Aunty Liang’s Gift. 2023. Moon Bear. Opus: Bridge of Souls. Old Fisherman by the Desolate River. Colony of the Moon. 1904. Tang Fei. The Path to Freedom. 2015. Tong, Enzheng. Death Ray on Coral Island. 1978. Wang, Regina Kanyu. Zhurong on Mars. 2022. Wang, Jinkang. The Balance of Life and Death. 1991. Wang, Regina Kanyu. The Tide of Moon City. 2016. Wudaozhang Bugu. The Legend of Cyber Heroes. Wu, Jiaren. New Story of the Stone. 1905 Xia Jia. Tongtong’s Summer. 2014. Xiu, Xinyu. The Strange Girl. Xu, Zhuodai. Continue Reading →


Posted in Culture, Translation

On Chinese Internet Science Fiction

There is currently an explosion of creativity, growing out of China’s flourishing internet literature sites, which I have found myself happily getting lost in, as a researcher and a reader. Trying to stay within the lines of my professional interest, I found myself mainly looking into the multitude of nascent fantasy genres, but the segregation between this realm and my  sources for science fiction, has not escaped me.


Posted in Commentary, Culture, Translation

Chinese Myths (May 2023)

Chinese mythology has been passed down in written and oral form over many millennia, emerging from a range of cultural traditions that often have their origins in Daoism and Buddhist religion. At times merging history and folklore, Chinese myths are rich in symbolism and teach us about the complexities of an ancient culture that stretches back more than 4000 years.


Posted in Blog2

Sinophagia: A Celebration of Chinese Horror

I am very excited to bring be able to bring out this anthology with many masters of Chinese horror, this collection has been carefully curated, to go beyond people’s expectations, of hopping vampires, and hanging ghosts, and whilst I think it’s a fascinating insight into the psyche of modern China, I hope my readers will also find it absolutely spine-chilling.


Posted in Blog2

Flight of Foundry 2023: Guest of Honour

Two of my main professional roles are rather underrepresented. Translators have always been overlooked as creators and bridge between cultures. Non-fiction authors are not as loved as fiction writers, nor perceived to be as skilled. As a result, they are hardly ever invited to conventions and festivals as Guests of Honour. So it was an absolutely honour of mine to be GoH  at Flight of Foundry, this wonderful global convention for those in the creative industry with interesting, well-devised events. 


Posted in Blog2

Wuxia, Xianxia & Asian-Inspired Fantasy

Join moderator/author/editor Xueting C. Ni and authors Nghi Vo, Wesley Chu, Amélie Wen Zhao, Tao Wong and Alice Poon for a TBRCon2023 author panel on “Wuxia, Xianxia & Asian-Inspired Fantasy.”


Posted in Blog2

The Importance of Diverse Futures

Join moderator/editor Xueting C. Ni and authors Micaiah Johnson, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Alex White, Khan Wong and Ciel Pierlot for a TBRCon2023 author panel on “The Importance of Diverse Futures“!


Posted in Blog2

The Global Reach of Chinese Science Fiction In the Digital Era

I had the pleasure of being invited, along with three other wonderful guests, to be part of the Chinese Science Fiction in The Digital Age series of talks and forums held by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.


Posted in Blog2

Novacon 2022

One of the wonderful things about my readership is how diverse it is. So it was lovely to attend a convention that is new to me, and meet a different group of older science fiction fans at the UK’s longest running sci-fi convention, Novacon, held in the picturesque spa town of Buxton. 


Posted in Blog2