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It is not true that the dead cannot be folded. Square becomes kite becomes swan; history becomes rumor becomes song. Even the act of remembrance creases the truth.
So begins Ghostweight, the first story in Yoon Ha Lee's debut collection Conservation of Shadows.
What don't I love about this collection?
It's about art, love, war, math, the intricacies of politics, the devastation of war, and the tragedy of genocide, all wrapped up in a gorgeously poetic bow. Lee has a way with language that is fresh and evocative. Reading her work is almost like reading a poem or the notes in a song, each word plays a specific and devastating part in creating the overall experience. Lee is a master worldbuilder and each story feels like it could fit very neatly into larger narratives. These are not isolated events, they are excised from histories that we never imagined. Thankfully for us, Lee has.
The stories draw heavily on Lee's cultural background, her love of strategy gaming, and her passion for mathematics. From origami battle mecha to the physics of re-writing history, Lee writes arresting and resonant stories. Listing my favorites is like repeating the table of contents, but I am especially enamored of Effigy Nights, Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain, The Unstrung Zither, The Battle of Candle Arc, and the books title story Conservation of Shadows.
There is much to love: from Bones of Giants, perhaps the most traditional narrative included, to Conservation of Shadows with its gorgeously rendered second person POV. Lee doesn't shy away from the realities and complexities of war. For better and worse, its effects on all participants are jarring and ugly. Lee stares the propaganda, the effects, and after-effects squarely in the face.
A gorgeous, lovely, consuming read.
So begins Ghostweight, the first story in Yoon Ha Lee's debut collection Conservation of Shadows.
What don't I love about this collection?
It's about art, love, war, math, the intricacies of politics, the devastation of war, and the tragedy of genocide, all wrapped up in a gorgeously poetic bow. Lee has a way with language that is fresh and evocative. Reading her work is almost like reading a poem or the notes in a song, each word plays a specific and devastating part in creating the overall experience. Lee is a master worldbuilder and each story feels like it could fit very neatly into larger narratives. These are not isolated events, they are excised from histories that we never imagined. Thankfully for us, Lee has.
The stories draw heavily on Lee's cultural background, her love of strategy gaming, and her passion for mathematics. From origami battle mecha to the physics of re-writing history, Lee writes arresting and resonant stories. Listing my favorites is like repeating the table of contents, but I am especially enamored of Effigy Nights, Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain, The Unstrung Zither, The Battle of Candle Arc, and the books title story Conservation of Shadows.
There is much to love: from Bones of Giants, perhaps the most traditional narrative included, to Conservation of Shadows with its gorgeously rendered second person POV. Lee doesn't shy away from the realities and complexities of war. For better and worse, its effects on all participants are jarring and ugly. Lee stares the propaganda, the effects, and after-effects squarely in the face.
A gorgeous, lovely, consuming read.
