Blog Post

A spoiler-free guide to the works of Ken Liu

Jason BoogOct 14 2025

You might not know his work yet, but this science fiction and fantasy author has had a big influence on the literary world through his science fiction, fantasy, anthologies, and translations. Liu returned on October 14th with “All That We See or Seem,” the story of a hacker thrust into a high-stakes adventure where she must use her AI-whispering skills to unravel a virtual reality mystery. To prepare, we’ve put together a quick guide for readers who want to explore some of the universes that Liu has created, ranging from science fiction to fantasy to literary translations.

Where should I start with Ken Liu’s science fiction work?

If you just want to sample Liu for the first time, start with his award-winning short stories. “The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories” and “The Hidden Girl and Other Stories” showcase his range — from intimate family tales to speculative thought experiments. Fable reader Jujubes wrote about “The Paper Menagerie” in a review:

“Beautiful collection of short stories across different genres. A great change of pace from a regular-length book, as you can go through the book one story at a time.”

You can also watch an adaptation of his short story “Good Hunting” from this collection in Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots series.

His new novel, “All That We See or Seem,” is another great place to start. “A thought-provoking, fast-paced, and layered sci-fi mystery that blends philosophy, technology, and human drama, wrote Fable reader Paula about this novel. “It asks big questions without sacrificing plot or character, and it rewards both casual readers and those who enjoy intertextual depth.”

Where should I start with Ken Liu’s fantasy work?

Fans of epic fantasy should explore The Dandelion Dynasty series, Liu’s silkpunk saga where engineers replace wizards. He invented the genre of silkpunk with this series: “I use it to describe a technology aesthetic based on a science fictional elaboration of traditions of engineering in East Asia’s classical antiquity,” he explained.Fable reader BreAnn posted this review of the first book in the series:

“Grace of Kings was such a dynamic read. It was full of intrigue with inspiration pulled from so many directions. I got Game of Thrones with the Han Dynasty mixed in, but it also read like one of Aesop’s Fables."

Where should I start with Ken Liu’s translations?

Liu’s translation of “The Three-Body Problem” brought the Chinese science fiction master Liu Cixin into American culture. The epic science fiction story spans centuries and has been adapted several times, including as a Netflix series. Fable reader Pinkzilla posted this review of the novel:

“The greatest book I’ve ever read. It is a mystery that you will never guess what’s coming next. The characters are so compelling, I couldn’t put it down.”

You can find all the books mentioned in this post in our Fable list.

Has any of Ken Liu’s work been adapted?

Yes! Start with "Pantheon" on Netflix. This animated series adapts seven stories by Liu, most of them from his “The Hidden Girl and Other Stories” collection. It has a cult following online, passed between science fiction fans. I just started watching and was shocked that I'd never tried it before!

What should I listen to while reading Ken Liu?

If you’re one of those people who loves to listen to music while reading, we found some great playlists that you can try while exploring his work.For readers of "The Dandelion Dynasty," try this playlist that was "crafted for your EPIC reading journey.”For people trying his translated science fiction, listen to “Three Body Problem Reading Music.”And if you are a fan of the Netflix adaptation, try the 3 Body Problem official soundtrack!

Keep reading on Fable

Reading together with friends, family, and co-workers is a great way to enjoy the full mental and physical benefits of reading. We call this "social reading." The Fable app is built for social reading, with tools for sharing highlights, comments, insights, links, pictures, and videos as you read together. Here are a few ways to make the most of your Fable account!