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Folding Universe #1
Jumpnauts
From the Hugo Award–winning author of Folding Beijing comes a gripping science fiction thriller in which three unlikely allies attempt a desperate mission of first contact with a mysterious alien race before more militaristic minds can take matters into their own hands.
In a future where the world is roughly divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations, tensions are high as each side waits for the other to make a move. But neither side is prepared for a powerful third party that has apparently been an influential presence on Earth for thousands of years—and just might be making a reappearance very soon.
With the realization that a highly intelligent alien race has been trying to send them messages, three rising scientists within the Pacific League of Nations form an uneasy alliance. Fueled by a curiosity to have their questions answered and a fear that other factions within their rival Atlantic Division of Nations would opt for a more aggressive and potentially disastrous military response, the three race to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life they aren’t quite convinced is a threat.
Bolstered by recent evidence of alien visitations in the distant past, the three scientific minds must solve puzzles rooted within human antiquity, face off with their personal demons, and discover truths of the universe.
In a future where the world is roughly divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations, tensions are high as each side waits for the other to make a move. But neither side is prepared for a powerful third party that has apparently been an influential presence on Earth for thousands of years—and just might be making a reappearance very soon.
With the realization that a highly intelligent alien race has been trying to send them messages, three rising scientists within the Pacific League of Nations form an uneasy alliance. Fueled by a curiosity to have their questions answered and a fear that other factions within their rival Atlantic Division of Nations would opt for a more aggressive and potentially disastrous military response, the three race to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life they aren’t quite convinced is a threat.
Bolstered by recent evidence of alien visitations in the distant past, the three scientific minds must solve puzzles rooted within human antiquity, face off with their personal demons, and discover truths of the universe.
15 pages, Audiobook
First published October 1, 2021
174 people are currently reading
3105 people want to read
About the author
Hao Jingfang
32 books410 followersHao Jingfang (Chinese: 郝景芳; pinyin: Hăo Jǐngfāng), is a Chinese science fiction writer.
Hao Jingfang was born in 1984, graduated in physics and gained her PhD in economics at Tsinghua University in 2013. She has been working since with the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), where she acts as Deputy Director of Research Department I.
She won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for Folding Beijing, translated by Ken Liu, at the 2016 Hugo Awards.
Hao Jingfang was awarded the First Prize in the New Concept Writing Competition (2002). Her fiction has appeared in various publications, including Mengya, Science Fiction World and ZUI Found. She has published two full-length novels, Wandering Maearth and Return to Charon; a book of cultural essarys, Europe in Time; and the short story collection, Star Travellers.
Hao Jingfang was born in 1984, graduated in physics and gained her PhD in economics at Tsinghua University in 2013. She has been working since with the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), where she acts as Deputy Director of Research Department I.
She won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for Folding Beijing, translated by Ken Liu, at the 2016 Hugo Awards.
Hao Jingfang was awarded the First Prize in the New Concept Writing Competition (2002). Her fiction has appeared in various publications, including Mengya, Science Fiction World and ZUI Found. She has published two full-length novels, Wandering Maearth and Return to Charon; a book of cultural essarys, Europe in Time; and the short story collection, Star Travellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
March 14, 2024
Hao Jingfang’s first contact narrative is crafted from an expert blend of science, Chinese history, mythology and philosophy. At its heart’s an inventive exploration of issues that’ve surfaced across her writing: from social inequality to the very nature and purpose of human existence. Hao Jingfang’s ambitious story’s set in the not-too-distant future, Earth is dominated by two powers the Pacific League and the Atlantic Alliance. Urban centres are overseen by AI, space travel’s accessible, everyday tech has advanced by leaps and bounds yet poverty’s rife and the two controlling factions have been in a state of near-continuous war for over 20 years. A succession of seemingly random, perhaps fated, events bring together archaeologist Yun Fan, astronomer Jiang Liu and military researcher Qi Fei who unite to trace the source of signals that may signify a nearby extraterrestrial vessel. After a nail-biting series of misadventures, the trio leave their base in China and venture into space along with laidback, pilot-turned-chef Chiang Tian.
Despite initial competition between Jiang Liu and Qi Fei for Yun Fan’s attention, Hao Jingfang isn’t setting the scene for romance here. She’s far more intent on the possibilities for a meeting of the minds between people whose beliefs appear totally incompatible. Hao Jingfang cleverly exploits Qi Fei and Jiang Liu’s rivalry to open up a dialogue with aspects of Chinese philosophy and with other SF writers. Like Yun Fan, Jiang Liu’s intrigued by the opportunities an encounter with an alien species might provide. But Qi Fei’s feelings echo Liu Cixin’s dark forest hypothesis - central to his “Three-body” series. For Qi Fei alien lifeforms are inevitably hostile, enemies lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce. For Qi Fei the only good alien is a dead alien, thinking that’s partly guided by his army training and partly by his personal take on Chinese belief systems including Confucianism. In many ways Jiang Liu appears Qi Fei’s opposite, he’s fascinated by Mohism, moral teachings that emphasize selflessness and mutual respect. This connects to a traumatic past experience which Jiang Liu introduces via Ursula K. Le Guin’s famous “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.”
Hao Jingfang's examination of Jiang Liu and Qi Fei’s clashing ideals overshadow the middle sections of her novel, sandwiched between more action-packed sequences. Admittedly there were times when I found their discussions a little dry and overly didactic but I thought they were worth sticking with, ultimately informative and surprisingly thought-provoking. They also introduce key elements of Hao Jingfang’s worldbuilding – this is the first in an ongoing series.
Hao Jingfang considers details the lifeblood of fiction, and there were so many pleasing ones here. It’s hard to talk about Hao Jingfang’s story without giving too much away but I loved Yun Fan’s notion that approaching aliens were connected to the development of Chinese civilisation and the way that played out as the plot unfolded. I relished the SF references from Liu Cixin to a hint of Solaris. I thought Jumpnauts was slightly uneven and the ending felt a bit rushed. But I liked its overall optimism, in SF terms it’s closer in spirit to the utopianism of early Star Trek TNG than it is more dystopian visions. I’m looking forward to the next instalment. Translated by Ken Liu.
Thanks to Netgalley and to publisher Head of Zeus for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Despite initial competition between Jiang Liu and Qi Fei for Yun Fan’s attention, Hao Jingfang isn’t setting the scene for romance here. She’s far more intent on the possibilities for a meeting of the minds between people whose beliefs appear totally incompatible. Hao Jingfang cleverly exploits Qi Fei and Jiang Liu’s rivalry to open up a dialogue with aspects of Chinese philosophy and with other SF writers. Like Yun Fan, Jiang Liu’s intrigued by the opportunities an encounter with an alien species might provide. But Qi Fei’s feelings echo Liu Cixin’s dark forest hypothesis - central to his “Three-body” series. For Qi Fei alien lifeforms are inevitably hostile, enemies lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce. For Qi Fei the only good alien is a dead alien, thinking that’s partly guided by his army training and partly by his personal take on Chinese belief systems including Confucianism. In many ways Jiang Liu appears Qi Fei’s opposite, he’s fascinated by Mohism, moral teachings that emphasize selflessness and mutual respect. This connects to a traumatic past experience which Jiang Liu introduces via Ursula K. Le Guin’s famous “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.”
Hao Jingfang's examination of Jiang Liu and Qi Fei’s clashing ideals overshadow the middle sections of her novel, sandwiched between more action-packed sequences. Admittedly there were times when I found their discussions a little dry and overly didactic but I thought they were worth sticking with, ultimately informative and surprisingly thought-provoking. They also introduce key elements of Hao Jingfang’s worldbuilding – this is the first in an ongoing series.
Hao Jingfang considers details the lifeblood of fiction, and there were so many pleasing ones here. It’s hard to talk about Hao Jingfang’s story without giving too much away but I loved Yun Fan’s notion that approaching aliens were connected to the development of Chinese civilisation and the way that played out as the plot unfolded. I relished the SF references from Liu Cixin to a hint of Solaris. I thought Jumpnauts was slightly uneven and the ending felt a bit rushed. But I liked its overall optimism, in SF terms it’s closer in spirit to the utopianism of early Star Trek TNG than it is more dystopian visions. I’m looking forward to the next instalment. Translated by Ken Liu.
Thanks to Netgalley and to publisher Head of Zeus for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
June 8, 2024
4.0 Stars
This is the kind of sci novel full of ideas that I enjoy, but won't be for everyone.
With the Chinese cultural focus, it did remind me slightly of The Three Body Problem, but I shouldn't make that comparison because they aren't the exact same which will lead some readers to be disappointed.
This novel is not perfect. I felt like the narrative was a bit uneven if the author trying to squeeze in so many ideas. However I kept finding myself liking those ideas and so not minding the narrative shifts.
I would recommend this one to sci fi readers who read for the concepts rather than perfect plot and characters. If you are looking for new translated science fiction, this would be an excellent choice.
This is the kind of sci novel full of ideas that I enjoy, but won't be for everyone.
With the Chinese cultural focus, it did remind me slightly of The Three Body Problem, but I shouldn't make that comparison because they aren't the exact same which will lead some readers to be disappointed.
This novel is not perfect. I felt like the narrative was a bit uneven if the author trying to squeeze in so many ideas. However I kept finding myself liking those ideas and so not minding the narrative shifts.
I would recommend this one to sci fi readers who read for the concepts rather than perfect plot and characters. If you are looking for new translated science fiction, this would be an excellent choice.
October 12, 2024
What in the space Indiana Jones meets The Matrix meets Doctor Who is this??
A generous 2.5 stars rounded up.
This was a 2 star read, but I'm tacking on half a star because I was very surprised and was satisfied that the characters actually underwent a whole lotta character growth. In my experience with these types of books, this rarely happens.
Okay. So, I didn't really like this. It read like a self-published sci-fi and felt like a slog to get though. Every time I picked it up, it felt like a struggle. Numerous times I wondered if I should've DNF.
In hindsight, I probably should've DNF.
I was intrigued by this novel at first. Who can't say no to a futuristic sci-fi world on the brink of a war? That's my jam.
But in the first 50%, it leaned so heavily on the "two dudes fighting over a woman" trope and it just wouldn't let go. It got really old and it felt like it was written by a straight man who had to prove to everyone that he was strong and masculine and witty enough for the beautiful girl.
But this is written by a woman with a physics degree and economics PhD, so what the hell.
So then, I tried to immerse myself in the sci-fi, Chinese philosophy and history, and ~aliens.
Yeah, that didn't work out.
While the back and forth between the characters on Chinese philosophy and history was interesting at first, but like the "two dudes fighting over a chick" trope, it got really old the more it went on.
The sci-fi parts were cool in an action movie type of way, so at least that kept my interest.
The whole alien plotline though... It felt so cheesy and read very conspiracy theory affirming. It was both dumb and cool, if that makes sense. Aliens have been helping human civilization advance throughout the centuries? Okay.
What really brought my rating down though is how a good chunk of the alien encounter main plotline was just a giant infodump. There's no other way to put it. The author wrote it as a dialogue between the humans and aliens, but it was a terrible attempt to disguise an infodump.
It was as bad as the Crescent City 3 infodump that was the mother of all infodumps.
Idk. At least the aliens' qilin forms were cute.
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
A generous 2.5 stars rounded up.
This was a 2 star read, but I'm tacking on half a star because I was very surprised and was satisfied that the characters actually underwent a whole lotta character growth. In my experience with these types of books, this rarely happens.
Okay. So, I didn't really like this. It read like a self-published sci-fi and felt like a slog to get though. Every time I picked it up, it felt like a struggle. Numerous times I wondered if I should've DNF.
In hindsight, I probably should've DNF.
I was intrigued by this novel at first. Who can't say no to a futuristic sci-fi world on the brink of a war? That's my jam.
But in the first 50%, it leaned so heavily on the "two dudes fighting over a woman" trope and it just wouldn't let go. It got really old and it felt like it was written by a straight man who had to prove to everyone that he was strong and masculine and witty enough for the beautiful girl.
But this is written by a woman with a physics degree and economics PhD, so what the hell.
So then, I tried to immerse myself in the sci-fi, Chinese philosophy and history, and ~aliens.
Yeah, that didn't work out.
While the back and forth between the characters on Chinese philosophy and history was interesting at first, but like the "two dudes fighting over a chick" trope, it got really old the more it went on.
The sci-fi parts were cool in an action movie type of way, so at least that kept my interest.
The whole alien plotline though... It felt so cheesy and read very conspiracy theory affirming. It was both dumb and cool, if that makes sense. Aliens have been helping human civilization advance throughout the centuries? Okay.
What really brought my rating down though is how a good chunk of the alien encounter main plotline was just a giant infodump. There's no other way to put it. The author wrote it as a dialogue between the humans and aliens, but it was a terrible attempt to disguise an infodump.
It was as bad as the Crescent City 3 infodump that was the mother of all infodumps.
Idk. At least the aliens' qilin forms were cute.
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
March 26, 2025
DNF at 30% and skimming to the end chapters. I am disappointed in this. The premise and plot seemingly come from a B movie. Ancient aliens? With the whole blockchain stuff I am super confused. Not to mention the laughable love triangle part. Again, sad that this came from the author of Folding Beijing and Vagabonds.
January 29, 2024
This was a DNF, at 27%, mainly because I look for better science in my science fiction, but also because as a story it just wasn't doing much for me.
By wanting better science I mean not only the ridiculous ancient-aliens pseudoarcheology (though certainly that), but the fundamental lack of understanding of a very basic astronomical concept: the light year. Early on, an object is detected which has gone from 300 light years away to 89 light years away over a period of "a few months," but is said to be travelling "almost at the speed of light". Now, the very definition of a light year is that it's the distance light (or something travelling at the speed of light) takes to travel in a year, so if the object was moving at almost the speed of light it would have taken over 200 years, not just "a few months," to travel that distance.
I could probably have forgiven that, and given the ancient-aliens nonsense a trope pass, if the story had engaged me, but it didn't. Though it's supposed to be about first contact, early on it's mostly a love triangle between an archeologist (who believes in ancient aliens, and has very little personality), an alienated playboy astronomer from a wealthy family (who fills the void inside him with booze and sex), and a senior, yet remarkably hands-on, government agent with very little personality (who is engaged to his boss's daughter, a perfectly lovely woman who deserves better than to be sidelined in favour of the archeologist; but then, she probably deserves better than this guy anyway). My personal quirk is that I need to like the people involved in a romance if I'm going to care about it, and in this case I didn't.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley for review.
By wanting better science I mean not only the ridiculous ancient-aliens pseudoarcheology (though certainly that), but the fundamental lack of understanding of a very basic astronomical concept: the light year. Early on, an object is detected which has gone from 300 light years away to 89 light years away over a period of "a few months," but is said to be travelling "almost at the speed of light". Now, the very definition of a light year is that it's the distance light (or something travelling at the speed of light) takes to travel in a year, so if the object was moving at almost the speed of light it would have taken over 200 years, not just "a few months," to travel that distance.
I could probably have forgiven that, and given the ancient-aliens nonsense a trope pass, if the story had engaged me, but it didn't. Though it's supposed to be about first contact, early on it's mostly a love triangle between an archeologist (who believes in ancient aliens, and has very little personality), an alienated playboy astronomer from a wealthy family (who fills the void inside him with booze and sex), and a senior, yet remarkably hands-on, government agent with very little personality (who is engaged to his boss's daughter, a perfectly lovely woman who deserves better than to be sidelined in favour of the archeologist; but then, she probably deserves better than this guy anyway). My personal quirk is that I need to like the people involved in a romance if I'm going to care about it, and in this case I didn't.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley for review.
May 9, 2024
No está mal pero tampoco me ha entusiasmado. No termina de engancharme lo suficiente como para continuar con la saga
July 25, 2025
¿Y si los grandes avances de la humanidad no hubiesen sido únicamente producto del esfuerzo de esta? ¿Y si construcciones cuya creación nunca terminó de quedar clara tuviese ahora sentido? Maravillas como las pirámides, los guerreros de terracota o el propio mausoleo del primer emperador de China, Qin Shi Huang, donde estos se hallan enterrados podrían haber sido producto de la ayuda que el ser humano hubiese recibido de otra especie con unos conocimientos superiores, como los que estas creaciones parecen haber necesitado para ser elaboradas hace cientos de años. En un mundo a finales del siglo XXI, dividido en dos facciones diferenciadas, la Liga del Pacífico y la Alianza Atlántica, el uso de la tecnología da poder, y la guerra asola todo el planeta. Mientras los poderosos, ávidos de alcanzar más poder, juegan a la guerra y usan la muerte de los más vulnerables a su favor, Yun Fan, una joven arqueóloga hará un descubrimiento que podría llevar a la humanidad a un gran descubrimiento. Junto a ella estarán Jiang Liu, hijo de un rico magnate que ha hecho fortuna a costa de aprovecharse de otros, Qi Fei, un serio y rígido militar de la Liga y, Chang Tian, un tierno psicólogo. Puede que el futuro del mundo se encuentre en sus manos.
Es curioso como, a veces, sin saber uno la razón exacta, algunos libros nos llegan desde las primeras páginas. Analizándolo, es fácil encontrar un montón de motivos, pero siempre me pregunto, ¿por qué con esta historia y no con otras que pueden compartir los mismos puntos positivos? Pues no tengo la respuesta, quizás es cuestión del libro correcto en el momento correcto, quizás es estar en sintonía con la historia a la hora de adentrarte. Como digo, no lo sé, pero desde las primeras páginas supe que “Saltonautas” iba a ser una historia especial para mí, y ese sentimiento me ha acompañado a lo largo de toda la lectura, siendo confirmado en cada página.
Pese a no dejar de ser un libro de aventuras por el espacio en busca de respuestas para una de las grandes incógnitas de la humanidad, “Saltonautas” no es una historia vertiginosa. Esto no quiere decir que no tenga sus momentos tensos y de acción, pero ante todo es una historia de personas que se conocen, que confrontan sus diferencias y entienden que al final la gran mayoría busca lo mismo: encajar en el mundo, encontrar su sitio. Me he encontrado con un libro bonito y muy reflexivo que constantemente invita al lector a pensar y cuestionarse las cosas que le rodean.
He disfrutado enormemente de todos los trozos de los textos antiguos del folclore de China, y especialmente todos esos diálogos donde los protagonistas comparan doctrinas como el confucianismo, el moísmo o el taoísmo, encontrando sus puntos buenos y sus contradicciones, llegando siempre a encuentros muy interesantes, donde los personajes se sumergen en reflexiones muy profundas. Siempre disfruto de un buen análisis de la fe y como esta se manifiesta a través de diferentes creencias. También me ha gustado como se muestra esa predisposición humana a pensar de lo desconocido lo peor, a ver siempre la mala intención en otras especies. Dicen que se cree el ladrón que todos son de su condición, ¿no? Pues eso.
Resulta fascinante la manera en la que Hao Jingfang consigue darle la vuelta a la historia humana, buscándole un sentido a todas esas maravillas que se encuentran por nuestro mundo a las que nos cuesta encontrarle el sentido, y la autora es capaz de crear un contexto tan creíble que te lleva incluso a fantasear con que algo parecido pueda ser real. Además, lo acompaña de muchas explicaciones científicas, pero bien transmitidas, para todos los públicos, sin que en ningún momento se hagan pesadas o difíciles de seguir, como pasa en muchos otros libros de ciencia ficción.
He disfrutado mucho de la ambientación, de los diferentes lugares que los protagonistas visitan, ya sea en esa Tierra futurista decadente, como en medio del espacio o incluso en un extraño planeta desconocido, porque de algún modo la autora convertía cada lugar en algo confortable, en un momento entrañable donde sus personajes paran a reposar y hablar del universo y sus misterios. Y en relación con esto último, para mí la gran virtud de la novela son sus personajes, no solo por los individuos que representan cada uno en sí, sino por las relaciones que se dan entre ellos. Estos comparten momentos tristes, divertidos y emotivos, pasando de la desconfianza, el rechazo o la rabia, a la comprensión, al afecto. El vínculo que estos cuatro personajes crean es una absoluta delicia, y siento que podría leer conversaciones mantenidas por ellos infinitamente.
En definitiva, “Saltonautas” de Hao Jingfang está lleno de elementos, perfectamente mezclados y que, al menos en mi caso, ha conseguido provocarme alegría. Es uno de esos libros que te hace feliz, que te saca sonrisas constantemente, gracias a la pureza de sus personajes y al aura esperanzadora que siempre rodea la historia, pese a la clara crítica a los métodos de los que gobiernan. Muy buen comienzo el que he tenido con la autora. Ojalá obtengamos una segunda parte, porque la historia se presta para más.
Es curioso como, a veces, sin saber uno la razón exacta, algunos libros nos llegan desde las primeras páginas. Analizándolo, es fácil encontrar un montón de motivos, pero siempre me pregunto, ¿por qué con esta historia y no con otras que pueden compartir los mismos puntos positivos? Pues no tengo la respuesta, quizás es cuestión del libro correcto en el momento correcto, quizás es estar en sintonía con la historia a la hora de adentrarte. Como digo, no lo sé, pero desde las primeras páginas supe que “Saltonautas” iba a ser una historia especial para mí, y ese sentimiento me ha acompañado a lo largo de toda la lectura, siendo confirmado en cada página.
Pese a no dejar de ser un libro de aventuras por el espacio en busca de respuestas para una de las grandes incógnitas de la humanidad, “Saltonautas” no es una historia vertiginosa. Esto no quiere decir que no tenga sus momentos tensos y de acción, pero ante todo es una historia de personas que se conocen, que confrontan sus diferencias y entienden que al final la gran mayoría busca lo mismo: encajar en el mundo, encontrar su sitio. Me he encontrado con un libro bonito y muy reflexivo que constantemente invita al lector a pensar y cuestionarse las cosas que le rodean.
He disfrutado enormemente de todos los trozos de los textos antiguos del folclore de China, y especialmente todos esos diálogos donde los protagonistas comparan doctrinas como el confucianismo, el moísmo o el taoísmo, encontrando sus puntos buenos y sus contradicciones, llegando siempre a encuentros muy interesantes, donde los personajes se sumergen en reflexiones muy profundas. Siempre disfruto de un buen análisis de la fe y como esta se manifiesta a través de diferentes creencias. También me ha gustado como se muestra esa predisposición humana a pensar de lo desconocido lo peor, a ver siempre la mala intención en otras especies. Dicen que se cree el ladrón que todos son de su condición, ¿no? Pues eso.
Resulta fascinante la manera en la que Hao Jingfang consigue darle la vuelta a la historia humana, buscándole un sentido a todas esas maravillas que se encuentran por nuestro mundo a las que nos cuesta encontrarle el sentido, y la autora es capaz de crear un contexto tan creíble que te lleva incluso a fantasear con que algo parecido pueda ser real. Además, lo acompaña de muchas explicaciones científicas, pero bien transmitidas, para todos los públicos, sin que en ningún momento se hagan pesadas o difíciles de seguir, como pasa en muchos otros libros de ciencia ficción.
He disfrutado mucho de la ambientación, de los diferentes lugares que los protagonistas visitan, ya sea en esa Tierra futurista decadente, como en medio del espacio o incluso en un extraño planeta desconocido, porque de algún modo la autora convertía cada lugar en algo confortable, en un momento entrañable donde sus personajes paran a reposar y hablar del universo y sus misterios. Y en relación con esto último, para mí la gran virtud de la novela son sus personajes, no solo por los individuos que representan cada uno en sí, sino por las relaciones que se dan entre ellos. Estos comparten momentos tristes, divertidos y emotivos, pasando de la desconfianza, el rechazo o la rabia, a la comprensión, al afecto. El vínculo que estos cuatro personajes crean es una absoluta delicia, y siento que podría leer conversaciones mantenidas por ellos infinitamente.
En definitiva, “Saltonautas” de Hao Jingfang está lleno de elementos, perfectamente mezclados y que, al menos en mi caso, ha conseguido provocarme alegría. Es uno de esos libros que te hace feliz, que te saca sonrisas constantemente, gracias a la pureza de sus personajes y al aura esperanzadora que siempre rodea la historia, pese a la clara crítica a los métodos de los que gobiernan. Muy buen comienzo el que he tenido con la autora. Ojalá obtengamos una segunda parte, porque la historia se presta para más.
March 17, 2024
[Blurb goes here]
Two factions struggle to maintain control in a world broken by war: the Pacific League and the Atlantic Division. One astronomer and genius programmer, the son of one of the most powerful families on Earth, finds a strange transmission. He has been looking to deliver the information to a beautiful archeologist he met a few years ago.
He travels to meet the archeologist and deliver his findings. Unknown to him, he had been observing the approach of an alien vessel flying near the speed of light. The archeologist wants to meet the aliens on a first-encounter mission she inherited from her father.
Below the Mausoleum Museum where she resides, buried hundreds of feet below it, there's an ancient castle. The castle is transmitting information to the alien ship. The Pacific League military intercepted the transmissions. They send their best man to find what they're sure to be spies.
Enemies will become reluctant friends to help the archeologist travel to meet the alien vessel.
While the premise of this sci-fi adventure is compelling, it reads more like a fantasy novel than a sci-fi one. There are tons of sci-fi concepts in it, but it seems the author took a bucket of those and indiscriminately threw them in the mix.
The dialogs are sometimes choppy, and the writing could be more developed.
The author purposely puts our heroes in absurd situations, like entering a spaceship with more traps than the temples Indiana Jones used to raid. Then, there's the constant clarification of concepts. In one instance, our heroes meet an emperor who has been living with the aliens for two millennia. Why does the emperor need to discuss his original plans for a unified Earth with an alien he has known for that long? To give our characters context. Wouldn't it be simpler for him to explain such ruminations to the humans?
The author bit more than he could chew in this long, tedious adventure.
I enjoyed some of the action sequences. Not all, mind you: some read like Jackie Chan fights in a movie.
I can't recommend this read, but maybe that's just me...maybe you'll discover something worth your while while reading it.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Two factions struggle to maintain control in a world broken by war: the Pacific League and the Atlantic Division. One astronomer and genius programmer, the son of one of the most powerful families on Earth, finds a strange transmission. He has been looking to deliver the information to a beautiful archeologist he met a few years ago.
He travels to meet the archeologist and deliver his findings. Unknown to him, he had been observing the approach of an alien vessel flying near the speed of light. The archeologist wants to meet the aliens on a first-encounter mission she inherited from her father.
Below the Mausoleum Museum where she resides, buried hundreds of feet below it, there's an ancient castle. The castle is transmitting information to the alien ship. The Pacific League military intercepted the transmissions. They send their best man to find what they're sure to be spies.
Enemies will become reluctant friends to help the archeologist travel to meet the alien vessel.
While the premise of this sci-fi adventure is compelling, it reads more like a fantasy novel than a sci-fi one. There are tons of sci-fi concepts in it, but it seems the author took a bucket of those and indiscriminately threw them in the mix.
The dialogs are sometimes choppy, and the writing could be more developed.
The author purposely puts our heroes in absurd situations, like entering a spaceship with more traps than the temples Indiana Jones used to raid. Then, there's the constant clarification of concepts. In one instance, our heroes meet an emperor who has been living with the aliens for two millennia. Why does the emperor need to discuss his original plans for a unified Earth with an alien he has known for that long? To give our characters context. Wouldn't it be simpler for him to explain such ruminations to the humans?
The author bit more than he could chew in this long, tedious adventure.
I enjoyed some of the action sequences. Not all, mind you: some read like Jackie Chan fights in a movie.
I can't recommend this read, but maybe that's just me...maybe you'll discover something worth your while while reading it.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
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February 10, 2024Abandonado al 30%. Premisa interesante, pero libro fallido. No he conectado con el estilo de la autora, ni con los personajes y sus relaciones. Puede que sea un asunto cultural y no entienda bien la cultura oriental, me pasa a menudo en el manga.
February 20, 2024
Gifted by the publisher
Tensions run high in a future where the world is divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations. But when the realization comes that a powerful third party has been an influential presence on Earth for millennia, three rising scientists form an uneasy alliance to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life.
JUMPNAUTS is an inventive and entertaining read that seamlessly blends Chinese classic vibes (Hao's original words are 中式古典美學) and science fiction. When I think about Chinese classics, they often have a melancholic and romantic undertone that evokes deep contemplations—going in, I couldn't fathom how quantum entanglement and Daoism could coexist in a book.
Hao beautifully fuses Chinese philosophy, civilization, and physics into a page-turner. I was mindblown by Hao's originality in connecting blockchain to Ruism (儒家), Daoism (道家), and Mosim (墨家); I was also mesmerized by the character's conversations about implementing various ancient Chinese belief systems in how one designs technology.
Due to the frequent citations of these ancient texts, I read most of JUMPNAUTS in Mandarin and referenced Liu's translations & footnotes to compare. It's worth mentioning that Liu's translations stay true to the meanings while giving it a more modern feel, and I didn't quite get the "Chinese classic aesthetics" from the English translation.
Consider this phrase from Confucius, 明知不可為而為之, translated as "the belief that one should do what is right even if they know failure is certain." There's just something about Ancient Chinese that conveys so much with so little that maybe only Latin could do it justice—but nobody wants to read that 🤣 I still relished Liu's masterful translation, which is no small feat because there is A LOT of Archaic Chinese that even Mandarin readers will have to look up, but just know the aesthetics Hao tries so hard to preserve could be lost.
On the other hand, Hao's original texts have a web novel feel. I wonder if it's due to the lack of "character development" that conforms to Western standards, because the MCs are all in their 20s but already wildly successful in their careers 🙈, or if the three MCs' backgrounds & personalities follow specific algorithms commonly seen in light novels. I didn't get that web fiction vibe from Liu's translation from the few chapters I've read, and it's a testament to his craft in preserving the meaning yet subtly enhancing the literary merits of JUMPNAUTS.
Based on Hao's social media, JUMPNAUTS is book 1 of a 6-book series, and the pacing reflects that. Half of book 1 is world-building, and things don't get interesting until 50%. While there is a clear ending, some might find JUMPNAUTS unevenly paced if read as a standalone.
Overall, I enjoyed JUMPNAUTS and will be impatiently waiting for the sequels! I'd suggest interested English readers look up Liu's footnotes throughout the text to get a feel of the Chinese classic vibes. If you have some background in Chinese philosophies, Hao introduces some fascinating ideas about AI and consciousness, communications and connections, and different "levels" of civilizations in JUMPNAUTS.
Tensions run high in a future where the world is divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations. But when the realization comes that a powerful third party has been an influential presence on Earth for millennia, three rising scientists form an uneasy alliance to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life.
JUMPNAUTS is an inventive and entertaining read that seamlessly blends Chinese classic vibes (Hao's original words are 中式古典美學) and science fiction. When I think about Chinese classics, they often have a melancholic and romantic undertone that evokes deep contemplations—going in, I couldn't fathom how quantum entanglement and Daoism could coexist in a book.
Hao beautifully fuses Chinese philosophy, civilization, and physics into a page-turner. I was mindblown by Hao's originality in connecting blockchain to Ruism (儒家), Daoism (道家), and Mosim (墨家); I was also mesmerized by the character's conversations about implementing various ancient Chinese belief systems in how one designs technology.
Due to the frequent citations of these ancient texts, I read most of JUMPNAUTS in Mandarin and referenced Liu's translations & footnotes to compare. It's worth mentioning that Liu's translations stay true to the meanings while giving it a more modern feel, and I didn't quite get the "Chinese classic aesthetics" from the English translation.
Consider this phrase from Confucius, 明知不可為而為之, translated as "the belief that one should do what is right even if they know failure is certain." There's just something about Ancient Chinese that conveys so much with so little that maybe only Latin could do it justice—but nobody wants to read that 🤣 I still relished Liu's masterful translation, which is no small feat because there is A LOT of Archaic Chinese that even Mandarin readers will have to look up, but just know the aesthetics Hao tries so hard to preserve could be lost.
On the other hand, Hao's original texts have a web novel feel. I wonder if it's due to the lack of "character development" that conforms to Western standards, because the MCs are all in their 20s but already wildly successful in their careers 🙈, or if the three MCs' backgrounds & personalities follow specific algorithms commonly seen in light novels. I didn't get that web fiction vibe from Liu's translation from the few chapters I've read, and it's a testament to his craft in preserving the meaning yet subtly enhancing the literary merits of JUMPNAUTS.
Based on Hao's social media, JUMPNAUTS is book 1 of a 6-book series, and the pacing reflects that. Half of book 1 is world-building, and things don't get interesting until 50%. While there is a clear ending, some might find JUMPNAUTS unevenly paced if read as a standalone.
Overall, I enjoyed JUMPNAUTS and will be impatiently waiting for the sequels! I'd suggest interested English readers look up Liu's footnotes throughout the text to get a feel of the Chinese classic vibes. If you have some background in Chinese philosophies, Hao introduces some fascinating ideas about AI and consciousness, communications and connections, and different "levels" of civilizations in JUMPNAUTS.
March 25, 2024
"El peligro sobre el que me advertías no era el peligro del fracaso, sino del éxito, un éxito que solo te deja un camino por delante. La búsqueda de la gloria, de ser el más fuerte, el más grande y el mejor, algo que no tiene fin. Una vez empiezas, no hay forma de parar. Al final te conviertes en una flecha en el punto álgido del vuelo, en un fantasma solitario atrapado en el culmen de una gloria efímera, sin valor alguno."
Un mundo dividido en dos grandes Potencias y un contacto con una especie más avanzada tecnológica y socialmente es el punto de partida de "Saltonautas". Una premisa aparentemente sencilla y manida, pero que poco a poco va evolucionando en una trama compleja que roza el ensayo (por lo que veo, cosa frecuente en la autora) sobre numerosos temas como el desarrollo de la civilización y la tecnología, la filosofía y la neuropsicología.
"Vagabundos" en su día fue una novela que se me hizo muy densa, pero a pesar de ello fui capaz de apreciar todo el potencial que tenía a la hora de desarrollar distintos temas científicos y culturales que enriquecían la lectura. "Saltonautas" tiene también esa parte que estimula tu curiosidad, y te hace querer indagar y descubrir más sobre materias que no dominas. Pero esta vez, tenemos un componente extra que a mi personalmente me ha llegado mucho más: los personajes. Toda la trama se desarrolla alrededor de cuatro personajes muy diferentes entre sí, tanto de personalidad, como de transfondo, como en conocimientos que manejan, que se verán obligados a colaborar para llevar a cabo una misión diplomática de la que dependel el futuro y el desarrollo de la humanidad.
Las vivencias, luces y sombras y conocimientos de cada uno de ellos serán lo que aporte dimensión a los acontecimientos que van a vivir, ya que para cumplir su misión deberán conocerse, enfrentarse a sus miedos más íntimos y abrirse y confiar. Esa relación tan peculiar entre los personajes, ese hincapié en la cooperación, la aceptación y el respeto al prójimo fue para mi uno de los puntos fuertes de la novela y lo que hizo que terminase gustándome tanto.
Es una novela que no solo habla de avances científicos y tecnológicos, sino que también habla de la capacidad que tenemos de procesarlos no solo intelectualmente, sino emocionalmente. Me ha gustado muchísimo ese balance entre ciencias más puras, filosofía y psicología. Si bien es una novela MUY pausada y algo densa en algunas partes, quizá no la más recomendada para principiantes en el género, me parece tremendamente interesante y cautivadora. De estas que te dejan dándole mil vueltas a sus páginas una vez que las terminas.
Un mundo dividido en dos grandes Potencias y un contacto con una especie más avanzada tecnológica y socialmente es el punto de partida de "Saltonautas". Una premisa aparentemente sencilla y manida, pero que poco a poco va evolucionando en una trama compleja que roza el ensayo (por lo que veo, cosa frecuente en la autora) sobre numerosos temas como el desarrollo de la civilización y la tecnología, la filosofía y la neuropsicología.
"Vagabundos" en su día fue una novela que se me hizo muy densa, pero a pesar de ello fui capaz de apreciar todo el potencial que tenía a la hora de desarrollar distintos temas científicos y culturales que enriquecían la lectura. "Saltonautas" tiene también esa parte que estimula tu curiosidad, y te hace querer indagar y descubrir más sobre materias que no dominas. Pero esta vez, tenemos un componente extra que a mi personalmente me ha llegado mucho más: los personajes. Toda la trama se desarrolla alrededor de cuatro personajes muy diferentes entre sí, tanto de personalidad, como de transfondo, como en conocimientos que manejan, que se verán obligados a colaborar para llevar a cabo una misión diplomática de la que dependel el futuro y el desarrollo de la humanidad.
Las vivencias, luces y sombras y conocimientos de cada uno de ellos serán lo que aporte dimensión a los acontecimientos que van a vivir, ya que para cumplir su misión deberán conocerse, enfrentarse a sus miedos más íntimos y abrirse y confiar. Esa relación tan peculiar entre los personajes, ese hincapié en la cooperación, la aceptación y el respeto al prójimo fue para mi uno de los puntos fuertes de la novela y lo que hizo que terminase gustándome tanto.
Es una novela que no solo habla de avances científicos y tecnológicos, sino que también habla de la capacidad que tenemos de procesarlos no solo intelectualmente, sino emocionalmente. Me ha gustado muchísimo ese balance entre ciencias más puras, filosofía y psicología. Si bien es una novela MUY pausada y algo densa en algunas partes, quizá no la más recomendada para principiantes en el género, me parece tremendamente interesante y cautivadora. De estas que te dejan dándole mil vueltas a sus páginas una vez que las terminas.
February 9, 2024
I love a good science fiction book, and if it involves a first encounter, that's just icing on the cake. I was looking forward to this book from this award-winning Chinese writer whose story checked both boxes. I don't know if something got lost in translation, but this was less than a stellar introduction to this writer. The characters were one-dimensional, the writing was simplistic, and the dialogue clunky.
Earth is now divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations; war is imminent. Add to this, an alien race, thought to have visited in the past, is now trying to make contact. Two scientists and a wealthy playboy are trying to interfere with a potential military response and make first contact. The race is on.
As stated, the premise is intriguing, but the execution is lacking. 1/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 12, 2024.
Earth is now divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations; war is imminent. Add to this, an alien race, thought to have visited in the past, is now trying to make contact. Two scientists and a wealthy playboy are trying to interfere with a potential military response and make first contact. The race is on.
As stated, the premise is intriguing, but the execution is lacking. 1/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 12, 2024.
April 23, 2024
Puede ser el primer caso me echo a los ojos de Magufa-Ficción colada como ciencia ficción. Si fuera mas difícil de conseguir y se pasara medio en secreto por ahí y me dices que es el manual de reclutamiento de una nueva secta, me lo creo. Vale que leemos polladas en la ciencia ficción, pero hay un abismo entre no ser muy riguroso con la ciencia como la space opera y directamente sacar la carta magufa.
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April 2, 2024I can't with this trying to woo the girl while the girl is working thing. I've got too many other books to read.
March 12, 2024
If you ever enjoyed those late-night History Channel "documentaries" that try to prove aliens were the reason for humanity's progress you are going to absolutely love Jumpnauts!
In this futuristic version of Earth, we follow of group of four unlikely friends who find out aliens are coming to Earth and they might be friendly. However, they live in an era of a cold war between two major factions who both want the aliens' power for themselves. These four have to find the aliens first and convince them and themselves that humanity is worth helping and trusting in.
I had an incredible time reading this book. The beginning was a little melodramatic and the science was a bit funky, but I really enjoyed the characters and all of their quirks, which began to shine in the second half of the novel. The latter half of this book starts to get deeper into each character's motivation for being who they are. They each have to dissect their past and what they want their future to be. In fact, this book's best feature is the deep conversations about the importance of community and individuality in humanity and whether there is hope for the future.
The main issue I had when reading Jumpnauts was the amount of loredumping there was in the beginning. Now I am a big sci-fi and fantasy reader and I understand the need for a lore drop now and again, but there were times I felt like I was reading a textbook, which was not a fun time. I think this may have been because of the translation of the book from Maderian to English. I believe the translator may have felt the need to overexplain some details, but I did not like how it ended up in the final work. There was no trust put in the reader to figure out how the world operated because it was straight-up told to you, but the lore dumping is not as bad in the latter half of the book.
I am very excited to see more of this world and I had a wonderful time escaping into this futuristic alien universe.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hao Jingfang for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this futuristic version of Earth, we follow of group of four unlikely friends who find out aliens are coming to Earth and they might be friendly. However, they live in an era of a cold war between two major factions who both want the aliens' power for themselves. These four have to find the aliens first and convince them and themselves that humanity is worth helping and trusting in.
I had an incredible time reading this book. The beginning was a little melodramatic and the science was a bit funky, but I really enjoyed the characters and all of their quirks, which began to shine in the second half of the novel. The latter half of this book starts to get deeper into each character's motivation for being who they are. They each have to dissect their past and what they want their future to be. In fact, this book's best feature is the deep conversations about the importance of community and individuality in humanity and whether there is hope for the future.
The main issue I had when reading Jumpnauts was the amount of loredumping there was in the beginning. Now I am a big sci-fi and fantasy reader and I understand the need for a lore drop now and again, but there were times I felt like I was reading a textbook, which was not a fun time. I think this may have been because of the translation of the book from Maderian to English. I believe the translator may have felt the need to overexplain some details, but I did not like how it ended up in the final work. There was no trust put in the reader to figure out how the world operated because it was straight-up told to you, but the lore dumping is not as bad in the latter half of the book.
I am very excited to see more of this world and I had a wonderful time escaping into this futuristic alien universe.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hao Jingfang for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2024
"One should do what is right even if they know failure is certain {明知不可為而為之}"
2080, the world is divided between two factions, the Pacific League and the more militaristic Atlantic Alliance. After a recent evidence of alien visitations on Earth for thousand of years, three young scientists (astronomer Jiang Liu, director of the military research institute Qi Fei and archaeologist Yun Fan) desperately embark on a diplomatic mission of first contact with a mysterious alien ship.
This was such a delightful reading experience. Jingfang tackles on the foundation of civilization in the most innovative way, interweaving Chinese history (focused on Qin Empire) with modern sci-fi elements. The story drives one to follow patterns in the evolution of civilizations and technology advancement through talks about institutions and systems, powered by ancient texts from iconic Chinese figures (Mozi, Xunzi,...) and deeply rooted in Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.
While discussing their deepest faiths and ideals, it was interesting to dive into these scientific minds, when they face their own weakness in the hopes of conquering themselves. One witnesses both humanity side by side, of the characters and as a race, and its development via alien interference. With sophisticated prose, Jingfang also examines power, capitalism, political influence and AI impact, often anchored by Fundamental physics. Readers will have to take their time with this novel, as the world building takes over the narrative and the pacing is more favorable after 100 pages.
I applaud Liu's outstanding translation of this contemporary Chinese fiction and I think he was successful at preserving the overall essence of the Archaic Chinese (also my favorite part). Additionally, the footnotes are helpful at framing a better understanding of the story.
JUMPNAUTS (tr. Ken Liu) is an innovative science fiction thriller with remarkable vestiges of Chinese philosophy and beliefs. For those who enjoy a sci-fi story about civilizations with a dash of humor, this book is for you.
- note: JUMPNAUTS is rumored to be the book 1 of a 6-book series and I might want to read the next book alongside the original language
[ I received a signed ARC from the publisher - Saga press . All opinions are my own ]
2080, the world is divided between two factions, the Pacific League and the more militaristic Atlantic Alliance. After a recent evidence of alien visitations on Earth for thousand of years, three young scientists (astronomer Jiang Liu, director of the military research institute Qi Fei and archaeologist Yun Fan) desperately embark on a diplomatic mission of first contact with a mysterious alien ship.
This was such a delightful reading experience. Jingfang tackles on the foundation of civilization in the most innovative way, interweaving Chinese history (focused on Qin Empire) with modern sci-fi elements. The story drives one to follow patterns in the evolution of civilizations and technology advancement through talks about institutions and systems, powered by ancient texts from iconic Chinese figures (Mozi, Xunzi,...) and deeply rooted in Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.
While discussing their deepest faiths and ideals, it was interesting to dive into these scientific minds, when they face their own weakness in the hopes of conquering themselves. One witnesses both humanity side by side, of the characters and as a race, and its development via alien interference. With sophisticated prose, Jingfang also examines power, capitalism, political influence and AI impact, often anchored by Fundamental physics. Readers will have to take their time with this novel, as the world building takes over the narrative and the pacing is more favorable after 100 pages.
I applaud Liu's outstanding translation of this contemporary Chinese fiction and I think he was successful at preserving the overall essence of the Archaic Chinese (also my favorite part). Additionally, the footnotes are helpful at framing a better understanding of the story.
JUMPNAUTS (tr. Ken Liu) is an innovative science fiction thriller with remarkable vestiges of Chinese philosophy and beliefs. For those who enjoy a sci-fi story about civilizations with a dash of humor, this book is for you.
- note: JUMPNAUTS is rumored to be the book 1 of a 6-book series and I might want to read the next book alongside the original language
[ I received a signed ARC from the publisher - Saga press . All opinions are my own ]
July 2, 2024
En un futuro en que la sociedad está dividida en dos facciones, tres jovenes descubren que una especie alienígena muy inteligente ha estado visitando la Tierra desde hace miles de años y está a punto de regersar de nuevo. Los tres se embarcan en una misión contrarreloj para ser los primeros en contactar con ella antes que lo haga alguien de las dos facciones.
Saltonautas es una novela de ciencia ficción ambientada en el futuro, pero que reflexiona sobre el pasado y lo que nos ha llevado a estar donde estamos como sociedad. En esta obra se mezclan ciencia ficción, arqueología y mitología (especialmente la China) para dar respuesta (de manera ficticia, claro està) a esas preguntas que todavía nos quedan por responder de las civilizaciones antiguas y sus deidades.
Es una novela densa y reflexiva, en la que gran parte del peso de la trama recae en los personajes protagonistas, quienes deben dejar de lado sus diferencias y aprender a cooperar para conseguir su objetivo. Casi me atrevería a decir que la trama es solo la excusa para las reflexiones filosóficas que plantea la novela, aún y así, la he encontrado de lo más interesante.
Intereses políticos, rompecabezas, cooperación, misterios, mitología, alienígenas y reflexiones sociales. Todos estos elementos hacen de Saltonautas una novela que reflexiona sobre la sociedad y sobre como sería un primer contacto con otra especia inteligente procedente de otro planeta mientras nos sumerge en una trama en que los protagonistas se enfrentaran a diferentes pruebas y peligros a contrarreloj para conseguir contactar con estos seres.
Saltonautas es una novela de ciencia ficción ambientada en el futuro, pero que reflexiona sobre el pasado y lo que nos ha llevado a estar donde estamos como sociedad. En esta obra se mezclan ciencia ficción, arqueología y mitología (especialmente la China) para dar respuesta (de manera ficticia, claro està) a esas preguntas que todavía nos quedan por responder de las civilizaciones antiguas y sus deidades.
Es una novela densa y reflexiva, en la que gran parte del peso de la trama recae en los personajes protagonistas, quienes deben dejar de lado sus diferencias y aprender a cooperar para conseguir su objetivo. Casi me atrevería a decir que la trama es solo la excusa para las reflexiones filosóficas que plantea la novela, aún y así, la he encontrado de lo más interesante.
Intereses políticos, rompecabezas, cooperación, misterios, mitología, alienígenas y reflexiones sociales. Todos estos elementos hacen de Saltonautas una novela que reflexiona sobre la sociedad y sobre como sería un primer contacto con otra especia inteligente procedente de otro planeta mientras nos sumerge en una trama en que los protagonistas se enfrentaran a diferentes pruebas y peligros a contrarreloj para conseguir contactar con estos seres.
April 27, 2024
Estoy escribiendo mi primera review porque me acabo de terminar el libro, he ido a ver las demás reviews y la verdad que a mi me ha encantado. Sí, los dos chicos peleando por la chica me daba pereza, pero al final es gracioso. Y la parte de los alienigenas es todo conversa iones, pero las ideas que proponen me han gustado mucho y en ningún momento se me ha hecho pesado ni he echado de menos la acción. El final también muy coquette, Huhu i love you. Puede que me haya gustado tanto porque es mi primer libro de este estilo, pero I don’t care, me quedo con todas las ideas que se tratan y todas las conversaciones sobre las relaciones humanas, las inseguridades y demás.
June 12, 2024
1/5
🥀En general no me ha convencido nada. La premisa me gusta pero la forma en que está desarrollada la historia no me ha gustado nada.
🥀Me ha costado mucho entrar en la novela y es que al principio se nos presentan a los personajes principales, los cuales me han parecido horrendos todos. No he conectado con ellos en ningún momento y me han caído bastante mal. Me ha resultado indiferente lo que les pasaba
🥀La trama parecía entretenida pero se me ha hecho cuesta arriba, sin llegar a engancharme en ningún momento
🥀Hay una especie de triángulo amoroso que me ha dado bastante vergüenza ajena
🥀Hay conceptos que , directamente , no entran en la ciencia ficción si no en la fantasía más absurda
En conclusión, no ha sido para mi. Hay una continuación creo , y la verdad es que no voy a seguir leyendo más 👎
Eso si, tengo que mencionar , como siempre, el gran trabajo de traducción de @squallido_ 😊
https://www.instagram.com/p/C8H58UCo0...
🥀En general no me ha convencido nada. La premisa me gusta pero la forma en que está desarrollada la historia no me ha gustado nada.
🥀Me ha costado mucho entrar en la novela y es que al principio se nos presentan a los personajes principales, los cuales me han parecido horrendos todos. No he conectado con ellos en ningún momento y me han caído bastante mal. Me ha resultado indiferente lo que les pasaba
🥀La trama parecía entretenida pero se me ha hecho cuesta arriba, sin llegar a engancharme en ningún momento
🥀Hay una especie de triángulo amoroso que me ha dado bastante vergüenza ajena
🥀Hay conceptos que , directamente , no entran en la ciencia ficción si no en la fantasía más absurda
En conclusión, no ha sido para mi. Hay una continuación creo , y la verdad es que no voy a seguir leyendo más 👎
Eso si, tengo que mencionar , como siempre, el gran trabajo de traducción de @squallido_ 😊
https://www.instagram.com/p/C8H58UCo0...
March 24, 2024
2.5 stars. Some cool ideas, but some parts were too cartoonish.
April 5, 2024
Review originally on
JamReads
Jumpnauts is a first-contact science fiction novel, part of the Folding Universe series, written by the Chinese author Hao Jingfang, and which has been published in English translated by Ken Liu, and published by Head of Zeus. A novel which blends Chinese culture and philosophy with science fiction, weaving a thrilling story that is surprising at many points, and which makes an original use of the alien-helping humanity premise.
In a relative near-future, the Earth is dominated by two superpowers, the Pacific League and the Atlantic Alliance, which have been at the border of war for 20 years; in this context, a succession of seemingly random events will put together a group formed by the archeologist Yun Fan, military researcher Qi Fei and astronomer Jiang Liu to determine the origin of the signals that appear to have been sent by an extraterrestrial object that is closing to the Earth.
After a series of adventures and a first part that centers more around the conflict between Jiang Liu and Qi Fei for Yun Fan's heart (including really neat combat scenes between both men), our group ventures into the space with the part pilot, part chef Chiang Tian; ready for that contact with the alien, and which will take them on a journey of discovery and learning, not only about themselves but about the whole humanity.
The characters are interesting, especially the clash of opposite ideas that is portrayed through the confrontation of Jiang Liu and Qi Fei; and Yun Fan is a good representation of the mission over the individual. They don't progress much through the novel, but that's a choice taken by the author, creating characters that are already at the top of their careers, put in front of a species that makes them look like kids.
It is refreshing to read a science fiction novel that is not set in the Occidental word, but that rather prefers to explore Chinese tradition and philosophy, putting the focus mostly on Confucianism. Ken Liu has done an amazing job of translating it without losing the original nuances, keeping the text as close as possible to the Chinese version, and trusting the readers to get the meaning enclosed in this novel.
While I have certain problems with the pacing of the first part, definitely the second half of the book has redeeming qualities, proving worth the whole read; if you are in the search for a different first contact novel, Jumpnauts it is, with a blend of Chinese culture and sci-fi that makes it a really enjoyable read.
Jumpnauts is a first-contact science fiction novel, part of the Folding Universe series, written by the Chinese author Hao Jingfang, and which has been published in English translated by Ken Liu, and published by Head of Zeus. A novel which blends Chinese culture and philosophy with science fiction, weaving a thrilling story that is surprising at many points, and which makes an original use of the alien-helping humanity premise.
In a relative near-future, the Earth is dominated by two superpowers, the Pacific League and the Atlantic Alliance, which have been at the border of war for 20 years; in this context, a succession of seemingly random events will put together a group formed by the archeologist Yun Fan, military researcher Qi Fei and astronomer Jiang Liu to determine the origin of the signals that appear to have been sent by an extraterrestrial object that is closing to the Earth.
After a series of adventures and a first part that centers more around the conflict between Jiang Liu and Qi Fei for Yun Fan's heart (including really neat combat scenes between both men), our group ventures into the space with the part pilot, part chef Chiang Tian; ready for that contact with the alien, and which will take them on a journey of discovery and learning, not only about themselves but about the whole humanity.
The characters are interesting, especially the clash of opposite ideas that is portrayed through the confrontation of Jiang Liu and Qi Fei; and Yun Fan is a good representation of the mission over the individual. They don't progress much through the novel, but that's a choice taken by the author, creating characters that are already at the top of their careers, put in front of a species that makes them look like kids.
It is refreshing to read a science fiction novel that is not set in the Occidental word, but that rather prefers to explore Chinese tradition and philosophy, putting the focus mostly on Confucianism. Ken Liu has done an amazing job of translating it without losing the original nuances, keeping the text as close as possible to the Chinese version, and trusting the readers to get the meaning enclosed in this novel.
While I have certain problems with the pacing of the first part, definitely the second half of the book has redeeming qualities, proving worth the whole read; if you are in the search for a different first contact novel, Jumpnauts it is, with a blend of Chinese culture and sci-fi that makes it a really enjoyable read.
September 6, 2024
Hay apoyo, falta talento
May 15, 2024
Jumpnauts follows a small group attempts “a desperate mission of first contact with a mysterious alien race before more militaristic minds can take matters into their own hands.” Jiang Liu, a young astronomer from a wealthy family, Qi Fei, a military researcher, and archaeologist Yun Fan shift from rivals to allies as they aim to unravel a series of mysteries and prevent war.
Initially, this book reads much more in a thriller/espionage vein than I’d expected, and the very beginning is a bit slow; however, I was quickly drawn in. In addition to the central plot involving both alien contact and human politics, the characters’ relationships and back stories are well developed, including their relationships with their families (who are secondary characters and/or absent but very much have an impact).
There are many, many references in this text – the characters debate Chinese philosophy including Confucianism and Mohism, discuss LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” and underlying themes include artificial intelligence, democratic decision-making, human/technology interfacing, and more. Ken Liu’s footnotes were immensely helpful for me when it came to the nuances of the conversations on Chinese traditions – I would recommend reading his introduction to get a sense of his approach.
Since reading this, I’ve learned that it is intended to be book one in a series; based on it, I’ll happily pick up the next one when it comes available.
Content warnings: sexism / misogyny, (threat of) war, classism
Initially, this book reads much more in a thriller/espionage vein than I’d expected, and the very beginning is a bit slow; however, I was quickly drawn in. In addition to the central plot involving both alien contact and human politics, the characters’ relationships and back stories are well developed, including their relationships with their families (who are secondary characters and/or absent but very much have an impact).
There are many, many references in this text – the characters debate Chinese philosophy including Confucianism and Mohism, discuss LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” and underlying themes include artificial intelligence, democratic decision-making, human/technology interfacing, and more. Ken Liu’s footnotes were immensely helpful for me when it came to the nuances of the conversations on Chinese traditions – I would recommend reading his introduction to get a sense of his approach.
Since reading this, I’ve learned that it is intended to be book one in a series; based on it, I’ll happily pick up the next one when it comes available.
Content warnings: sexism / misogyny, (threat of) war, classism
January 13, 2024
The characters are wonderful! Jiang Liu is a bit of a smartass and his rivalry with Qi Fei was so fun. Yun Fan was smart and independent, and I loved her character arc as she deals with her father's legacy. I appreciated that the trio didn't fall into a love triangle; instead each character feels truly fleshed out and their relationships are much more complex.
The story features tons of futuristic tech, such as communication devices, wearable tech, augments, personal AI assistants, and even mech suits. I loved how the science and tech felt so grounded in reality; from pulsars to blockchain and artificial intelligence. The discussions of philosophy, history, and folklore were also fascinating.
Sometimes translations can feel stilted, but this was not the case here. I found the text engaging and even quite funny at times (especially the scenes with Jiang Liu and Qi Fei). I appreciated Ken Liu's translation notes and the way he retained certain Chinese concepts.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.
The story features tons of futuristic tech, such as communication devices, wearable tech, augments, personal AI assistants, and even mech suits. I loved how the science and tech felt so grounded in reality; from pulsars to blockchain and artificial intelligence. The discussions of philosophy, history, and folklore were also fascinating.
Sometimes translations can feel stilted, but this was not the case here. I found the text engaging and even quite funny at times (especially the scenes with Jiang Liu and Qi Fei). I appreciated Ken Liu's translation notes and the way he retained certain Chinese concepts.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.
March 27, 2024
Novela de ciencia ficción de 448 páginas, publicada en 2021. Me ha parecido más una space ópera de personajes que una obra con protagonismo tecnológico. Con un lenguaje juvenil, fresco y ágil. Nos habla de temas como el blockchain y las IA. Pero también de monumentos extraterrestres y mucha mitología china. En ocasiones usa lenguaje inclusivo. Y también desarrolla otros temas como el lenguaje, la información perpetua en el tiempo o la psicología. No es lo que esperaba, pero es de lectura fluida y original. Recomendada para una sola lectura.
March 23, 2024
I'm going to be completely honest and admit that a lot of the scientific jargon and some of the philosophizing went completely over my head, but beneath all that is the bare bones of a pretty good story.
We have a cast of four characters who are brought together in the midst of a brewing war between two opposing factions. One of the members of the group, Yun Fan, is looking to finish the work started by her grandfather and to make contact with an alien civilization.
So starts this journey where our characters end up on an alien spacecraft and come across and actual alien.
Like I mentioned previously, there were some parts that had me a bit confused and as a result, felt a bit dense. However, I really did enjoy our little ragtag group of characters and how they each played off each other. I also really enjoyed the blend of science mixed with Chinese mythology and history.
There were so many unique concepts in this book and the aliens weren't your typical aliens that pop in your mind when you think of them.
I loved how each character had to come to terms with their different behaviors and learned how important it is to form relationships. Chang Tian was definitely the most wholesome character that really was the glue of the group.
Overall, although there parts of the book I didn't 100% understand (which may be a result of things lost in translation) I really did feel this was a solid scifi and I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
<< Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for sending me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. >>
We have a cast of four characters who are brought together in the midst of a brewing war between two opposing factions. One of the members of the group, Yun Fan, is looking to finish the work started by her grandfather and to make contact with an alien civilization.
So starts this journey where our characters end up on an alien spacecraft and come across and actual alien.
Like I mentioned previously, there were some parts that had me a bit confused and as a result, felt a bit dense. However, I really did enjoy our little ragtag group of characters and how they each played off each other. I also really enjoyed the blend of science mixed with Chinese mythology and history.
There were so many unique concepts in this book and the aliens weren't your typical aliens that pop in your mind when you think of them.
I loved how each character had to come to terms with their different behaviors and learned how important it is to form relationships. Chang Tian was definitely the most wholesome character that really was the glue of the group.
Overall, although there parts of the book I didn't 100% understand (which may be a result of things lost in translation) I really did feel this was a solid scifi and I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
<< Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for sending me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. >>
April 27, 2024
Desde luego estamos ante una novela muy distinta de lo acostumbrado en la Ciencia Ficción occidental. Ya no sólo por la cantidad de referencias a la historia y filosofía chinas, tan desconocidas para mí, sino en la forma casi naif de los personajes.
Éstos saltan de combates cuerpo a cuerpo con estilos de lucha legendarios y con más gadgets que Mcgiver (un poco rollo power rangers) a conversaciones extensas sobre las variantes del confucianismo (no no, no como aquella aspirante a Miss Universo) o confesiones a corazón abierto sobre su vida (me los imaginaba como los jugadores de Oliver y Benji, con los grandes ojos anegados de lágrimas, contando lo dura que fue su infancia).
En cuanto al argumento, nada del otro jueves, y que no haya sido tratado en Cuarto Milenio o películas de Hollywood: civilizaciones extraterrestres nos llevan visitando desde hace milenios y van dejando pistas por todo el mundo en forma de leyendas o grandes construcciones (que son imposibles de hacer con la tecnología de la época, diría cualquier colaborador magufo de la nave del misterio).
Pero es que, amigos, aún hay más. Reflexiones sobre las clases de civilizaciones del universo qué recuerdan a Lui Ci Xin; un intento de debate sobre las criptomonedas, las IA o la dark web como intento de flujo de información no contaminada por intereses. Ah, y un extraterrestre que es más pokemon que ET.
Mucha tela que cortar para un libro diferente, que se puede hacer algo arduo a veces, pero que tiene un carácter propio digno de mención.
Y ya está por hoy, que he capturado unos griones que pasaban por aquí y me voy a hacer una sopa de letras con ellos.
Éstos saltan de combates cuerpo a cuerpo con estilos de lucha legendarios y con más gadgets que Mcgiver (un poco rollo power rangers) a conversaciones extensas sobre las variantes del confucianismo (no no, no como aquella aspirante a Miss Universo) o confesiones a corazón abierto sobre su vida (me los imaginaba como los jugadores de Oliver y Benji, con los grandes ojos anegados de lágrimas, contando lo dura que fue su infancia).
En cuanto al argumento, nada del otro jueves, y que no haya sido tratado en Cuarto Milenio o películas de Hollywood: civilizaciones extraterrestres nos llevan visitando desde hace milenios y van dejando pistas por todo el mundo en forma de leyendas o grandes construcciones (que son imposibles de hacer con la tecnología de la época, diría cualquier colaborador magufo de la nave del misterio).
Pero es que, amigos, aún hay más. Reflexiones sobre las clases de civilizaciones del universo qué recuerdan a Lui Ci Xin; un intento de debate sobre las criptomonedas, las IA o la dark web como intento de flujo de información no contaminada por intereses. Ah, y un extraterrestre que es más pokemon que ET.
Mucha tela que cortar para un libro diferente, que se puede hacer algo arduo a veces, pero que tiene un carácter propio digno de mención.
Y ya está por hoy, que he capturado unos griones que pasaban por aquí y me voy a hacer una sopa de letras con ellos.
April 10, 2024
An interesting take on first contact. In a world that's focused on advancement and fighting its own type of cold war, access to alien technology is everyone's top priority. There was a lot of information that Jiang Liu, Qi Fei, and Yun Fan go through to set up the first extraterrestrial meeting. While Jiang Liu and Qi Fei vie for Yun Fan attention they also compete with other world powers to make first contact. This book was very detail oriented and made for a longer in depth read.
June 18, 2024
Some great connections to science fiction mystery stuff involving ancient aliens. Way too much exposition. If you don't mind sentences that begin "of course, you know..." or can move past those, it's an interesting read.
January 27, 2025
Not my type of book
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