Everything Good Dies Here: Tales from the Linker Universe and Beyond

This captivating outing from South Korean sci-fi author Djuna (Counterweight), which brings together the first English translations of 11 previously uncollected short stories, takes imaginative premises to thought-provoking conclusions. The book is divided into two parts: the first features five standalone stories, while the second comprises six interconnected tales set in a shared universe. Standout entries from part one include “The Rabbit Hole,” which follows a genetically altered human who is kept as a pet on an alien planet, and “Memoir of a Joseon Bride,” the gripping tale of a young widow navigating an alternate 19th-century Korea dominated by vampires. Part two takes readers into the Linker Universe, a bleak future in which mechanical aliens have conquered Earth for its resources. In “The Bloody Battle of Broccoli Plain,” a South Korean man is stranded on an alien planet and running out of food until he encounters a camp of North Koreans, sparking a violent fire within him. Djuna’s meticulous worldbuilding and inventive alien species create a vivid and immersive experience, while Thieret’s skillful translation captures the nuance and depth of the original prose. With shades of Ted Chiang and Ken Liu, this impressive collection showcases the power of speculative fiction to illuminate the human condition. (July)