Join Emily and Sarah for a conversation with award-winning author Ken Liu — the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award–winning writer behind The Paper Menagerie and The Grace of Kings, whose work include both riveting short stories and novels. In this episode we dive into his journey, from making the leap to full-time writing, to navigating film and book industry opportunities, and explore how he builds stories that operate not just as narratives but as metaphors for identity, culture, and technology.
Ken discusses his newest novel, All That We See or Seem, a near-future thriller where art, AI, and human yearning intersect, and the conversations talks about the evolving fantasy and sci-fi market. We cover, the moment he decided to write full time, and how that opened doors beyond publishing. His method of embedding metaphor in every short story from a craft angle to ground it in deeper themes. His take on fantasy and science fiction today: how the genre is changing in a bigger romantasy market, what readers are looking for, and where he sees it headed. And a thoughtful discussion on AI and art: what it means for creators, for originality, for the future of storytelling.
Whether you’re a writer, a sci-fi fan, or simply curious about how an author thinks about art in tech-driven times, this episode offers a thoughtful, dive into the craft and the future from one of the best and celebrated writers of our generation.
Ken Liu
Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore
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