What an absolutely gorgeous book. These twenty-two stories are individual jewels that I'll reread over and over. A particular standout involves wasps and bees, "The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees," is such a brilliant critique of colonialism and oppression - told from the insects' POV. Another standout is "The Wretched and the Beautiful" - as brilliant a critique of the alien: human story as ever appeared in the Star Trek universe. The shocking "Local Stop on the Floating Train" is a chilling story of casual racism/gender bias that could ring true in this world as much as it does in Yu's fictional geography. I could go on but instead encourage you to pick up this incredibly well-wrought collection of jewels.

A bit hard to review because on one hand, I did really enjoy some of the stories, but on the other hand, some of the stories felt like chores to finish. That's never something I want to feel when reading a short story of all things. I get the feeling that not much of this collection will stay in my memory for a long time.

Received a free copy from Netgalley.

Uno de mis planes para este año era concederle algo más de tiempo de lectura a los relatos cortos y tenía claro que Jewel Box de E. Lily Yu iba a estar entre mis lecturas de este tipo. La escritora norteamericana se desenvuelve con igual agilidad en la fantasía como en la ciencia ficción y el nivel medio de los relatos contenidos en el libro es bastante alto, aunque, como es normal tengo algunos preferidos sobre otros.


The pilgrim and the angel

Para abrir boca, Yu nos ofrece un cuento sobre un anciano creyente del Islam al que un ángel decide llevar en peregrinación antes de su última hora. Pero quizá lo que realmente necesitaba esta persona es la oportunidad de despedirse de sus seres queridos.

The Lamp at the Turning

Una historia de amor inverosímil en la que la autora es capaz de dotar de sentimientos de una manera muy creíble a una lámpara de la calle.

The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees

Uno de los primeros platos fuertes de la recopilación y quizá su obra más conocida, finalista del premio Hugo y Nebula. Maravilloso relato sobre la opresión y cómo enfrentarse a ella, adornado con una prosa que lleva la metáfora a un nivel exquisito. Se tratan tantos temas en esta historia, de una manera tan tangencial que deja en manos del lector la responsabilidad de la comprensión del relato.

The Lion God and the Two Gates

Una pequeña fábula sobre los peligros de la equidistancia, sobre todo en los estamentos que deben juzgar los actos de los demás.

Music for the Underworld

No sé si es mi relato favorito de la recopilación, porque me cuesta decidirme, pero este es una de las joyas más brillantes del estuche. Enmarcado definitivamente en la ciencia ficción de futuro cercano, donde los servicios de suscripción nos pueden hacer esclavos de lo que nunca hemos necesitado pero que anhelamos para que nos vuelva a hacer sentir como antes. Una historia de amor con un final desgarrador.

Green Glass: A Love Story

Relato ecologista, también de futuro relativamente cercano, sobre los caprichos y veleidades que los ricos todavía se pueden permitir mientras el resto del mundo languidece a su alrededor. Me gusta su tono reivindicativo e irónico, pero quizá le falta algo de sutileza.

Ilse, Who Saw Clearly

Volviendo a la fantasía más pura como en los cuentos más clásicos del género, la escritora nos cuenta la historia de Ilse, la única de su pueblo que no cambia sus ojos cuando un mago ofrece a todos mejorar su visión y sus características gracias a su magia, aunque nadie imaginaba el precio que deberían pagar. Me encanta cómo es capaz de hacer destacar al que es diferente, algo que puede ser una condena o una bendición.

The Doing and Undoing of Jacob Mwangi

Tras ir leyendo esta recopilación, tengo claro que el subgénero de la ciencia ficción en el que E. Lily Yu se encuentra más cómoda es el del futuro cercano, donde la especulación le sirve para dar luz a los problemas actuales del ser humano. En esta ocasión, no es que se critique el subsidio universal, si no que se pone en contexto cuando su obtención implica no necesitar esforzarse para nada nunca más, dando lugar a dos clases de ser humanos, los que hacen cosas y los que no.

The Wretched and the Beatiful

Un cuento sobre primer contacto que, aunque acertado, me parece poco original en su planteamiento y desarrollo. Capto referencias a la inmigración como en On Fragile Waves, pero creo que no hay suficiente espacio como para contar la historia de forma completa.

The Urashima Effect

Otro relato van magnífico y van… No tengo duda de que los efectos de la relatividad del tiempo cuando se viaja a velocidades cercanas a la luz es uno de los tropos más utilizados en la ciencia ficción, pero es que este relato es capaz de golpearte el corazón conforme vas avanzando en los recuerdos que un colono espacial ha ido recopilando para hacer menos duro su viaje, mientras espera la llegada de su amada.

Braid of Days and Wake of Nights

Una historia sobre cómo hacer frente al dolor de la pérdida justo cuando está sucediendo, aunque sea de forma irracional en búsqueda de unicornios salvadores.

Local Stop on the Floating Rain

Entiendo el mensaje antirracista que nos quiere hacer llegar la ganadora del premio Astounding en 2012, pero en esta ocasión peca de brusquedad.

The Witch of Orion Waste and the Boy Knight

Crítica al machismo que es incapaz de aceptar que una mujer pueda hacer algo mejor que un hombre y las relaciones amorosas que se basan en esta desigualdad.

The Eve of the Planet of Ys

Interesante cuento sobre el apocalipsis de un mundo que no es el nuestro, pero que se parece sospechosamente a la Tierra. ¿Sería posible seguir luchando por conservar la vida, si no la civilización? Según Yu, la única manera sería gracias a la solidaridad entre personas. Me temo que si esto es así, poco futuro habría. Debo ser más pesimista que los protagonistas de la historia.

Courtship Displays of the American Birder

A pesar de no tener apenas elemento fantástico, he disfrutado enormemente de esta pequeña historia de amor entre apasionados de los avistamientos de pájaros.

The No-One Girl and the Flower of the Farther Shore

Una reivindicación sobre la necesidad de aceptación de las personas que no pertenecen por defecto a una comunidad, pero que pueden aportar algo muy valioso como es la diversidad, en un tono onírico y pesimista.

The Time Invariance of Snow

Con una estructura más experimental que el resto de los relatos, aquí Yu nos ofrece una mezcla de mecánica cuántica y fantasía que no acaba de cuajar con la exposición del diablo y sus triquiñuelas para ganar adeptos.

Three Variations on a Theme of Imperial Attire

Una nueva vuelta de tuerca al relato del traje nuevo del emperador, pero con diversas iteraciones y con rotura de la cuarta pared. Es curioso aunque no me ha acabado de convencer.

The Cat’s Tale

Aunque está narrado en primera persona por un humano, el verdadero protagonista de este enrevesado cuento es el gato.

The Valley of Wounded Deer

En esta fantasía con un toque de cinismo nada disimulado, se habla sobre la crueldad de los regentes y el peso de las profecías.

The View from the Top of the Stair

Cada uno puede tener sus propias obsesiones, pero me ha parecido encantador aunque sin un propósito claro este coqueto relato sobre escaleras y arquitectura.

Small Monsters

Tal vez demasiado alegórico para mi gusto personal, en esta ocasión la autora utiliza este recurso para hablar del impulso creativo y de viejas heridas que no terminan de cerrar.

Jewel Box es una excelente recopilación de relatos en la que hay que dejarse llevar por la prosa y el tono reivindicativo y cínico de la autora en ocasiones. En ese caso, sin duda se disfrutará muchísimo de la lectura.

I first became aware of the amazing writing of author E. Lily Yu when I read “The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees” in an anthology years ago. I resolved to read more by this author, and this exquisite collection is a perfect, beautiful encapsulation of this writer's prodigious talent at conjuring credible worlds and deep emotions in a short tale.

These stories range from adventure, to romance, to dissections of folk and fairy tales, to horror; all the stories contained here are good, but these were my favourites:

The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees: Imperialism and erosion of culture, in the form of a conflict between conquering wasps and bees.

Ilse, Who Saw Clearly: A man comes to town, promising great things, but leaves the town blind, except for Ilse, who heads out to find a way to return what her village lost. It's a quest, but also a widening of Ilse's understanding of the world.

The Urashima Effect: Racism, space exploration, loneliness and folklore all come together in a story about a solitary astronaut heading to a planet to set up a mission in advance of the next group’s arrival (including his wife). The author weaves a folktale in to parallel, to good effect, the sad fates of the married pair.

The Witch of Orion Waste and the Boy Knight: A tale of adventure, sexism, power, and dragons. I loved the way the young woman became a witch, then how her growing power affected others.

Courtship Displays of the American Birder: An amusing little romance between two people who love birdwatching.

The Cat’s Tale: This felt like it was inspired by “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “The Pied Piper” with the narrator helping to right a wrong, and find her fortune.

The Valley of Wounded Deer: Power, inheritance and murder figure in the life of a prince whose stepmother would rather the prince not be crowned. The prince’s respect for others proves to be what saves her.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This collection is imaginative and diverse. E. Lily Yu uses a mix of fantasy and science fiction elements, from fairytale/myth retellings to post-apocalyptic settings and more to tell these stories. The range through these 22 stories is reason enough to pick up this collection.

As is the norm with short story collections, this was a mixed bag. I really enjoyed some of the stories, I really disliked a couple, and I was ambivalent about most. The first three stories were rough for me, though the third story (The Cartographer Wasps & the Anarchist Bees) was nominated for both the Hugo and World Fantasy Award so do with that what you will.

I really liked Music for the Underworld, which was a futuristic take on the Orpheus myth. I also liked The Wretched and the Beautiful and The Urashima Effect. There was also a really interesting take on the Emperor's New Clothes that I enjoyed. My least favorites were The Lamp at the Turning and The Eve of the Planet of Ys.

The writing is quite nice but on the whole I don't know how memorable I will find this collection so I settled on 3 stars. I would be interested in seeing a full length work by this author though.

I loved this collection! All stories are written beautifully and with a purpouse. They make you think and that's important for me.

Jewel Box Stories by E. Lili Yu is a wonderful collection of short stories. All the stories are based on either folklore or a distant future. The writing was a bit difficult, but it did not hinder the readers from enjoying the book. It is my first time reading the author's book, and I was quite impressed. For me, "The Lamp at the Turning" was the most unusual romance that I have ever read. At some places, I felt the stories needed something more to make sense.

The book gives you an atmosphere of old folklore, fairy tales, and futuristic worlds. The book definitely deserves 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

Diving into the pages of 'Jewel Box' is akin to unwrapping a box of chocolates, each story offering a unique flavor that may delight or divide readers.At the heart of this collection lies 'The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees,' a tale that exemplifies the intricate balance between metaphor and reality. Its thematic depth, exploring colonialism, environmental impact, and political upheaval, sets the tone for the rest of the collection. Yet, for those who found this story too enigmatic, the journey through 'Jewel Box' may prove less satisfying.From allegorical narratives to political satire with biting wit, the stories within this anthology are a tapestry of evocative and complex tales. While some may find solace in the familiarity of fairy tale motifs, others may struggle to navigate the labyrinth of esoteric storytelling.Among the standout pieces is 'Music for the Underworld,' a captivating retelling of the Orpheus myth that resonates with emotional depth. Conversely, 'Green Glass: A Love Story' falters with heavy-handed allegory, lacking the subtlety found in its counterparts.'Ilse, Who Saw Clearly' emerges as a gem within the collection, blending traditional fairy tale elements with a compelling narrative of self-discovery. Similarly, 'The Wretched and the Beautiful' offers a chilling exploration of first contact, leaving a lasting impression on readers.Throughout 'Jewel Box,' themes of love, loss, and identity intertwine with elements of science fiction and fantasy, inviting readers on a journey of self-reflection and exploration. While some stories may soar to celestial heights of imagination, others ground themselves in the gritty realities of human nature.Ultimately, 'Jewel Box' is a testament to the power of storytelling, offering a kaleidoscope of narratives that challenge and enchant in equal measure. Whether you find yourself lost in the cosmos of 'The Time Invariance of Snow' or captivated by the whimsy of 'The Cat's Tale,' there's a story waiting to spark your imagination within this dazzling collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I received this as an ARC via NetGalley.

This is a gorgeous collection of short stories to savor slowly. E. Lily Yu's prose is as elegant as her characters are riveting. She touches upon the challenges of living in the world in a humane manner, recognizing and celebrating resilience where it appears, as an act of hope and defiance. Highly recommended.

Jewel Box: Stories" by E. Lily Yu is a collection of twenty-two thought-provoking stories that traverse a wide range of themes and genres. From the fantastical to the introspective, these tales offer readers a glimpse into the complexities of the human experience. With an imaginative and skillful narrative style, Yu weaves together narratives that challenge conventions and invite readers to explore the strange, the sublime, and the enigmatic. This collection promises to engage readers with its unique storytelling and exploration of the unusual and profound aspects of life.

This one sounded right in my wheelhouse and did not disappoint! An excellent collection of short stories that were immediately compelling and expansive. All I can say is: more please! I already want to read it over again (and likely will!).

A lovely selection of short stories, even though I'm not usually a fan of them! There's a good range for any speculative fiction reader, but I highly recommend 'The Time Invariance of Snow', which has helped me to realize that I'm a fan of authors playing with fairy tales.

I love a strong collection of short stories and this is one. This is an eclectic collection to put it mildly, which may turn some readers off, but when you really dig in, themes do present themselves. While marked as a Sci-Fi/Fantasy collection this meanders in and out of those genres across space and time from medieval tales of valor to sweet quiet contemporary love stories to the loneliness of deep space. The thread through these very different structures is the human element, even in a story about monsters. Love, loss, loneliness, and belonging center this exciting collection of stories. Each one is more fantastic in some little way than the next (yes, even a story about finding love while bird watching becomes fantastic).

Yu, is a master at finding the humanity in any character, which allows her to write about individuals that span the globe, leaning away from stereotypes and problematic descriptors and into each individual in ways that let the reader fall into each of these worlds and societies quickly and effectively.

This will be one of my top short story collections of the year for sure. So amazing.

I LOVED Jewel Box Stories. I was enamored with Yu's prior novel, On Fragile Waves, so I had to read these stories. I loved the mix of fantasy and whimsy in these stories, as well as the anthropomorphic quality to the items (bees, wasps, a lamppost, etc). I loved the way that Yu can pack so much of a story in just a few pages, and give emotion to creatures we don't think of having them.

A delightfully unsettling collection of really dark but also really loving stories that I found utterly compelling.

This collection is aptly named - each story is exquisite and sparkling. I loved the one of Feo and Yuri the best, even though it broke my heart.
A mix of sci fi, fantasy, history, magical realism - this book really does have a story for every reader. The prose is elevated without being pretentious. The fantastical elements are breathtaking in scope. I really enjoyed every one of these and I hope e Lily Yu keeps writing a lot!

This was a wildly original collection of stories, defying my ability to categorize it in any certain terms. Yu perfectly captures the ordinary in the extraordinary, with apocalyptic, science-fiction tales bumping up against stories overflowing with heartbreaking doses of crushing reality.

This collection of lovely, weird short stories is full of heart. I saw this described elsewhere as sci-fi and a few of the stories fit that description, but mostly I see these as fairytale-adjacent. Most have some magic, but all have characters you want to root for. My only quibble was that there were SO many stories! I usually only read one story a day from a short story collection and this took a long time to get through because it's full of mostly very tiny stories. But again, I loved very close to all of them.

I adored On Fragile Waves, and while I was reading Jewel Box I felt it was so vastly different I could hardly believe it was the same author. But after finishing and re-familiarizing myself with Waves, I see the through-line more clearly.

Favorite quotes:
"The reader of fairy tales will understand when I say that I did not hesitate or question the strange requirement, as one would ordinarily do, for at times there is a certain silver inevitability about our choices that no amount of reasoning can explain."

"The world is stranger than I thought. It always is."

"None of us can change what has happened to us, the clawed creature said. But if we are lucky, we live. If we are lucky, we do not lose more than we can afford."

JEWEL BOX is a delightful genre-spanning collection of 22 short stories. The collection is aptly-named, reminiscent of a variety box of chocolates, all speculative in some way but spanning science fiction, fantasy, and folklore/mythology, which leaves the impression of the entire collection of the whole as timeless and thought-provoking.

While most short story collections, especially with so many stories, are apt to be uneven, I was hard-pressed to find stories in JEWEL BOX that were hard to get through. The collection is ordered nicely with stories of varying lengths and genres, so it is very readable from cover to cover. Favorites in this collection included:

THE CARTOGRAPHER WASPS AND THE ANARCHIST BEES - an imaginative story of two cousin civilizations of insects in a strange symbiotic relationship.
ILSE, WHO SAW CLEARLY - a folktale journey of a girl in search of sight for her village.
THE URASHIMA EFFECT - a science fiction tale about a man traveling further than humankind has dared before, and the nature of human relationships.
BRAID OF DAYS AND WAKE OF NIGHTS - a surreal reflection on death and dying, with an ending that seals the deal.
THE EVE OF THE PLANET OF YS - a science fiction apocalyptic tale of survival and choosing one's own family.
COURTSHIP DISPLAYS OF THE AMERICAN BIRDER - a charming brief interlude, a character study between two strangers.

Recommended for fans of Ted Chiang. This will be a favorite book from 2023 for me. Thanks to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.