Jumpnauts unfortunately fell flat for me. The translation itself felt super smooth, but the dialogue was stilted, the characters were simply vehicles for exposition, and the pages and pages of scientific explanations felt extraneous and dragged the plot pace down even more. The novel-length pissing contest between two of the male characters over the female main character was disappointing from a female author, and difficult to move past. Even more so due to the large swaths of info dumping the audience must slog through. I had high hopes for Jumpnauts based on its synopsis, but this will not be one I return to, unfortunately.

DNF

I wanted to like this one, but unfortunately I couldn't get into it. It was a bit confusing and the writing didn't work for me sadly.

Hao Jingfang’’s Jumpnauts, translated by Ken Liu, introduces to a wider audience and in a longer form, the science fiction of a Hugo award winning author.

Works outside the Anglosphere, even in translation, are only slowly coming into the SF mainstream. The expansion of SFF has meant that work, especially from China, a large and once largely autonomous pool of science fiction readers, fans and writers, has been slowly but surely connecting with the Anglosphere. More and more works in translation have been coming to Western audiences through the efforts of, at first, primarily magazines like Uncanny and Clarkesworld. A milestone in these efforts to bring Chinese SF to Western audiences was the translation of Cixin Liu’s award-winning The Three-Body Problem.

And so we come to Hao Jingfang’s Jumpnauts, translated by Ken Li

I did unfortunately DNF this one about 25% in. My biggest complaint was surrounding the characters. Everyone seemed to know each other from before and I felt like I was playing catch up, almost as if this was a sequel to a book I didn’t read. I did find it comical in parts, especially with the expedition getting bigger and bigger because people kept inviting themselves. Im bummed I decided to put it down because I would have liked to see the outcome with the alien contact but life is too short to push through books you aren’t enjoying.

The world becomes a smaller place in this apocalyptic future. There are two factions (ie controlling countries) now - the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations. Each side is nervously expecting the other side to initiate some kind of aggression. But it may not be either of the two nations that starts something .... Three young scientists from the Pacific League of Nations learn that a very advanced, highly intelligent alien species has been sending messages, trying to make contact.

The trio look to be the ones to make first contact as they aren't convinced the extraterrestrials are a threat, but their counterparts in the Atlantic Division may take a more aggressive first contact step, which would likely bring the whole world into a losing conflict.

I don't read enough fiction from a different global perspective and when this appeared as an ARC I was eager to give it a read. I had not heard of author Hao Jingfang or read any of her work prior to this.

I really wasn't sure where this book was going when I started it. We seem to start with a lot of the back story and world-building set-up. Our three main characters, the scientists, are not friends, but rivals and the tension in the early part of the book (maybe the first half of the book?) comes from these three learning to get a long and respect one another ... as well as a little romantic tension. Frankly, I found this first half of the novel tedious.

But as the story develops (that of the scientists working together to make first contact) the interest in the story builds and it actually becomes a real page-turner. Our ending is quite clever - I feel like I should have seen it coming, but I did get caught up in the moment-to-moment of the action so I had a nice smile and "oh, yeah" moment at the end.

I can see that knowing the three protagonists before they really began to work together increases the enjoyment of what they accomplish together, but I still can't quite get over how dry the first half of the novel was for me as I couldn't get a sense of how this was going to play out.

The aliens really are one of the more interesting characters in the book but we don't get a whole lot of them. But the door is open for a follow-up/sequel and I see on Goodreads that this is listed as #1 in a series. Now that I've invested the time to get to know these people I'd like to see how the rest of the story plays out.

Looking for a good book? Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang is a first-contact scifi story that spends a lot (too much?) of time getting us set up but once the action kicks in the read is quite fun. Half the book is good so ... half the stars?

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Jumpnauts is told primarily through the experiences of three people: Jiang Liu (a partying tech genius behind a powerful blockchain), Qi Fei (a by-the-book military star on the rise), and Yun Fan (a brilliant scientist working tirelessly in an isolated museum). Despite personality tensions, the three unite to initiate an imminent alien encounter, hopefully preventing its interception by opposing military and political forces.

Sound like a lot already? It is, but Jingfang is in control of her story and unfolds it well. The tension builds when it should, explanations of the fantastical are appropriately placed, and the characters are flawed, likable, and continue to develop along their journey. There's a little something for everyone here: action, science, evolution, the wonder of the cosmos, political tension, zemblanitious love, delicious food...you name it.

If anything, the build in the front half seemed too long when compared to the overflowing back half. The pacing wasn't terribly off, but I felt more breathing room to learn the characters and details of their mission than I did in its wake—which is a shame, as there was plenty of rich content worth exploring towards the latter half of the novel. Generally speaking, I can't be too critical of a novel where my main complaint is that I wanted more time in the world.

Also! I loved this translation. There was a lovely little introduction where Ken Liu explained some of the choices he made to maintain as much of the integrity of the Chinese culture inextricable from Jingfang's novel while not overwhelming the text with footnotes or assuming those reading in English were incapable of context clues or engrossing themselves in the unfamiliar. Made me an instant fan of his as well.

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.

This book is another great one by Hao Jingfang. It's deep though. There are concepts around philosophy, history, science, and ethics all embedded. The characters are well developed and it brings to light important questions regarding humanity. It's a tough book to get through just because there's so much, but it's well written and worth the read.

Two factions, the Pacific League and the Atlantic Division, struggle to maintain control in a world broken by war. One astronomer/programmer, who is the son of one of the most powerful families on Earth, finds an unusual transmission. He is looking to deliver the information to the beautiful archeologist he met years ago. Unbeknownst to him, he had been observing the approach of an alien vessel flying near the speed of light. The archaeologist wants to meet these aliens. Deep below her home lies an ancient castle that is transmitting information to these aliens. The Pacific League sends in their best man to find what they are sure will be spies, after they intercept these transmissions. Enemies will become reluctant friends to help the archeologist travel to meet the alien vessel.

There are many many popular sci-fi concepts packed into this story. They feel almost indiscriminately thrown in. And despite this fact, the novel reads as more fantasy novel than sci-fi thriller. The dialogue is at times choppy. The premise is intriguing and the story is entertaining. Think Indiana Jones level traps in our alien spaceship. The situations our characters find themselves in are bordering on absurd. But I do enjoy the action sequences. I recommend if you just like to escape the real world and read a fun story. I don't if you like to critically analyze your reads.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I’m sorry to say that this book was not for me, and I’m starting to think there might be some cultural factors at play here. It has a different kind of storytelling than what I’m used to - the kind where most of the book is a succession of info dumps (including the dialogues). There was some action towards the end, and that perhaps was the part of the book that went fastest, but overall it’s simply strange to, for example, [SPOILERS? listen to an alien explain the defining characteristics of all eight stages of a civilization when a powerful adversary is about to attack and possibly destroy their planet].

To make matters worse, I kept seeing each character as a loose collection of drama tropes, which is all well and good if they come together nicely and make something 3D, but in this case I couldn’t relate and didn’t find the interactions or the character growth impactful. All their thought processes were absolutely spelled out in the text, either in narration or in dialogue, leaving no room for the reader to interpret anything or indeed draw their own conclusions.

While some topics raised in the book are in and of themselves interesting (what it takes for a civilization to advance, whether we need other people in our lives and to what extent and so on), this was overall an incredibly slow and somewhat frustrating read for me.

As someone drawn to the intriguing premise of aliens influencing ancient civilizations and the underlying motivations that drive our main characters, delving into "Jumpnauts" held the promise of a captivating story filled with mystery and discovery. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself grappling with a narrative that became bogged down by extensive philosophical and technological discussions, causing the momentum of the plot to stagnate for chapters at a time.

The concept of aliens shaping ancient civilizations' technological advancements offered a fascinating lens through which to explore themes of human ambition, curiosity, and the quest for knowledge. Hao Jingfang's exploration of these concepts is commendable, offering readers a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of progress.

However, where "Jumpnauts" falters is in its execution of these ideas. The narrative becomes mired in lengthy philosophical and technological discussions, overshadowing the progression of the plot and hindering the development of the characters. While these discussions may be intellectually stimulating, they often disrupt the flow of the story, and it left me struggling to remain engaged.

Despite these shortcomings, "Jumpnauts" is not without its merits. Hao Jingfang's vivid imagination and intricate world-building create a rich tapestry of ideas and concepts that invite readers to ponder the mysteries of the universe alongside the characters. Ken Liu's translation captures the essence of the original text, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the intricacies of Jingfang's storytelling.

While intellectually stimulating, the uneven pacing and lack of momentum may leave some readers feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

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. >>

Real Rating 3.75* of five
Interesting mash-up of Doctor Who and the holographic universe interpretation of quantum physics. I was less sold on this story than I was on Vagabonds a couple years ago. Part of that is down to the personalities of the main characters, as I am bored by straight people competing over sex. Another part was the politics of the Earth conflict...why the hell does an omniscient, all-but-omnipotent force...whether alien or divine...allow the injustice and horror of the world as it is?

There is no answer to that question that convinces me of the existence of such beings. So a big part of my reading energy goes into fighting off the sense that this story is founded on sand, and it is shifting rapidly under my readerly feet.

Not everyone will feel this way, so the folks who liked Contact, Arrival, or the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson will be gruntled by this read. Vagabonds readers will likely miss the more ornamented prose in that book, but the pleasures of characters developing, seeking, and solving problems will make up for it.

Saga Press wants $13.99 for an ebook, which feels like a good deal to me.

Jumpnauts was just absolutely fantastic. I loved how much care Ken Liu took with the translation. I loved the Chinese history and mythology weaved into this first contact story so much. I hear there will be more books in this series and I can't wait to read it all! Huge thanks to Saga Press for the ARC of this one!

I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang is a Chinese sci-fi story about four people learning about how aliens have helped advance human civilizations. The four are Yun Fan, Qi Fei, and Chang Tian who are childhood friends and Jiang Liu who is romantically pursuing Yun Fan and is rivals with Qi Fei. The world has been divided into the Pacific vs the Atlantic, fighting against each other for control.

What I liked was the questions asked about civilization. My favorite question was ‘if an ancient society technically still continues through it’s people, language, and culture, but the government changed, did it actually end?’ in relation to Greece, China, and several other ancient societies. It’s a great question and there is no clear cut answer provided, referencing how morality and values change and that could be a key factor.

The novel explores ancient Chinese philosophy, utilizes Chinese history and folklore/mythology, and imagines a universe where aliens have helped civilizations on Earth to advance while also exploring cosmology, how societies in different universes would view time differently, and of symbiotic relationships between societies. I really loved the use of qilin and loong as they are two of my favorites in Chinese folklore.

Qi Fei, Yun Fan, Jiang Liu, and Chang Tian all felt very distinct with very different personalities and each dynamic was different as a result. My favorite dynamic was Qi Fei and Jiang Liu’s with Jiang Liu and Yun Fan’s a close second. Yun Fan was perhaps my favorite character.

The translator, Ken Liu, provided some footnotes to help readers unfamiliar with concepts in Chinese philosophy or classics in the Chinese literary canon. While I was familiar with most of it, I still found the footnotes useful when I couldn’t remember a detail or if the information was new to me.

I would recommend this to fans of sci-fi exploring the relationship between aliens and society, readers looking for sci-fi in translation, and lovers of Chinese philosophy used in the sci-fi and fantasy space.

I really enjoyed the contrast between Jiang Liu’s devil-may-care billionaire playboy attitude and the much more somber and serious Qi Fei. Their consistent squabbling when nobody else is looking their way cracked me up. Yun Fan has things to do and no time at all for their nonsense, and I respect her attitude.

There did come a point where I was worried that Yun Fan was going to be a damsel in distress (someone is certainly foolish enough to treat her that way) but for those of you who are tired of seeing women “fridged” and sidelined in this genre, never fear.

The use of philosophy and history in this book is really interesting. I enjoyed both the characters and the concepts, and Ken Liu’s explanation of his logic when it came to translation shaped how I read the book. I was an archaeology major, and while I focused on a different region, I could appreciate a lot of the ways that Hao Jingfang played with twists on human history.

I only have one major complaint: there were times when the detailed conversations DRAGGED. I struggled not to skim in places, because the discussion of human cognitive functions could get very dry indeed. I sometimes feel a level of disconnect when I’m reading work in translation, but for the most part I didn’t experience that with Jumpnauts. I did, however, get stuck in some of the more esoteric portions of the discussion.

Still, if y’all can sit through God knows how many pages of potato-math from Andy Weir, then you’ll appreciate the level of detail in Hao Jingfang’s writing. Personally, I enjoy philosophical scifi (think Mountain in the Sea) and there was more action in here than in most other entries in the subgenre.

Also, shout out to Chang Tian who doesn’t even appear on the cover. 🥲 Most underrated MVP chef/therapist. My boy deserves more accolades.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Thank you for the arc!

The skill with which Hao Jingfang blends science, history, and mythology is breathtaking. Rich and complex, JUMPNAUTS satisfied my craving for a twisty, political sci-fi with deep character work.

What a wild ride, and such smart narrative construction. An interweaving of global politics, technology, space travel, alien exploration, and ancient Chinese philosophy, it's an incrediblly complex look into the future, while explaining many of the pivotal advancements throughout history.
The four main characters are so well written as well- having brought different backgrounds and motivations, a long history, to unite in this adventure. A very enjoyable read.

[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!

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.