Butterfly (short story)
| "Butterfly" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Liu Cixin | |
| Country | China |
| Language | Chinese |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Publication date | 2002 |
"Butterfly" (Chinese: 混沌蝴蝶; pinyin: hùndùn húdié) is a science-fiction short story by Chinese writer Liu Cixin, first published in 2002. The short story was included in the collection A View from the Stars published by Head of Zeus in April 2024 and by Tor Books in May 2024. It was translated by Elizabeth Hanlon.[1]
Plot
[edit]While the United States is bombing Yugoslavia, scientist Aleksandar intends to use the weather as a weapon through manipulation of atmospheric sensitivity points and the effects of chaos theory. All calculations are done by a supercomputer near Moscow, where his ill daughter Katya has just received a new kidney, which her body rejects. Both stories are connected with each other, so that Katya unintentionally influences the outcome of the war through the butterfly effect.[2][3]
Reviews
[edit]Paul Di Filippo wrote in the Locus Magazine, that "placing this extrapolation amidst the Balkan wars of the 1990s adds suspense and emotion to the novum."[4]
Publishers Weekly wrote in a review of the entire collection A View from the Stars, that its fiction entries "may be more down-to-earth, but they’re unafraid to ask big questions, including 'What is the purpose of the universe?'."[5]
Gareth D Jones wrote on SF Crowsnest, that the short story shows "Cixin Liu’s familiar skill of mixing large-scale disasters with realistic characters and touching relationships," and the "globe-trotting adventure are accompanied by beautifully drawn landscapes and a series of entertaining travelling companions." He further wrote, that "there’s nothing overtly science fictional about this tale. There’s speculation."[2]
Eamonn Murphy wrote on SF Crowsnest, that "tales of helpless children under attack from superior air power resonated at the time of writing" and that there is "there’s an interesting point of view switch."[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Summary Bibliography: Cixin Liu". isfdb.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ a b Jones, Gareth D. (2022-10-13). "Cixin Liu's The Butterfly: A Graphic Novel (The Worlds Of Cixin Liu) adapted by Dan Panosian (graphic novel review)". SFcrowsnest. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b Murphy, Eamonn (2024-04-02). "A View From The Stars: Stories And Essays by Cixin Liu (book review)". SFcrowsnest. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ^ Di Filippo, Paul (2024-04-28). "Paul Di Filippo Reviews A View from the Stars by Cixin Liu". locusmag.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "A View from the Stars". publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
External links
[edit]- Butterfly title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- 混沌蝴蝶 at the Chinese Speculative Fiction Database (CSFDB)