Strange Beasts of China

Strange Beasts of China follows an unnamed cryptozoologist in the fictional Chinese city of Yong'an as she chronicles the mysterious creatures that inhabit the urban landscape. Set in a world that mirrors contemporary China, the novel catalogs various species of beasts who live alongside humans in this industrial metropolis. The narrator, a former zoology student turned writer, investigates and documents each beast species through a series of interconnected stories. As she pursues her research, she becomes increasingly entangled with both the beasts she studies and the humans who interact with them. Working with her former professor and a local zoology institute, the protagonist uncovers the complex relationships between beasts and humans in Yong'an. Her observations take the form of clinical studies mixed with personal encounters, building a comprehensive bestiary of these supernatural beings. The novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the boundaries between human and non-human existence in modern urban society. Through its blend of fantasy and realism, it presents a unique examination of contemporary Chinese life and the nature of humanity itself.

Readers describe this as a melancholic and dreamlike collection that blends fantasy with social commentary. Many note its unique structure - each chapter introduces a new beast while following the cryptozoologist narrator's personal story. Readers appreciated: - The atmospheric, surreal writing style - Commentary on human nature through beast metaphors - The blend of bestiary and noir mystery elements - The fluid translation by Jeremy Tiang Common criticisms: - Repetitive chapter structures - Uneven pacing in later sections - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Desire for more world-building details Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (200+ ratings) "Like Borges meets Murakami in modern China" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful prose but the formula gets tiresome" - Amazon reviewer "The beasts serve as mirrors for human relationships" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🐲 The Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), which influenced this novel, is one of China's oldest geographical and mythological texts, dating back over 2,000 years 🏮 Author Yan Ge wrote the original version in Chinese under the title Yong'an Yizhong (Strange Beasts in Yong'an), and it was later translated into English by Jeremy Tiang 🌆 The fictional city of Yong'an in the novel is based on Chengdu, the author's hometown and capital of Sichuan Province, known for its rich folklore and mythological traditions 📚 Each chapter focuses on a different beast category, including sorrowful beasts, joyous beasts, and sacrificial beasts, creating a unique taxonomy of urban mythology 🖋️ The unnamed narrator's profession as a "cryptozoologist" bridges traditional Chinese storytelling with modern scientific methodology, reflecting China's blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary development