Club Book Episode 156 Rebecca F. Kuang

Speculative fiction superstar Rebecca F. Kuang is the author behind the #1 New York Times bestselling The Poppy War trilogy. Described by Publishers Weekly as “an ambitious fantasy reimagining of Asian history populated by martial artists, philosopher-generals, and gods,” Kuang’s early masterwork spans three installments: The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. Kuang’s first standalone, Babel, debuted to a warm reception in 2022. Set in an alternate universe version of Victorian England, Babel envisions a British Empire fueled by a unique form of alchemy. A specially trained corps of linguists harnesses the innate magic of language and translation to power everything from medicine to transportation. According to the Oxford Review of Books, “the true magic of Kuang’s novel lies in its ability to be both rigorously academic and consistently welcoming to the reader.” In addition to her skyrocketing fiction career, Kuang is an accomplished translator and scholar pursuing a Ph.D. from Yale University.

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