R.F. Kuang
| R.F. Kuang | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996 |
| Education | Odyssey Writing Workshop, University of Cambridge |
| Genre | fantasy |
R.F. Kuang (born 1996) is a Chinese-American fantasy writer.[1]
Contents
Life[edit]
She emigrated to the United States from Guangzhou, China, in 2000.[2] Her debut novel The Poppy War, a Chinese military fantasy, was published by Harper Voyager in 2018 and is the first book in a planned trilogy.[3] The Poppy War has received mainly favorable reviews, with Publishers Weekly calling it "a strong and dramatic launch to Kuang’s career".[4]
The Poppy War[edit]
The Poppy War, a grimdark fantasy, draws its plot and politics from mid-20th-century China.[5][6][7] Harper Voyager’s editorial director David Pomerico acquired the novel after a heated auction on Kuang’s 20th birthday.[6][8] The novel centers on a poor orphan Rin who trains in secret to test into the elite Sinegard Academy.[9] Kuang said Rin’s life is meant to parallel the trajectory of Mao Zedong.[10] Grounded in the real-world history of Chinese wars and opium addiction, The Poppy War is a dark and fatalistic tale of warfare.[11] When a conflict surfaces between the Nikara Empire and their neighboring nation, Mugen, Rin is called to the front lines. She must decide whether to make a deal with the gods to unleash her shamanic powers. Her decision may change the war but result in the loss of her humanity.[8] Kuang wrote The Poppy War while teaching debate in China and graduated with a degree in Chinese History from Georgetown University a few days after its release.[6] Her studies in Chinese military strategy and collective trauma inspired her to write the novel.[3][2] She said, "I chose to write a fantasy reinterpretation of China's twentieth century, because that was the kind of story I wasn't finding on bookshelves".[3]
Personal life[edit]
Kuang graduated from the Odyssey Writing Workshop in 2016 and attended the CSSF Novel Writing Workshop in 2017.[2] She will pursue a graduate degree at the University of Cambridge as a recipient of the Marshall Scholarship.[1] As of May 2018, the draft of her second book is finished.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Georgetown Author R.F. Kuang Speaks on Upcoming Novel 'The Poppy War'". 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ a b c "R. F. Kuang". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ a b c "R.F. Kuang Stuns With Her Debut Fantasy Novel, The Poppy War". RT Book Reviews. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. Harper Voyager, $26.99 (544p)". PublishersWeekly.com. ISBN 978-0-06-266256-9. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ a b "R.F. Kuang - Interview". BookPage.com. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ a b c "Cover Story: R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War, an Epic Debut Inspired by 20th Century China". The B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog. 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "15 Best New Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books: May 2018". Nerd Much?. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ a b "A Light in the Grimdark: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang". Tor.com. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "The 12 gripping science fiction and fantasy novels you need to check out this May". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ "R. F. Kuang Interview – The Poppy War « Fantasy-Faction". fantasy-faction.com. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ Nam, Michael. "'The Poppy War' book review: A magical, brutal coming-of-age tale in a medieval Asian fantasy world - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
