3. In the Watchful City
In the Watchful City

In the Watchful City

by

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In the Watchful City explores borders, power, diaspora, and transformation in an Asian-inspired mosaic novella that melds the futurism of Lavie Tidhar’s Central Station with the magical wonder of Catherynne M. Valente’s Palimpsest.

The city of Ora uses a complex living network called the Gleaming to surveil its inhabitants and maintain harmony. Anima is one of the cloistered extrasensory humans tasked with watching over Ora's citizens. Although ær world is restricted to what æ can see and experience through the Gleaming, Anima takes pride and comfort in keeping Ora safe from all harm.

All that changes when a mysterious visitor enters the city carrying a cabinet of curiosities from around the world, with a story attached to each item. As Anima’s world expands beyond the borders of Ora to places—and possibilities—æ never before imagined to exist, æ finds ærself asking a question that throws into doubt ær entire purpose: What good is a city if it can’t protect its people?

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Title:In the Watchful City
Edition Language:English
ISBN:9781250792983
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    In the Watchful City Reviews

  • Hsinju Chen

    In the Watchful City is an Asian-centric adult queer fantasy novella about living (and death) with a heart-racing ending.The main character Anima (æ/ær/ær) is part of the city’s surveillance syst...

  • Henk

    Fascinating bio cyberpunk worldbuilding, decidedly queer and even incorporating Yggdrasil, kitsune and mermaids. This book packs a lot, leading me at times to be a bit confused but also excited for a ...

  • CW (The Quiet Pond) ?

    In the Watchful City challenges and pushes the boundaries of science-fiction fantasy and I absolutely loved it. Reading this was a transcendent experience; thoroughly unique, intriguing, and subverts ...

  • Montzalee Wittmann

    In the Watchful Cityby S. Qiouyi LuThis is a very hard book to review. It's odd, schizophrenic, a mosaic of ideas, confusing to me a bit of the time, and boring a bit of the time. It was also strangel...

  • Lata

    The primary character, Anima, watches over the island city of Ora, and intervenes in situations when necessary, using a biologically-based technology to move between bodies around the city. A stranger...

  • gauri

    in the watchful city is a beautiful asian centric sci-fi/fantasy (biocyberpunk as said by the author) queer novella that intricately weaves different stories with mythology and exploration of grief, p...

  • nessma

    in the watchful city is an asian-centric adult fantasy novella told through fragmented stories in a world so lush it'll leave you breathless.the story had me instantly entranced with its biocyberpunk ...

  • Andy

    Thank you so much to Tor.com and B2Weird Tours for a finished copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.In the Watchful City is a book about Anima (æ/ær/ær) who...

  • laurel [the suspected bibliophile]

    3.5 stars, rounded upCreative and interesting, and I really enjoyed the commentary on surveillance states, urban living, changing cultural norms (and clashing cultures), and how it was so queer with s...

  • Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)

    3.5 StarsAs someone who loves queer Asian inspired fantasy, this novella sounded right up my alley. Certainly, this book had those element, but the execution was not to my tastes. I loved the inclusi...