Mother River

Synopsis

In thirteen dreamlike stories, Can Xue dissolves the boundaries between memory, nature, and imagination. Rivers remember, light takes on a life of its own, villages shift beneath their inhabitants, and ordinary people find themselves moving through landscapes that seem governed by dream logic rather than reality. These stories ask to be experienced rather than solved, rewarding readers willing to surrender to their strange and luminous worlds.

One of China's most celebrated experimental writers, Can Xue has long been considered a perennial Nobel contender. Mother River is a remarkable introduction to her singular vision—surreal, philosophical, and unlike anything else in contemporary literature. Translated by Karen Gernant and Chen Zeping, this collection showcases one of the most original voices in world fiction.

About the Author

Can Xue is the pen name of Deng Xiaohua, one of China's most acclaimed contemporary writers. Her novels and story collections have been translated into more than twenty languages, earning international recognition for their bold, experimental style and philosophical depth. Frequently mentioned as a future Nobel Prize laureate, she is the author of Frontier, Five Spice Street, Barefoot Doctor, and Vertical Motion. This collection is translated by Karen Gernant and Chen Zeping.

Publisher

Open Letter Books

Publication Date

January 21, 2025

Format

Paperback

Pages

256

Subjects

Short Stories · Literary Fiction · Fiction in Translation · Chinese Literature · Experimental Fiction · Surreal Fiction

ISBN

9781960385314