Description

Cut off from the rest of the world by choice the city of Ora relies on heavy surveillance of its people and surroundings to maintain order Anima is one of the extrasensory humans tasked with running the city Even if it means never leaving the Hub Anima is content with r job as it offers r a direct connection to the Gleaming a powerful network that spans the globe and connects all things Then a mysterious figure named Vessel enters Ora without going through one of the border gates Se offers Anima the chance to look at ser cabinet of curiosities from around the world in exchange for a memento of r own Instead of turning ser in to the authorities Anima who has never seen the world outside Ora accepts Vessels offer But as learns the story behind each item Anima realizes that the rest of the world isnt like Ora and begins to doubt r role in enforcing the citys rules As events collide Anima is left with one question that destabilizes everything ae knows What good is a city if it cant protect its people
REVIEWS
Beautiful prose a complex structure and wellwrought Asianinfluenced worldbuilding This masterful work positions Lu among the vanguard of contemporary futurism and speculative fictionPublishers Weekly starred review
For those cyberpunks looking for a beautiful fantasy story this is a truly amazing novellaSan Francisco Book Review
Lu has crafted an impressive mythos that draws from the traditions and legends of a variety of culturesNew Scientist Magazine
Stories within stories possibilities within impossibilities In the Watchful City is halftapestry halfmenagerie adding up to an intricate transcendent fantasyChuck Wendig
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S Qiouyi Lu writes and translates between two coasts of the Pacific r work including fiction poetry and essays has appeared in several awardwinning venues In the Watchful City is r first novella You can find out more about S at r website or on Twitter