[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, April 21, 2025

“Nian: A New Year Story” by Leeyee Lim

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The novelette “Nian: A New Year Story” by Leeyee Lim can be thought of as half a dozen short stories linked by a common fantasy premise. In each one, a supernatural, benevolent lion appears. In ancient times, it is created to drive off a monster. In nineteenth century New Zealand, it appears to an immigrant miner. In twentieth century New York, it appears to the narrator, who is about to lose a lover to a cousin. In contemporary Australia, it appears to a boy threatened by racist schoolmates. In Malaysia, it appears to a woman and her American husband. In the future, it appears to a woman blocked from returning to her home planet.

The work as a whole is an impressive tour de force, combining multiple narrative styles, genres, and plots, while maintaining common themes related to the immigrant experience. The author displays skill in creating folk tale, fantasy, historical fiction, mainstream fiction, and science fiction. Although obviously influenced by the author’s own Malaysian-Chinese background, this mosaic of six interrelated tales can be appreciated by all readers.

Victoria Silverwolf went to a very nice tearoom recently.