China Mountain Zhang is an amazingly well written novel, doubly so as it is the first novel Maureen McHugh has published. It is a rare accomplishment in several ways. First, it clearly describes an alternate near-future on planet Earth that goes against the grain of almost all science fiction. It's not cyberpunk, it's not a perfect world, it's just a well-described possible future that required a broader world-view than most American SF takes. Second, the main character (Zhang) is gay and multiethnic, and the plot matter-of-factly describes how his life is carried out and how his sexuality affects him, without degenerating into the cheesy soft-core porn of much of gay SF. So much of what Zhang goes through during the book resonates that his story really feels personal. Third, it vividly portrays the way in which Zhang's experiences make him a more mature person over time. I could write so much more about all this, but I'd rather just highly recommend that you buy this book and read it, and I don't want to give any of it away for fear of spoiling the experience. Just buy it!



Recommended: Yes