“Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century” is a collection of short stories by Kim Fu. The book explores the lives of diverse characters grappling with magical challenges in the modern world. Across the anthology, Fu skilfully writes themes of identity, belonging, family dynamics, and societal pressures, crafting narratives that provoke thought.
The collection starts with “Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867,” immersing readers in a dialogue between a client and a simulator operator. The client requested to recreate a day with his/her late mother in a simulated environment. This story poignantly highlights the unpredictable nature of grief. Sometimes, what you miss the most about a person is just some mundane moments which often taken for granted.
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Provocative Themes
A collection of short stories always feels like a box of candies, some stories leave a deeper impression than others. Notably, “#ClimbingNation” follows a group of climbers grappling with loss and betrayal amidst their collective grief. For me, this tale exposes the depths of human greed and the consequences of prioritising personal gain over others. Sometimes, we forget who we hurt along the way just to get what we wanted.
In “Scissors,” Fu explores the themes of sexual dominance and escapism. This tale offers a provocative exploration of intimacy and pain. Similarly, “Twenty Hours” presents a provocative premise where a married couple takes turns killing each other, because they can be ‘recreated’ in their original form every twenty hours. This story challenges the conventional notions of love and relationships. It offers dark humour on marital dynamics. Let’s just say that they found a new way to spice up their relationship.
Another standout is “Do You Remember Candy?” Which envisions a world where individuals lose their sense of taste, and one woman profits on creatively reliving cherished memories of favourite foods. This narrative serves as a commentary on the power of nostalgia and the lengths individuals will go to have treasured experiences again.
Eerie and Imaginative
Less memorable stories, for me, includes “Time Cubes” which tells a story of a salesman who designed a special cubes to control the aging process.
In “The Doll,” a group of neighbourhood children stumble upon an eerie doll in the yard of a recently deceased family. The doll triggers haunting dreams and unsettling experiences. This tale reminds me of a long lost youth, when the mind is still innocent without adult’s problems. While “In This Fantasy” follows a woman lost in a reveries of alternate lives she could inhabit.
“June Bugs” recounts the story of a woman escaping a tumultuous relationship only to find herself in a house overrun by summer beetles. Lastly, “Bridezilla” tells a story about the uncertainties of a bride grappling with self-doubt and indecision, which lands her in the back of a Godzilla?
Throughout the anthology, Fu adeptly blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, crafting stories that are in the spectrum of the ordinary and the extraordinary. However, some readers, like me, may find the abstract ending of each story somewhat unsatisfying, longing for more definitive conclusions. Readers may feel the pressure to interpret each abstract endings.
Final Thoughts
Despite this minor critique, “Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century” showcases Fu’s wild imagination and insight into the human condition. With its fusion of dark fantasy and reality, this collection offers a thought-provoking exploration of the monsters lurking within us all.
In conclusion, “Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century” is a captivating read that offers a unique blend of fantasy and modern reality. While some stories may leave readers craving for more definitive resolutions, the collection as a whole is an interesting read. Whether you are drawn to tales of grief, betrayal, nostalgia, this anthology promises something to intrigue the readers.
Rating: 3,5 out of 5 Muse Points. Good—Solid with notable strengths and weaknesses. You might not lose sleep over it, but you’ll definitely chat about it at a book club.
