We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode In 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,' Chinese mythology teaches lessons about power

In 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,' Chinese mythology teaches lessons about power

2023/1/11
logo of podcast NPR's Book of the Day

NPR's Book of the Day

Shownotes Transcript

Amélie Wen Zhao's fantasy novel,* Song of Silver, Flame Like Night*, is rooted in the Chinese genres of xianxia and wuxia. It follows a young girl uncovering the secrets of her tumultuous kingdom with the help of a magician. In today's episode, the author talks to Here & Now's Kalyani Saxena about how her imperfect characters make difficult choices in their search for power. Zhao draws clear comparisons between the themes of anti-imperialism and history depicted in the book to real world battles being fought today, including anti-Asian racism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)