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Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu Tencent series review by Anna Chen

Three Body Problem review: the politics of novel, Netflix and Tencent

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How did the Three Body Problem work as a book, a Netflix series and a Chinese Tencent series? That’s a Three Body Problem in itself.
Netflix’s eight-part series 3 Body Problem had the opportunity to dramatise Book One of the Hugo Award-winning blockbuster series and illuminate it through a western lens. Instead, they turned it into a banal addition to the multiple-body of China-hate currently pervading every nook and cranny of the culture 

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Anna May Wong Not Your China Doll by Katie Gee Salisbury - book review by Anna Chen

Anna May Wong – Not Your China Doll book review

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A lively, well-written romp through Anna May Wong’s life and career, if light on the political landscape that shaped her. Impressive research and detail in the book tell a good yarn. Written through the lens of the Chinese American author, the identity politics often hit the mark.
Forgotten, however, the political manipulation of perception that has resulted in the very real tragedy of race hysteria that’s seen Asian women attacked and murdered.
Book review by Anna Chen

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Anna Chen Asia Times Shakespeare Wars of the Roses

Wars of the Roses: Shakespeare First Folio 400th anniversary

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Review of Shakespeare’s The Wars of the Roses — Henry VI parts 1 & 2 and Richard III. That’s us, that is.
On this month’s 400th anniversary of the First Folio’s publication, what looks like a simple squaring up of combative parties is more a dodecahedron of feuding interests.
Shakespeare’s history play cycle, a cynic’s take on human relations in favour of the strong leader who will restore equilibrium and God’s order, strips bare the mindset that kicked off Britain’s empire now wheezing into a comeback effort. First time as tragedy, second time top-and-tailing the empire years with added farce.

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Heathcote Williams’ American Porn poetry collection: balancing passion and disgust on a razor’s edge — review

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Five stars for Heathcote Williams’ American Porn poetry collection: balancing passion and disgust on a razor’s edge Seems like we are all stuck in a science-fiction writer’s coma dream, so deeply weird have been events of the past year. The culmination was the installation by electoral college (as opposed to popular vote) of our Orange

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Heaven Sent Doctor Who episode satisfies this SF critic at last: five-star review

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WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD It is always good to be brought into the light, even though it may take an age: better late than never. And so the theme of Heaven Sent, the penultimate episode in the latest series of Doctor Who, brings me to my knees in grateful awe. Heaven Sent knocked me off my

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Terminator Genisys review: a tragic thing to do to an old friend

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SPOILER ALERT!!! Oh the excitement as the Amazon package containing another 3D blu-ray movie drops through the door. This week it’s the fifth in the much-loved Terminator franchise, Terminator Genisys which I’ve had on order for weeks and which was at long last released on November 2nd. But yikes … After a promising start with

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