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Seven Birthdays
We’re pleased to reprint Ken Liu’s short story “Seven Birthdays” from Bridging Infinity, the latest volume in the Hugo award-winning Infinity Project series, showcasing all-original hard science fiction stories from the leading voices in genre fiction.
Sense of wonder is the lifeblood of science fiction. When we encounter something on a truly staggering scale—metal spheres wrapped around stars, planets rebuilt and repurposed, landscapes transformed, starships bigger than worlds—we react viscerally. Fear, reverence, admiration – how else are we to react to something so grand? Edited by Jonathan Strahan, Bridging Infinity puts humanity at the heart of these vast undertakings—as builder, as engineer, as adventurer—reimagining and rebuilding the world, the solar system, and even the entire universe.
Sense of wonder is the lifeblood of science fiction. When we encounter something on a truly staggering scale—metal spheres wrapped around stars, planets rebuilt and repurposed, landscapes transformed, starships bigger than worlds—we react viscerally. Fear, reverence, admiration – how else are we to react to something so grand? Edited by Jonathan Strahan, Bridging Infinity puts humanity at the heart of these vast undertakings—as builder, as engineer, as adventurer—reimagining and rebuilding the world, the solar system, and even the entire universe.
20 pages, ebook
First published November 15, 2016
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Ken Liu
470 books22.2k followersKen Liu (http://kenliu.name) is an American author of speculative fiction. A winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards for his fiction, he has also won top genre honors abroad in Japan, Spain, and France.
Liu’s most characteristic work is the four-volume epic fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, in which engineers, not wizards, are the heroes of a silkpunk world on the verge of modernity. His debut collection of short fiction, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. A second collection, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, followed. He also penned the Star Wars novel, The Legends of Luke Skywalker. His latest book is All That We See or Seem, a techno-thriller starring an AI-whispering hacker who saves the world.
He’s often involved in media adaptations of his work. Recent projects include “The Regular,” under development as a TV series; “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in season one of Netflix’s breakout adult animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC’s Pantheon, with Craig Silverstein as executive producer, adapted from an interconnected series of Liu’s short stories.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, history of technology, bookmaking, and the mathematics of origami.
In addition to his original fiction, Liu also occasionally publishes literary translations. His most recent work of translation is a new rendition of Laozi’s Dao De Jing.
Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.
Liu’s most characteristic work is the four-volume epic fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, in which engineers, not wizards, are the heroes of a silkpunk world on the verge of modernity. His debut collection of short fiction, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. A second collection, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, followed. He also penned the Star Wars novel, The Legends of Luke Skywalker. His latest book is All That We See or Seem, a techno-thriller starring an AI-whispering hacker who saves the world.
He’s often involved in media adaptations of his work. Recent projects include “The Regular,” under development as a TV series; “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in season one of Netflix’s breakout adult animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC’s Pantheon, with Craig Silverstein as executive producer, adapted from an interconnected series of Liu’s short stories.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, history of technology, bookmaking, and the mathematics of origami.
In addition to his original fiction, Liu also occasionally publishes literary translations. His most recent work of translation is a new rendition of Laozi’s Dao De Jing.
Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2016
3.5 stars. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
This science fiction story by Ken Liu follows Mia on seven birthdays throughout her (astoundingly long) life. Mia is the daughter of a distant mother, a scientist who is more concerned with global warming and trying to save the planet through geo-engineering. On her seventh birthday, Mia tries to make peace while her separated parents bicker. On her 49th birthday, Mia visits again with her somewhat senile mother, who is searching the grounds of the care facility she lives in for the seven year old version of Mia. Mia tells her mother about her job, how they are learning to scan the human mind and upload it into a computer.
On Mia’s 343rd birthday, her daughter virtually visits with her. Both Mia and her daughter ― and almost all of humanity ― now exist solely as digital beings.
This science fiction story by Ken Liu follows Mia on seven birthdays throughout her (astoundingly long) life. Mia is the daughter of a distant mother, a scientist who is more concerned with global warming and trying to save the planet through geo-engineering. On her seventh birthday, Mia tries to make peace while her separated parents bicker. On her 49th birthday, Mia visits again with her somewhat senile mother, who is searching the grounds of the care facility she lives in for the seven year old version of Mia. Mia tells her mother about her job, how they are learning to scan the human mind and upload it into a computer.
On Mia’s 343rd birthday, her daughter virtually visits with her. Both Mia and her daughter ― and almost all of humanity ― now exist solely as digital beings.
More than three hundred billion human minds now inhabit this planet, residing in thousands of data centers that collectively take up less space than old Manhattan. The Earth has gone back to being wild, save for a few stubborn holdouts who still insist on living in the flesh in remote settlements.By the time we get to Mia’s 2,401st birthday (the number of each birthday increasing by a factor of seven), humanity is expanding outward to the stars, their lives far distant from ours, but the fundamental concerns remain the same: family, love, respect for our world and for other species. The later parts of the story didn’t connect with me emotionally in the way that the first parts did; although they’re imaginative, they also seem to be more telling than showing the story. But the final scene, in a far, far distant future, brings a satisfying sense of closure.
March 8, 2017
This story has unique storytelling separating the timeline with birthdays of the main character, and using the number seven efficiently to make engaging story.
February 16, 2023
Seven Birthdays by Ken Liu
A million or so years in the life of Mia and her Mom. Ken Liu dreams big in this meticulous, breathtaking hard-SF tale of the transition from organic to silicon-based life. 5+ stars, his best story yet by far. It would be difficult to over-praise this story. Look for it on the award ballots.
Reprint online at https://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprin...
Author's comments, possible SPOILERS: http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/...
A million or so years in the life of Mia and her Mom. Ken Liu dreams big in this meticulous, breathtaking hard-SF tale of the transition from organic to silicon-based life. 5+ stars, his best story yet by far. It would be difficult to over-praise this story. Look for it on the award ballots.
Reprint online at https://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprin...
Author's comments, possible SPOILERS: http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/...
February 6, 2017
Another great short story from Ken Liu. Hard sci-fi, with a scope extended over few hundred thousand years but also filled with emotions. Marvelous read.
It can be found here: http://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprint...
It can be found here: http://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprint...
August 25, 2017
Wonderful story. The first part is oriented mostly on family and psychology, the second is much more hard sci-fi, focused on technology and space.
December 15, 2016
The downside to some short stories is they sometimes feel like they're a bit lacking. Lacking character development, lacking detail, lacking explanations, etc. I consider Liu one of the kings of short stories - he's written some pretty great ones - which is why this is coming in at three stars. It was good and I enjoyed it, but not as much as his others.
You can read it for free at Tor. The URL is in the book details here on Goodreads.
You can read it for free at Tor. The URL is in the book details here on Goodreads.
December 25, 2020
Great for hard science fans, but too info-dump-focused for my taste, and the 1st person perspective didn't always convince: what 7-year old would actually say "I run. [...] Like Aeneas pursued by Juno’s stormy rage"?? That said, it was optimistic and interesting to read.
December 8, 2019
Day 8 in my 24 Days of Shorts
I think what I enjoyed most about this was how surprising it was. I read a lot, and I'm usually pretty good as seeing patterns early. I thought I knew where this was going, this tale of seven birthdays, starting with a seven year old child and argumentative parents ... ha! I was wrong.
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprin...
My 24 Days of Shorts
1. File N°002 by Sylvain Neuvel
2. File N°247 by Sylvain Neuvel
3. Skinner Box by Carole Johnstone
4. The Weight of Memories by Liu Cixin
5. A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers by Alyssa Wong
6. If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho
7. Meat And Salt And Sparks by Rich Larson
8. Seven Birthdays by Ken Liu
9. Where Would You Be Now? by Carrie Vaughn
10. Old Media by Annalee Newitz
11. The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
12. Sweetlings by Lucy Taylor
13. An Unexpected Honor by Ursula Vernon
14. Hell is the Absence of God by Ted Chiang
15. A Love Story by Samantha Hunt
16. The Lake by Tananarive Due
17. Ghost Hedgehog by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
18. Finnegan's Field by Angela Slatter
19. Among the Thorns by Veronica Schanoes
20. Rag and Bone by Priya Sharma
21. The Mothers of Voorhisville by Mary Rickert
22. As Good as New by Charlie Jane Anders
23. Twixt Firelight and Water by Juliet Marillier
24. The Christmas Show by Pat Cadigan
There is always a technical solution.
... But not all paths are better. There is a darkness in human nature that makes certain conflicts irreconcilable.
I think what I enjoyed most about this was how surprising it was. I read a lot, and I'm usually pretty good as seeing patterns early. I thought I knew where this was going, this tale of seven birthdays, starting with a seven year old child and argumentative parents ... ha! I was wrong.
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2016/11/15/reprin...
My 24 Days of Shorts
1. File N°002 by Sylvain Neuvel
2. File N°247 by Sylvain Neuvel
3. Skinner Box by Carole Johnstone
4. The Weight of Memories by Liu Cixin
5. A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers by Alyssa Wong
6. If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho
7. Meat And Salt And Sparks by Rich Larson
8. Seven Birthdays by Ken Liu
9. Where Would You Be Now? by Carrie Vaughn
10. Old Media by Annalee Newitz
11. The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
12. Sweetlings by Lucy Taylor
13. An Unexpected Honor by Ursula Vernon
14. Hell is the Absence of God by Ted Chiang
15. A Love Story by Samantha Hunt
16. The Lake by Tananarive Due
17. Ghost Hedgehog by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
18. Finnegan's Field by Angela Slatter
19. Among the Thorns by Veronica Schanoes
20. Rag and Bone by Priya Sharma
21. The Mothers of Voorhisville by Mary Rickert
22. As Good as New by Charlie Jane Anders
23. Twixt Firelight and Water by Juliet Marillier
24. The Christmas Show by Pat Cadigan
January 4, 2017
Ken Lui was robbed when his Paper Menagerie collection was knocked out of the Goodreads Choice Awards in the final round. Don't believe me? Read this free short on Tor.com and see how magnificent his writing is. Seven Birthdays follows the life of Mia, starting when she is 7 and ending when she's well over 800,000 years old. In her adulthood (at least the type of adulthood we understand), she tried to defeat climate change by developing technology that allowed humans to upload themselves onto servers, allowing the Earth to heal. Sounds like something you've heard before? Just continue! Mia and the human race undergo incredibly developments. People evolve in a myriad of ways, and the result is creative and thought provoking. Seven Birthdays is a beautiful science fiction story that truly gets at what is so great about this genre, and a testament to why Ken Lui is just so fantastic.
February 28, 2017
really enjoying this author's work. this is my third short story read of his. What I like is the way he ties things together -something familiar takes on a new vigor in an unusual way. Here telling the story a mother daughter love from 7 years old to ' infinity and beyond'
February 9, 2017
Mom & daughter relationships with a scifi twist. Very nice!
February 13, 2017
Beautiful and thought-provoking. A reflection on our present time. What good short science fiction should be.
December 23, 2021
Not sure how to review this short story. It is a hard science story from the Bridging Infinity series of SF anthologies. Started well with an interesting story line but got very complicated (for me!) as the story moved into an inconceivable future. A fascinating story but probably warranted a longer length to be able to explain things better to an old man like me!
July 19, 2022
Bold and ambitious, yet deeply human. A history of humankind from the near future to eternity.
January 31, 2017
Beautiful short story, that despite being part of an hard sci-fi, it also has interesting character development, and very touching moments.
It is the story of the life of Mia, from her toddler years forward, told as 7 time snapshots taken during 7 of her birthdays. It reminded me of another short story by the same author, Memories of My Mother.
It is the story of the life of Mia, from her toddler years forward, told as 7 time snapshots taken during 7 of her birthdays. It reminded me of another short story by the same author, Memories of My Mother.
February 6, 2017
Editado por Jonathan Strahan y publicado en Tor.com nos cuenta una historia de ciencia ficción que sigue a Mia en siete cumpleaños a lo largo de toda su vida. Una vida muy longeva gracias a una futura existencia digital de los seres humanos. La Tierra ha vuelto a ser un paraje salvaje salvo ciertos humanos que se resisten a abandonarla. Una completa descripción sobre la evolución humana y la transformación de las civilizaciones, sus ansias de expansión y consumo de recursos.
Una primera parte dedicada a la familia consigue apegarme a la historia se ve truncada por una segunda parte de ciencia ficción dura con la que he desconectado pero que cierra satisfactoriamente. Pese a todo me encanta como escribe Ken Liu, la forma que le da a sus personajes y algunos imaginativos detalles de la historia. Espero encontrar de una vez al Ken Liu relatista que tanto enamora a algunos.
Una primera parte dedicada a la familia consigue apegarme a la historia se ve truncada por una segunda parte de ciencia ficción dura con la que he desconectado pero que cierra satisfactoriamente. Pese a todo me encanta como escribe Ken Liu, la forma que le da a sus personajes y algunos imaginativos detalles de la historia. Espero encontrar de una vez al Ken Liu relatista que tanto enamora a algunos.
December 2, 2016
Extremely good, but just enough problems to prevent it pushing through to that 5-star rating. It never quite flowed the way I wanted it to, the unreliable narrator was just a little bit too unreliable, there were enough technical terms that I had to keep a dictionary handy - but except for everything wrong with it, a great little story.
November 27, 2016
I fell in love with the start, and was disappointed with where it ended up. Tell me more about that family going through a divorce.
May 3, 2017
Absolutely stunning work by Ken Liu. This was my first time reading his work and it left me searching for more. He seamlessly blends science-fiction with literary, character-transparent emotionally mature components. I literally sat with my mouth open after reading this. I should give you a more coherent review, but you should just read it. Modernity hasn't produced an abundance of great literature, this is an example of how it should be done. Liu is truly exceptional.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews