Djuna
Honford Star
30 September 2026
273
eBook - EPUB
Sci-Fi Short Stories
ARC via NetGalley
The stories brought together in this collection introduce the dazzling speculative imaginings of Djuna, one of South Korea’s most provocative science-fiction writers. Whether describing how a species of interplanetary machines brings Korea’s North-South divide into the heavens or satirizing the vampiric nature of Confucian patriarchy, these stories evoke a universe at once familiar and clearly fantastical. Blending influences ranging from genre fiction (zombie, vampire, science-fiction, you name it) to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Djuna’s stories illuminate the past, present, and possible futures. Praised by Publisher’s Weekly as an "impressive collection which showcases the power of speculative fiction to illuminate the human condition", Memoir of a Joseon Bride is an outstanding work by one of science-fiction’s most mysterious authors.
Memoir of a Joseon Bride was a fun collection of tales. While several had strong sci-fi themes, others were more paranormal-horror, and it was those ones I personally enjoyed the most, being more of a paranormal/supernatural fan than a big sci-fi reader. The title piece was my absolute favourite, but I also loved the zombie-based tale. If you are a fan of speculative short fiction, this collection is definitely worth a look. I am giving it a solid 4.5 stars. The only reason it doesn't get to five is because I was less taken by the more science fiction-focused stories. I would definitely consider reading more from this author in the future if it was works more in the paranormal genre.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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