THE HIDDEN GIRL AND OTHER STORIES

Five narrators perform 20 stories by author Ken Liu, both individually and as ensemble presenters. While no single narrative thread binds the stories together, themes on the question of identity are common. Standouts among the stories include the three "Gods" pieces ("The Gods Will Not Be Chained," "The Gods Will Not Be Slain," and "The Gods Will Not Have Died in Vain"), all performed by Emily Woo Zeller; "Thoughts and Prayers," performed by the entire cast; and "Maxwell's Demon," performed by Cindy Kay. Regardless of whether the narrators are performing individually or with others, they excel at realizing the intricate stories and complex characters Liu has created, and at injecting humanity and compassion into disparate and even alien cultures. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]