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'Writing Women in Modern China: An Anthology of Women's Literature from the Early Twentieth Century' edited by Amy D. Dooling and Kristina M. Torgeson is reviewed.

King reviews the book 'The Uses of Literature: Life in the Socialist Chinese Literary System' by Perry Link.

King reviews 'China Briefing, 1995-96: The Contradictions of Change' edited by William A. Joseph.

King reviews 'The City in Modern Chinese Literature and Film: Configurations of Space, Time, and Gender' by Yingjin Zhang.

King reviews 'Scarlet Memorial: Tales of Cannibalism in Modern China' by Zheng Yi, edited and translated by T. P. Sym.

"Technology is developing fast - so fast that it threatens to overwhelm the very species whose genius lies in its technological cunning: us. From the metaverse to genetic engineering and mood-altering pharmaceuticals, to cybersex and cyberwar and the widespread automation of work, new technologies are rewriting the terms of our existence, not in a neutral spirit of 'progress' but in line with the priorities of power and profit, and in ways that often work against the grain of our fundamental being.In this timely, provocative book, Richard King argues that we need to evolve a more critical attitude to new technologies if we are to avoid a world in which humans are no different in kind from algorithmic machines. The stakes could not be higher. As science, technology and capitalism fuse into a single system, and activists and entrepreneurs talk of a 'post-human' future in which individuals will transform themselves using powerful computers and biotechnologies, we are entering unchartered territory - a territory marked with the mapmaker's warning, Here Be Dragons ... Here Be Monsters." -- publisher.

Everyone has taken and given offense; anyone who claims they haven't is either lying or uniquely tolerant. Yet in recent years, offense has become more than an expression of annoyance - it's now a form of political currency. Politicians and religious leaders have mastered the art of indignation to motivate their supporters or deflect unwanted attention, and the news cycle has become increasingly dominated by reports on these tiny tempests. In this provocative account, Richard King explores how the politics of offence is poisoning public debate. With hurt feelings being paraded like union banne