In a literary landscape still dominated by Western storytelling traditions, Henry Lien stands as a formidable advocate for narrative diversity. The speculative fiction author and writing instructor will appear at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena on Saturday to present his latest work, “Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling,” a book that questions fundamental assumptions about how stories should be structured.
The appearance, scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., promises to expand the conversation around diversity in literature beyond mere character representation, delving instead into the philosophical underpinnings of narrative construction itself.
“Diversity is about more than just plopping different faces into stories that are 100 percent Western in spirit; it can – and should – encompass diverse structures, themes, and values,” Lien contends in his book, which examines alternative frameworks such as the four-act kishotenketsu structure prevalent in Eastern storytelling traditions.
This structure, unfamiliar to many Western readers, offers a stark contrast to the three-act paradigm that has defined Western literature, film, and television for generations. Lien’s work suggests that truly inclusive storytelling requires not just diverse characters but also diverse narrative architectures that reflect the multiplicity of cultural perspectives.
The author uses examples ranging from the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” to classic literature like “One Thousand and One Nights” and even the popular Mario video game franchise to illustrate his points.
His book examines how Eastern value systems such as collectivism can dictate narrative form in ways that diverge significantly from Western storytelling traditions that often emphasize individual empowerment and personal transformation.
Born in Taiwan and now residing in Los Angeles, Lien brings a cross-cultural perspective to his analysis of storytelling techniques and has been nominated several times for a Nebula Award for speculative fiction.
The Saturday afternoon conversation at Vroman’s Bookstore, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, is an adult event that includes a book signing opportunity for attendees.
Vroman’s encourages participants to purchase Lien’s book from their store; such support “makes events like this possible,” the bookstore’s statement said.
“Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird” is described as essential reading “for any writer or reader who wants to broaden their understanding of how to tell a satisfying story.”
