The Membranes was such a mesmerizing book. I loved the vivid imagery throughout, and the science fiction aspect only added to the book's compelling vibe. The Membranes did cyborgs in a way that was quite unique and really felt visceral to me. And that's not even going into the setting, with a membrane protecting the denizens of the ocean floor. The author managed to get all of this across with minimal exposition dumping. At the times when the author did do that, the story lost its way a bit for me. Overall, this book was like the science fiction version of magical realism, like urban climate fiction, like an actual place I could visit. I am honestly shocked that this was originally from the 1990s, because it truly felt contemporary. 

I also really appreciated the essay after the story itself. As someone with no connection to Taiwanese culture or knowledge of the spec fic context there, it really opened my eyes to things I didn't pick up on just by reading the story. It did get a little opaque at times, but the author's own experiences were enough to keep me intrigued throughout. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, twisty sci fi story with unique worldbuilding that will truly make you think. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC