SPRING, SUMMER, ASTEROID, BIRD: The Art of Eastern Storytelling

Published by W.W. Norton

Official description:
“An introduction to Eastern storytelling that opens readers’ minds to radically different ways of telling a satisfying story.

“Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators. Writing instructor and speculative fiction author Henry Lien makes the pathbreaking argument that 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.

”Using examples ranging from Parasite to The 1,001 Nights to the Mario video game franchise, Lien shows how storytelling staples in the West, such as the three-act structure and themes of empowerment and change, are far from universal. He introduces the East Asian four-act structure (kishōtenketsu), as well as circular and nested structures, and explains how Eastern value systems such as collectivism can dictate form. Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird is essential reading for any writer or reader who wants to broaden their understanding of how to tell a satisfying story.”

I had a ludicrous amount of fun writing this book because I got to roll around in my favorite books, films, and video games and then talk about them in my own voice. My fiction is almost always written in a voice very different from real Henry. That’s because I use literary ventriloquism as a metaphor for empathy. However, this book is made solely with pure, unbleached, extra virgin Henry voice, baked in its own Henry voice juices, with a scoop of raw, unpeeled Henry voice right on top. It might very well be the first literary glimpse of the real me.

To purchase:
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Here are some reactions to the book:
”A refreshing wake-up call for breadth of perspective.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Must Read Book,” “25 Highly Anticipated Books To Read in 2025” (Next Big Idea Club)
# 1 Bestseller in Composition Books and Other Categories (Amazon)
“With clear and compelling examples and analysis, Lien demolishes the notion that there is one Western-centric way to tell a satisfying tale. Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird is an insightful and instructive read for anyone who loves stories in all their varied and glorious forms.“ (Fonda Lee, author of the Green Bone Saga)
”Such a fascinating insight into Asian storytelling! Thank you, Henry Lien, for writing this book and illuminating other ways to see and create stories.“ (Grace Lin, author of When the Sea Turned to Silver, a National Book Award finalist)

Here are some essays/podcasts related to the book:
“What Western Art Can Learn from Hayao Miyazaki’s Radical Portrayals of Childhood” (Literary Hub)
”The Joy of Holding Back” (Poets & Writers)
”Not All Stories Are Straight” (Poets & Writers)
”Next-Level Diversity” (Poets & Writers)
“What Western Creatives Can Learn from Eastern Storytelling (Next Big Idea Club)

If you’d like to catch one of my author appearances promoting the book (as well as other gigs), here’s a list that’s continually updated: MORE

Finally, I made a theme song for the book because, well, let’s face it, that’s me. If you’d like to download it for free, click here: MORE

I’ll be updating this page regularly. To receive a heads us about updates, please sign up for my newsletter here: MORE