All That We See or Seem Review – Ken Liu’s Brilliant Sci Fi Thriller on Dreams and Reality
Book Review: All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller / Cyberpunk Noir
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: 2025
Rating: ★★★★☆
All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu book review if Blade Runner and Inception had a love child raised by Mr. Robot, it would look a lot like All That We See or Seem. Ken Liu’s newest novel is a sleek, cerebral thriller that dives headfirst into the blurry line between dreams, data, and identity.
Introduction
Ken Liu’s All That We See or Seem is a haunting and thought provoking science fiction thriller that explores the fragile boundary between reality and illusion. Known for his lyrical prose and layered storytelling, Liu delivers a story that is both an emotional character study and a high tech mystery. The title, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, sets the tone for a world where dreams can be created, memories can be stolen, and truth is never quite what it seems.
Summary (No Spoilers)
All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu is a powerful science fiction novel that blends technology, memory, and identity into one unforgettable story. The book takes place in a near future world where people can share and manipulate dreams.
Julia Z, a former hacker, is trying to rebuild her life after a troubled past. When she becomes involved in the search for a missing dream artist named Elli Krantz, she finds herself drawn into a mystery that forces her to question everything she believes about reality, control, and the human mind.
Ken Liu balances emotional storytelling with thrilling tension. The world he creates feels vivid and unsettling, filled with dream artists, artificial intelligence, and moral questions about what it means to be human. As Julia uncovers the truth, readers follow her through a maze of illusion, art, and memory that feels both intimate and cinematic.
This novel blends mystery, cyberpunk, and psychological drama to create a story that lingers long after the final page. The writing is lyrical yet clear, making complex ideas feel personal and real.
All That We See or Seem is perfect for fans of Inception, Black Mirror, and The Matrix. It captures the beauty and danger of a world where technology can bring imagination to life and where the line between dream and truth grows dangerously thin.
Summary (With Spoilers)
Julia Z, once known as the Orphan Hacker, lives quietly in Boston after a teenage hacking scandal destroyed her privacy. She wants peace, far from the digital chaos that once consumed her. That peace ends when Piers Negri asks for help finding his missing wife, Elli Krantz, a famous artist who uses dream technology to create immersive shared experiences known as oneirofex art.
Julia’s search leads her into a dark underworld of dream creators, corrupted corporations, and criminal networks. She soon learns that Elli’s art is far more dangerous than anyone realized. Elli has been secretly working with a powerful crime lord known as the Prince, designing dreamscapes that mix art with surveillance.
As Julia digs deeper, she uncovers the disturbing truth. The Prince’s empire thrives on forced digital labor and stolen memories. Elli becomes both artist and prisoner, trapped in a system that uses her creativity to control others. Julia must face not only the criminals who hold Elli but also the guilt of her own past. When she finally rescues her, Elli is no longer the same person. The experience has changed her mind and identity, leaving Julia to question if she truly saved her or only the fragments that remained.
Themes and Analysis
Liu uses this cyberpunk world to explore modern fears about artificial intelligence, privacy, and creativity in a data driven culture. The story asks what remains of human identity when our memories can be copied or sold.
Julia’s psychological journey gives the story emotional depth. She is a woman shaped by guilt, struggling to balance redemption with curiosity. Her moral conflict mirrors society’s growing unease about technology’s reach into our private lives.
The dream sequences are haunting and poetic. They show how beauty and danger can coexist, and how easily human imagination can be turned into a weapon. If you enjoy this kind of character depth, explore my Reading Between the Crimes page where I analyze books with similar psychological complexity.
Writing and Pacing
Liu’s prose is sharp, immersive, and filled with emotion. His background as a short story writer shines through in the precision of his scenes. The pacing moves quickly through the investigation while slowing at key emotional moments. These quieter chapters give readers time to reflect on Julia’s trauma and growth. The result is a story that feels both thrilling and deeply human.
Final Thoughts
All That We See or Seem is a smart and emotional exploration of technology, art, and identity in a world shaped by illusion. It combines suspense, reflection, and speculative science into one unforgettable experience.
Ken Liu continues to push the boundaries of modern science fiction, blending heart and intellect in equal measure. This book is not only about dreams but also about the danger of losing ourselves in them.
Verdict: A beautifully written and gripping sci fi thriller that stays with you long after the final page.ng after the last page.
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