The Translator’s Subjectivity in Ken Liu’s Translation of Chinese Science Fiction: A Case Study of <i>Invisible Planets</i>

Science fiction is a genre combining literariness, imagination, and scientific logic. Now this genre written in English is still occupying a dominant position, while Chinese works have been peripheral in the field of science fiction. This paper investigates the translator’s subjectivity in Ken Liu’s English translation of Chinese science fiction, focusing on his anthology Invisible Planets. The study first provides a brief overview of the development of science fiction globally and within China, emphasizing Liu’s role in introducing Chinese science fiction to Anglo-American readers. Then the concept of translator subjectivity is discussed highlighting how Liu’s bilingual background informs his translation choices. Through detailed analysis, this paper aims to explore Liu’s subjective role in the translator’s the selection of source stories, his collaborative relationships with the original authors, his understanding of cultural nuances in both Chinese and English, and his strategic application of translation techniques, such as omission, addition, coinage, borrowing, and footnoting. The findings reveal that the translator’s subjectivity in Liu’s translated texts not only preserves essential cultural elements of Chinese science fiction, but also enhances its accessibility and reception in the Anglophone world, thereby fostering intercultural literary exchange.