What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
Ken Liu · Book · 2016
If you loved The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, start with Kubo and the Two Strings (Travis Knight, 2016) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories across media.
You loved The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories because it masters the delicate art of folding vast, speculative concepts into deeply personal, heart-wrenching human experiences.
Films on the same thread
Kubo and the Two Strings
Travis Knight · Film · 2016
Explores: Hero's Journey, Family Legacy, Overcoming Grief.
Much like the titular story in The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, this film uses magical realism and origami to explore the profound ache of family legacy and grief.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Daniel Scheinert · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories: Family relationships.
This film mirrors the immigrant experience and intergenerational trauma found throughout The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, using a multiverse structure to examine the weight of choices and family.
Your Name.
Makoto Shinkai · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories: Memory.
Fans of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories will recognize the poignant intersection of memory and fate here, where the supernatural serves as a conduit for intense human connection.
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1993
Explores: Survival, Moral Courage, Dehumanization.
While grounded in history, this film shares the moral gravity and focus on individual survival within massive, dehumanizing systems that define the narratives in The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories.
Series on the same thread
The Leftovers
Damon Lindelof · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories: Loss, Speculative Fiction.
This series captures the same existential sorrow regarding loss and the human condition that permeates The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, exploring how people persist after inexplicable, world-altering events.
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
Explores: Intergenerational relationships, Family secrets, Trauma and healing.
The deep focus on intergenerational trauma and the unfolding of family secrets will resonate with readers who enjoyed the emotional landscape of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories.
The Outer Limits
Leslie Stevens · Series · 1963
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Dread, Technological Anxiety.
Like The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, this anthology series uses speculative premises to probe the tension between technological advancement and the essential, often fragile, nature of humanity.
Pachinko
Soo Hugh · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories: Cultural Identity.
This sweeping family saga echoes the immigrant themes and cultural identity struggles central to The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, tracing resilience across generations with immense emotional depth.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories: speculative fiction.
These cinematic audio dramas mirror the short-form, punchy storytelling of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, offering varied, thought-provoking explorations of the human condition through a speculative lens.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
The curiosity-driven storytelling here aligns with the historical inquiry found in The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, finding the profound meaning often hidden within obscure, individual life histories.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What short stories are included in The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories?
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories contains a selection of the author's best short fiction. Specific works featured in this collection include The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary, Mono No Aware, and The Waves, alongside a new piece written specifically for this volume.
Is The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories a collection of new or previously published work?
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is a compilation of the author's best short stories that were previously published, combined with one new piece. It serves as a curated selection of his work released in 2016.
Does The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories contain any new content?
Yes, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories includes a new piece of fiction in addition to the author's selection of his best previously published short stories. This makes the collection a comprehensive look at his work up to its 2016 publication date.
When was The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories published?
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories was published in 2016. This collection features a selection of the author's best short stories, such as The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary and Mono No Aware, plus a new piece created for this specific book.