I think there are some editions of the second book done by Ken Liu, aren’t there? I haven’t read it yet, but I got a copy from a used book shop, and remember thinking that it was the same translator. At least, I thought I thought it was…now I’ve gotta go home and check
They’re pretty good. The quality of the writing, for me as an English speaker, was in the translation work by Ken Liu who did a phenomenal job.
I can’t imagine it’s easy to convey idioms/ideas that native speakers take for granted in a concise way.
I think he didn’t do the second book or third and it shows. Still good but more stilted.
All that is to say that the incongruity and style may be a side effect of the translation process itself.
I think there are some editions of the second book done by Ken Liu, aren’t there? I haven’t read it yet, but I got a copy from a used book shop, and remember thinking that it was the same translator. At least, I thought I thought it was…now I’ve gotta go home and check