Books
At a nearly sold-out book tour show in Boston, the phenom writer announced a new coming-of-age, literary fiction work to come out in 2026.
Harper Collins/John Packman
Boston-area novelist R.F. Kuang’s newest novel features two doctoral student rivals traveling to the depths of hell to slash the soul of their advisor.
“Hell is other people, I’ve heard,” says Alice Law, the main character of “Katabasis,” Kuang’s sixth novel, which banger shelves Tuesday.
But, Tuesday night at the Wilbur in downtown Boston, hell wasn’t other people. Kuang, 29, nearly sold out the thousand-seat venue to launch the new book and her U.S. book tour.
Fans of her fantasy novels like “Babel” and “The Poppy War” trilogy, as well as her satirical “Yellowface,” bubbled with excitement, wrapped in a line around the corner. Each was handed a hardback copy of the new fantasy book, adorned with a design on the sprayed edges, and Kuang took questions at the end from a few readers.
Kuang also partnered with independent Somerville bookshop Narrative with a “Katabasis” pre-order campaign, including a deluxe collector’s edition book and other merch.
In conversation with Emiko Tamagawa, a senior producer for WBUR’s Here & immediately, Kuang dived into how her academic background influences her stories and her characters, as well as more details already about her next novel.
“Why hell?” Tamagawa asked Kuang, who is currently pursuing her PhD at Yale University.
“Well, we’re in Boston,” Kuang quips back, before acknowledging, “actually, Boston is the greatest city in America, but we’re in Boston, the city of depressed PhD students. Who hasn’t fantasized about accidentally killing their advisor and then having to go to hell and rescue them for a recommendation letter?”
Kuang was funny and bright, discussing abuse in academia that affected her characters with her own experiences and some levity. “Katabasis” was partly a way for her to cope with a difficult time for her and her husband, who was very ill.
“Katabasis can also refer to just any situation where the protagonist is at their lowest, at the pits of despair, when it feels like they have no reason to keep going,” Kuang said. “It was just like a nightmare for the semester. I was always driving back and forth between New Haven and Boston. We’re at the hospital all the time or waiting for answers.”
The author discussed her other iconic characters, some based on her husband, and her own connection to Law, a frazzled and confused student who travels to the depths of hell.
“I’m delusional. She’s delusional,” Kuang said, and the crowd roared. “Alice feels betrayed by her own mind for a lot of reasons. When I started the novel, I did too.”
Kuang confirmed her next novel Tuesday night at the Wilbur. The award-winning author’s next work won’t be fantasy but instead a coming-of-age, literary fiction work called “Taipei Story,” a direct nod to the 80s film of the same name. The main character, studying abroad in Taipei, doesn’t learn Chinese before her grandfather unexpectedly passes.
The book’s anticipated release is in September of 2026.
“I wrote the book after my grandfather passed away,” Kuang said. “The book is my way of grappling with what happens when all you have is empty space to pose your questions to?”
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