May - June 2025 Selection
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars is a stunning fusion of fantasy and science fiction bound together by music, identity and love. The novel follows Katrina Nguyen, a transgender violinist fleeing an abusive home, whose raw talent catches the ear of Shizuka Satomi, a legendary teacher with a dark secret: she must deliver seven souls to Hell to escape damnation. But Shizuka’s fate takes an unexpected turn when she meets Lan Tran, a donut shop owner who is secretly an intergalactic refugee. As their lives intertwine, music, magic and technology converge in an exploration of art’s power to transform and heal.
Aoki seamlessly blends disparate elements—Faustian bargains, cursed violins, alien refugees, and the pursuit of artistic perfection—into a deeply moving narrative. Music serves as both a battleground and sanctuary, shaping Katrina’s journey of self-acceptance while forcing Shizuka to reconsider the weight of her choices. Meanwhile, Lan’s quiet resilience and love offer Shizuka an alternative to the fate she thought was sealed. Rich with sensory detail, from the taste of freshly made donuts to the resonance of a perfectly played note, Light From Uncommon Stars is a testament to the redemptive power of creativity, love, and found family.
Ryka Aoki (she/her) is a poet, composer, teacher and novelist. Her latest novel, Light From Uncommon Stars, was an Alex, SCKA and Otherwise Award winner and was also a finalist for the Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte Awards.
Ryka is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist for her collections Seasonal Velocities and Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul and her first novel, He Mele a Hilo, was called one of the "10 Best Books Set in Hawaii" by Bookriot. She has been recognized by the California State Senate for “extraordinary commitment to the visibility and well-being of Transgender people” and her work has appeared or been recognized in publications including Vogue, Elle, Bustle, Autostraddle, PopSugar and Buzzfeed, as well as the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. She was also honored to work with the American Association of Hiroshima Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors, where two of her compositions were adopted as the organization’s “songs of peace.”
She has an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University and is currently a professor of English at Santa Monica College.
On Saturday, June 14, Ryka will be in conversation with Julia Vee.
Julia Vee was a trial lawyer in Silicon Valley for over two decades. She still makes stuff up for a living. She attended U.C Berkeley and majored in Asian Studies. A graduate of Viable Paradise, she often writes with co-author Ken Bebelle. They have penned over 10 novels together. Their novel Ebony Gate, an Asian-inspired contemporary fantasy, was published by TOR and named a 2023 Golden Poppy Finalist for the Octavia E. Butler award
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Related Events
Author Talk: Ryka Aoki in Conversation with Julia Vee - Saturday, June 14, 3-4pm, Koret Auditorium
Book Club: Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - Tuesday, June 24, 7-8pm, Virtual Library
“Filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food and heart-swelling meditations on music, this novel is an unexpected gift.”—Kirkus, starred review
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