Sayaka Murata’s Vanishing World reflects a near-future version of Japan in which sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Korean writer Silvia Park’s Luminous envisages a future unified Korea where robots have integrated seamlessly into society and three estranged siblings – two humans, one robot –navigate what it means to be alive.

French Polynesian author and 2025 Randell Cottage Writer in Residence Titaua Peu’s work in progress explores a world marked by a reverse migration, in which inhabitants of Aotearoa have migrated north to the island of Mangareva following a great war.

Bright literary minds, thrilling premises, big themes. These three bold global voices join Paula Morris to discuss what inspired their works, and what they say about their respective countries and cultures.