Waste Tide

Waste Tide

by Chen Qiufan

4.0 (354)

4.0 stars from 354 reviews

352 pages~5.9 hr readPublished by Head of ZeusPublished 2019-01-01

$2.99Deal81% off peak

Last checked: Jun 5, 2026

Price history: $0.99 $15.37

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • David Mitchell
  • Cixin Liu
  • Becky Chambers

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Three Body Problem
  • Parable of the Sower
  • Ministry for the Future

Perfect for you if...

  • You care about the hidden human cost of technology and want fiction that doesn't shy away from uncomfortable economic realities.
  • You loved The Three Body Problem and want more translated Chinese sci-fi that blends hard worldbuilding with emotional stakes.
  • You're drawn to stories where ordinary people become unexpectedly powerful when systems start to crack.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You prefer uplifting stories where good intentions reliably lead to positive outcomes.
  • You want fast-paced action without needing to engage with the political and environmental themes woven through the plot.
  • You're looking for a traditionally heroic protagonist rather than someone navigating impossible choices with no clean solutions.

About this book

Waste Tide is a Locus Award Finalist for Best First Novel, translated by Ken Liu. Mimi works as a waste processor on Silicon Isle, an island off the coast of China where discarded electronics—phones, laptops, bots, and bionic limbs—are sent for recycling. The island is buried under towering heaps of electronic waste that pollute the landscape. Mimi and thousands of other migrant workers were drawn to Silicon Isle with promises of steady employment and improved living conditions. Though essential to the island's economy, these workers remain vulnerable to those in power. The situation destabilizes as multiple factions clash: local gangs fighting for control, ecoterrorists working to disrupt the existing system, American investors seeking profits, and a Chinese-American interpreter tracing his heritage. Their collision triggers conflict between rich and poor, tradition and modern ambition, and humanity's past and future. Mimi and her peers face a choice: accept their role as pawns in this conflict or take control of their own fate.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$7.68$15.37May '20Sep '24Mar '25Feb '26
$0.99$15.37

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 81% off peak. Price has dropped 15 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 126 days. Typically stays discounted for 47 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#7,353#688,874#1,370,395Jul '18Apr '22Nov '23Apr '26

Currently around #459K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Climbing the charts — 30% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

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3.5★4.3★5.0★Jun '23Sep '24May '25Apr '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.0★ from 354 reviews

Gaining approximately 1 new review per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.0 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$7.68$15.37May '20Sep '24Mar '25Feb '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $15.37.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Chen Qiufan

1 book on Vagrant Press

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