These ten stories begin from Taiwan at the crossroads of the 19th and 20th centuries, and then unfold in a sequential journey towards the present. A few make use of historical incidents like the Capture of the Tuapse, which even most Taiwanese are unaware of. Others construct an alternate history, such as a post-war concession of Taiwan to Japan, raising the question of retrocession, as was faced historically in Hong Kong. By excavating Taiwan’s forgotten past and envisioning its problematic future, Drifting Formosa poses analogies to Taiwan’s present circumstances, delivering a fresh reading experience with layered meanings to ponder.