The style and characteristics of Chinese science fiction creation

  Moderator: Zhang Shanshan (Reporter)

  Dialogue: Liu Cixin (Science Fiction Writer)

  Wu Yan (Professor and Science Fiction Writer, Southern University of Science and Technology)

  Yao Haijun (Deputy Editor-in-Chief of "Science Fiction World")

Core reading

  The deep-seated factor of the "Science Fiction Fever" is the change of people's mental state: more and more Chinese people begin to care about the future of all mankind, thinking about the longer-term problems after being well-dressed

  Chinese science fiction is the result of the creative transformation and innovative development of a variety of literary traditions, including the western science fiction literary tradition, the Chinese classical literary tradition, and the modern and contemporary Chinese literary tradition. Chinese science fiction is forming a unique style and characteristics

  Transcendence is the essence of science fiction. Give up this transcendence, the vitality of science fiction will be weakened a lot. Science fiction literature must find new growth points and new story resources

  In 2015, "Three Body" won the "Hugo Award", and Chinese science fiction literature went overseas; in 2019, "Wandering Earth" achieved a box office performance of more than 4.6 billion yuan, and the Chinese science fiction movie officially set sail. In recent years, the sci-fi enthusiasm that has leapt to a new level has attracted attention, and Chinese sci-fi has a broad prospect.

  In the course of more than 100 years of development, Chinese science fiction and Chinese modernization are inseparable. Several generations of science fiction writers have worked hard to explore expressions suitable for the times, and Chinese science fiction has embarked on a unique development path. The current science fiction craze is a cultural reflection of the rapid development of China's modernization. Facing the rapid advancement of cutting-edge science and technology, Chinese science fiction in the new era should realize creative transformation and innovative development on the basis of drawing on the excellent historical and cultural nutrition of China, carrying forward the fine tradition of Chinese science fiction in the 20th century, and absorbing the world's advanced science fiction creation ideas.

The sci-fi boom is inevitable for the development of the times

  Moderator: In recent years, there have been many major events in the field of science fiction. "Science Fiction Fever" continues to heat up. Science fiction is moving from a niche to the public, playing an increasingly important role in the construction of contemporary culture. As a senior practitioner, everyone must have a deep feeling about "science fiction fever".

  Wu Yan: Since the first China Science Fiction Conference in 2016, I have presided over the writing of the China Science Fiction Industry Report. It can be seen from the development trend in recent years that China's science fiction industry is entering a period of rapid growth in an all-round way. Specifically, sci-fi reading has grown steadily, sci-fi video games have sprung up, and peripheral products have emerged. In addition, domestic sci-fi film and television works have also achieved good results: the situation where national surgical sci-fi films dominate is being rewritten, and sci-fi movies have gradually become the leader of the domestic sci-fi industry.

  Yao Haijun: In terms of publishing, the number of science fiction books published and the number of science fiction novels published on various platforms continue to increase, and the quality of creation has steadily improved. More and more publishers have begun to pay attention to the topic selection of science fiction, and more and more science fiction awards. The channels for publishing science fiction are constantly expanding. In addition to the old science fiction magazine "Science Fiction World", as well as "The Edge of the Galaxy" and "Non-existence", they provide platforms for newcomers and new works. In addition, every year we translate and publish science fiction works abroad to achieve two-way communication.

  Moderator: During the development of Chinese sci-fi in the 20th century, there have been several sci-fi booms, sometimes with short duration. What is the cause of this wave of science fiction? What are the prospects?

  Liu Cixin: China's economic and social development provides fertile ground for the development of science fiction. Either "Three Body" or "Wandering Earth", the sci-fi boom in China has a deep factor, which is the change in people's mental state. The development of the times has profoundly changed our vision. More and more Chinese people are beginning to care about the future of all mankind, thinking about the longer-term issues after being well-dressed.

  Yao Haijun: Without the rapid development of China's economy and science and technology today, "science fiction fever" cannot be discussed. In recent years, China has made rapid progress in the field of aerospace, and has its own deep space exploration programs such as the lunar exploration program and the Mars exploration program, which have laid a solid foundation for the development of science fiction literature. The ever-changing changes in technology, economy, and society have driven us to look to the future. Science fiction is about the culture of the future and will inevitably receive more attention. It can be said that the depth of the current sci-fi craze far exceeds any previous craze. The rapid development of the times gives us full confidence in the future of sci-fi.

Casting innovation and taking the path of science fiction with Chinese cultural characteristics

  Moderator: Science fiction is considered to be literature that transcends national boundaries and language. For China, science fiction as an imported product must go through the process of localization. One of the important reasons why Chinese science fiction has attracted worldwide attention is that people have a strong interest in contemporary China and the future of China. How to understand the relationship between the universality of science fiction and nationality?

  Liu Cixin: The theme of science fiction is generally the theme faced by all mankind. The crisis reflected is also the crisis faced by all mankind. Science fiction stands at the perspective of all mankind. For example, a science fiction short story, on the surface, depicts only a small technological breakthrough or technical idea, but the background of the story involves all human beings. Another example is that there are only one or two characters in some science fiction movies, but the fate of these two characters reflects the impact of technological change on humanity. In this sense, science fiction is a worldwide literature, which is why it resonates widely.

  As a Chinese and a Chinese writer, writing always bears the national brand and a lot of Chinese elements. We should look at this nationality from a broader perspective. The national character of Chinese science fiction is not only derived from the ancient Chinese culture, but also contains the possibilities for our nation to face the future. That is, this is a national character facing the future.

  Yao Haijun: The creation of writers in different countries will naturally be affected by their own history and culture. Each country's science fiction has its own specific cultural genes. Chinese sci-fi writers and western sci-fi writers have different concerns, different perspectives, and different solutions. This is destined to be different from a Chinese science fiction novel and a western science fiction novel. Many issues raised in the "Three Body" are transcendental, beyond this and here, with the possibility of becoming classics. The appearance of "Wandering Earth" allows people to see Chinese heroes facing the future. The world influence of Chinese science fiction is constantly rising.

  Moderator: Chinese science fiction is the result of creative transformation and innovative development of a variety of literary traditions, including the western science fiction literary tradition, Chinese classical literary tradition, Chinese modern and contemporary literary tradition, etc. In this process, Chinese science fiction is forming its own unique style and characteristics.

  Wu Yan: Chinese science fiction was produced under the influence of foreign science fiction, but science fiction has embarked on a unique development path in China, which was explored and created by Chinese writers themselves. Chinese science fiction has two main development lines. Lu Xun can be traced in a context, and his pursuit is to cultivate the scientific concept of the Chinese. Liu Cixin is the representative of this context today. Another context starts with Liang Qichao. The writers of this context pay special attention to reality and society. Lao She's "Cat City" and Tong Enzheng's "Dead Light on the Coral Island" are important works in this context. Han Song is an important representative today. He used science fiction to write subways and high-speed rails, which is a kind of science fiction realism. After about 100 years of exploration, Western science fiction has been officially named "Science Fiction"; Chinese science fiction has developed along the above two contexts until now, and it has also passed about 100 years. It can be said that today's Chinese science fiction really has its own appearance and is ushering in a period of prosperity and development.

  Yao Haijun: Modern science fiction literature has a long history of development in the West, and Chinese writers will naturally learn from it. China's science fiction literature has gone through a long process of localization, and Chinese style has gradually formed in this process. Liu Cixin's "Three Body" constructs a Chinese-style future or universe picture, which also contains Chinese concerns; Han Song's novels are rooted in Chinese reality, and both the reference to post-modernist novels and the traditional Zhiguai novels The fusion of China has a Chinese taste; Wang Jinkang ’s science fiction is full of Eastern philosophical speculation, and only writers soaked in Chinese culture will analyze and solve problems in this way.

 Facing the future to create Chinese science fiction style

  Moderator: At present, the development of science fiction and literature in China has entered a period of rapid growth, and various explorations are in full swing. But it needs to be seen that the overall creative power of science fiction in China is still weak, and the science fiction industry is still in its infancy. Only by consolidating the plateau, it is possible to climb the peak, and the road of Chinese science fiction has a long way to go.

  Liu Cixin: Science fiction, especially science fiction film and television has a bright future in China. I think that the space provided by science fiction film and television for science fiction is even wider than the space provided by literature. Of course, this requires a process and takes time. I pin my hopes on China's science fiction movies, and I even think that China will become a major producer of science fiction films in a few years. The rapid development of Chinese science fiction film and television, in turn, can also lead to the creation of science fiction literature. As a writer, I will keep trying new themes that I haven't written before. At the same time, I will also put more energy into the film and television transformation of my work.

  Moderator: China's science fiction is based on the times, has a global focus, and looks to the future. It reflects the aesthetic changes and ideological leaps in the era of change, and shows the Chinese people's deep concern for the community of human destiny. We look forward to more excellent science fiction works reflecting the times and facing the future, and on the basis of this, a Chinese science fiction style will be formed. What qualities should the future-oriented Chinese science fiction style have?

  Liu Cixin: The most important quality of science fiction is transcendence. This refers to both the transcendence in time: it should face the future, focus on the problems that humanity may encounter in the future, and focus on describing the future society and the future world without focusing on real problems; it also refers to the transcendence in space: science fiction We should focus our attention on the entire universe, not just the earth. Transcendence is the essence of science fiction. If you give up this transcendence, the vitality of science fiction will weaken a lot.

  Unlike the huge potential of scientific and technological development in the 1950s and 1960s, modern information technology and other modern technologies have penetrated into all aspects of daily life, bringing fundamental changes to our lives. Science and technology is no longer an expectation and an imagination of people, but a reality of life. Once the imagination in science fiction becomes a reality, no matter how magical it is, it will become plain. Therefore, science fiction literature must find new growth points and new story resources. We should have a sober attitude and awareness of this changing trend, and Chinese science fiction should have its own development trajectory.

  Yao Haijun: Science fiction is a rich, diverse and inclusive genre. Some science fiction novels, such as Wang Jinkang ’s “Ant” and Liu Cixin ’s “Spherical Lightning”, focus on thought experimentation and imaginative innovation; For example, Ye Yonglie's "Science Detective Series" in the 1980s and Qian Lifang's "God of Will" after the new century are more readable and easily accepted by the general public. All kinds of science fiction works have irreplaceable value, and all should have their own development space. Only by actively encouraging and developing various types of science fiction, such as children's science fiction and science fiction, will it be possible to truly realize the prosperity and development of science fiction and make it play a greater role in enhancing national creativity and imagination.

  Wu Yan: Exploring nature and exploring the surrounding environment of mankind are the driving force for the development of science and technology. With the acceleration and expansion of the pace of human exploration, not only is earth space almost traversed by humans, but outer space has also continuously left the footprint of human exploration. The current development of science and technology as a whole shows a tendency to turn inward: humans are keen to study the problems of life itself and the problems of brain consciousness. Correspondingly, life science and technology continue to move forward, and artificial intelligence technology is booming. Following the trend of technological development, many science fiction novels have also turned in this direction. So what exactly does Chinese science fiction have to write? While maintaining sensitivity to the development trend of science fiction, it must be linked to the reality of science and technology and life in China today, rather than writing what is popular. When more and more Chinese science fiction writers write about the impact of technology and the future on reality, write the unique experience and profound perception of our generation, and form characteristic expressions, we will have the possibility to create Chinese science fiction style.