Back to 80: My Literary Life

"What?"

Fang Minghua was a little surprised: "You applied for the Outstanding Novella Award for science fiction?!"

"Why not? The award rules announced by the Writers Association do not say that science fiction novels are not allowed to participate in the awards." On the other end of the phone, Yang Xiao sounded confident:

"Your novel, both literary and artistic, is no worse than other novels!"

Does that seem reasonable?

"Okay, it's up to you. Editor Yang's actions will probably give those judges a headache. Goodbye!" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"goodbye!"

On the other end of the phone, Yang Xiao put down the phone, brushed her hair in front of her eyes and smiled.

In fact, this idea was not proposed by her, but by editor Tan Kai.

This novel is not only literary and ideological, but more importantly, readers like it!

The award for the national outstanding novella is a combination of expert and reader voting. As long as this novel can be selected as a candidate, it will definitely win the award.

Isn't this the best way to expand science fiction to influence and promote our "Science and Literature" magazine?

When Yang Xiao heard that this was indeed the case, he immediately wrote a letter and sent it to the jury in Yanjing according to the regulations, and also sent a manuscript to it.

hehe

Just like Fang Minghua said, let the judges have a headache.

The judges are really having a headache.

No. 15, Hufang Road, Taoranting Street, Xicheng, Yanjing.

This building was built in 1983. The Writers Association and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles jointly built this building. It was finally moved out of the temporary earthquake-resistant shed in the courtyard of the "Red Flag" magazine and became the so-called "Kochi Building" of the Writers Association and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. This year, the preliminary evaluation committee for outstanding short and medium stories was set up. it's here.

The job of the preliminary evaluation committee is to initially review whether the novels submitted for selection from magazines across the country meet the requirements of this selection.

For example, whether the publication date was between 1983 and 1984, whether the length of the novel meets the requirements for novellas and short stories, and whether the content of the novel complies with regulations. There are no policies that do not allow publication.

One of the novels that stumped the members of the selection committee was the science fiction novel "Country Teacher" recommended by Science and Literature.

According to the conditions for this selection, both publication time and length meet the requirements for a novella, but the content is:

It’s actually science fiction!

The selection rules this time only emphasize novels and exclude documentary literature, poetry, prose and other literary genres, but do not specify the genre and subject matter of the novels.

Can science fiction novels be included in the election?

As for whether this novel could be included in the selection, the members held a meeting all afternoon to discuss their own reasons, but in the end they still couldn't reach a consensus.

"Otherwise, let's leave it to Chairman Feng or Chairman Palladium to make the decision." I don't know who made the decision in the end.

Passed unanimously.

So this novel came into the hands of Feng Mu, deputy director of the jury.

Feng Mu is not only the deputy director of the jury but also the chairman of the Writers Association. He put on his reading glasses and saw the author of this novel and couldn't help but laugh and curse.

"It's this guy again!"

"Chairman Feng, what's wrong?" Yang Li next to her asked curiously.

"The "Science and Literature" magazine in Chengdu actually recommended a science fiction novel for selection. Do you know who the author is? Fang Minghua!"

"It's him. I know that in the 1981-82 novella awards, three of his novels were voted into the top twenty, and he finally chose one."

"Yes. This has put our judging panel in a difficult position for a while, but luckily this time it turned out to be a science fiction novel!"

"Sci-fi, let me take a look?" Yang Li became interested.

He took the manuscript and looked at it and said: ""Village Teacher", Chairman Feng, I have read this novel. It is very well written. My eyes turned red when I read it."

"Actually, I have read it too." Feng Mu said, "The writing is really good. I have read so many articles about teachers, but I have never seen such praise for teachers. I am also very moved."

"Will this novel pass? Some people above seem to have opinions on science fiction novels, which also belong to popular literature." Yang Li said.

"It belongs to popular literature, but this novel, both in terms of writing techniques and artistic style, can not only be regarded as an ordinary science fiction novel. I remember it was highly praised by Guangming Daily."

Feng Mu pondered for a moment: "I think we should be qualified to participate in the competition and give people a chance. Otherwise, we will be laughed at for being stingy!"

"Okay, I'll pass on your opinion."

Fang Minghua learned the news from Yang Xiao, and he was very happy to hear the news. This is not just a matter of a novel. Does it mean that science fiction is recognized by mainstream literature?

Today, he was sitting in the office a little bored, flipping through the latest issue of "Science and Literature".

The science fiction novel "My Journey is the Sea of ​​Stars" has been serialized for three issues and is getting better and better. It has become the most popular novel in the magazine "Science and Literature".

The four science fiction novellas were also edited into a single book and handed over to Ocean Publishing House for publication.

Ocean Publishing House was the leader in publishing science fiction literature in the early days of reform and opening up, and played an important role in the prosperity and progress of science fiction literature in that period.

So someone jokingly said that "Fang Minghua single-handedly supported this magazine and domestic science fiction novels."

But Fang Minghua didn't want this.

He hopes that more people who love science fiction will participate and more excellent works will be published.

He looked at it and suddenly froze.

A science fiction novel comes into view.

"The Wandering Earth"! Author Liu Cixin!

Is it that Liu Cixin?

“I have never seen the night, I have never seen the stars, I have never seen spring, autumn and winter.

I was born at the end of the Brake Age, when the Earth had just stopped spinning. "

When Fang Minghua saw this familiar text, a smile appeared on his face.

Sure enough, it was that Liu Cixin.

He read it carefully.

Compared with the original "The Wandering Earth", the writing style of the entire novel is a bit immature. This is of course related to the author's own experience. It turns out that this novel was published around the millennium.

Also, in the original novel, the relationship between the protagonist’s father and the protagonist’s teacher, in which the relationship between the sexes is very casual in the apocalypse, does not appear in this novel now.

This of course has something to do with the general social environment. After all, we are only in the mid-1980s.

However, very "hard" settings in the novel, such as solar helium flash, gravitational slingshot, and "heavy element fusion" planetary engine, all exist.

These plots exist, including the execution of 5,000 federal soldiers who were frozen into sculptures on the ice sheet.

And that last poem:

The time to set sail is too far away

But at what moment should you call me?

When humans see the blue sky again

I know I've been forgotten

The past of the solar system has been too long

But at what moment should you call me?

When the flowers hang on the branches again

After reading it in one breath, Fang Minghua smiled and couldn't help but pick up the landline and call Yang Xiao.

"Editor Yang? I am Fang Minghua. I read the latest issue of your magazine. The article "The Wandering Earth" was so well written!"

"Yes, yes, I personally suggest that if the Galaxy Awards are held next year, this novel can definitely be awarded the first prize!"

"Also, you can pay close attention to this author named Liu Cixin. He is very talented in science fiction writing. Please encourage him. Maybe he is our Chinese Arthur Clark."