If you recently binged the Netflix adaptation of Liu Cixin’s Three Body Problem (三体 ) you may be asking yourself where you can get more of whatever the heck you just watched. This living syllabus is a good place to start. Like many western audiences my first introduction to Chinese science fiction (or kehuan 科幻) was through the Three Body Problem book, part of a trilogy called Remembrance of Earth’s Past (地球往事). A lot of friends have been asking about Chinese sci-fi since the Netflix version dropped, so I made this brief guide as an introduction.
This page is a living syllabus/common book to store an ever-growing list of works I think you should consider picking up. It has story recommendations as well as links to interviews, articles, and resources that can give a splash of context and reflection. It’s not an exhaustive list, but a snapshot of the ecosystem you can use to get started. It’s mostly short stories and novels. I’ll keep updating and improving, and if you have any suggestions for additional resources please send me a message or let me know by filling this form!
It’s a shame that many western audiences’ knowledge of Chinese science fiction ends with Liu Cixin. Some of the most imaginative fiction is being written right now by authors who don’t break into the mainstream. There’s a rich culture oriented around the Chinese science fiction ecosystem and more people should read these authors simply because they’re great in and of themselves. Though it can be difficult for non-Mandarin speaking audiences to access works without translation, a small but incredible group of translators dedicate their time to making Chinese works accessible. You’ll find their work below.
Table of Contents
Listen to economist Tyler Cowen interviewing RF Kuang about chinese literature and scifi. Great starting point. Conversations with Tyler
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gEfQJVBFcXDVLAaCsKkvE?si=VRAT8jeQRSCoELHsz1zlGQ