China.org.cn, May 16 , 2023

Chinese writer Tianrui Shuofu won the top award for his novel "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards on Saturday in Guanghan, Sichuan province, demonstrating the rise of young talent in Chinese sci-fi.

Chinese writer Tianrui Shuofu won the top award for his novel "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards on Saturday in Guanghan, Sichuan province, demonstrating the rise of young talent in Chinese sci-fi.

Chinese writer Tianrui Shuofu won the top award for his novel "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards on Saturday in Guanghan, Sichuan province, demonstrating the rise of young talent in Chinese sci-fi.

Tianrui Shuofu (C), winner of the gold award for best sci-fi novel at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards, poses for a photo with Liu Cixin (L), prominent Chinese sci-fi writer, and Li Yong (R), deputy general manager of event sponsor Luzhou Laojiao, at a gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Tianrui Shuofu, a 27-year-old online writer whose real name is He Jian, has created several popular sci-fi novels including "Die on Mars." His latest work, "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" (also known as "We Live in Nanjing"), was serialized on the literary site qidian.com in 2021. The story follows a high school senior in the city of Nanjing in 2019 who communicates via radio with a girl from 2040 who lives in the same city and learns about the apocalyptic future world. Together, they embark on a mission to save the Earth.

Tianrui took home both the best novel and best new writer awards at the event. The jury praised his incredible and mature narrative structure while adopting the perspective of a young and inexperienced high school student. The story showcases the charm of Chinese science fiction and races toward its destination with the courage to defy destiny and save the entire human race.

Jury president Yao Haijun, current deputy editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World and founder of many of China's sci-fi events, commented that the novel bridges the gap between online sci-fi literature and traditional sci-fi, and expands the growth space of sci-fi. Meanwhile, co-founder of the Chinese Nebula Awards, Dong Renwei noted, the biggest gain of this year's awards is the emergence of a group of new sci-fi stars, including Tianrui and Dong Xin'ai.

Liu Cixin, China's most renowned sci-fi writer, also noted the rise of many excellent online sci-fi novels, and how online literature, due to the dissemination of internet technology, is now able to build stronger interactions with readers and a more modern feel. He believes that the creation of online novels could be an important direction for the development of sci-fi literature, and it may even become a major direction in the future.

Sci-fi writer Zhou Wen delivers her acceptance speech for the best novella prize with "The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Other top winners included Zhou Wen for best novella with "The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life," Chi Hui for best short story with "The Stars Without Dream," and Chun Xi for best translated work with "If We Can't Go at the Speed of Light" by South Korean writer Kim Cho-Yeol. "History of Chinese Science Fiction in the 20th Century" by Wu Yan, Jia Liyuan, Ren Dongmei, Xiao Han, Jiang Zhenyu and Wang Yao won the best non-fiction work, and Yao Lifen's "Contemporary Science Fiction as Oxygen for Scientists' Brain: A Review of 'The Pillars of a Great Power'" won the best review award.

More than 300 sci-fi writers, experts and representatives from the publishing, education, cultural tourism, film and TV, as well as comics and cartoon industries, participated in the annual event held near the world famous Sanxingdui Ruins site, supported by the local Guanghan government and organized by Eternal Vision Science Fiction Media Co., Hainan (EV/SFM). Prominent figures in attendance included Han Song, He Xi, Jiang Bo, Cheng Jingbo, and many more.

Furthermore, as a tribute to EV/SFM president Gan Weikang for his sponsorship, masterminding and organization of the Chinese Nebula Awards over the past seven years, the organizing committee presented him with the "Big Dipper Medal" in recognition of his contribution to the development of Chinese science fiction.

Entrepreneur Gan Weikang (C) poses for a photo with sci-fi moguls and organizers Yao Haijun (L) and Dong Renwei (R) after receiving the "Big Dipper Medal" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

According to Gan, in recent years, whether it's the development of the entire sci-fi industry or society's understanding of sci-fi, there has been a tremendous change, including the government's support for the sci-fi industry, which will have a profound impact on it. So, he believes that in the future, various industries will continuously inject new social and national forces into the upstream and downstream operations, leading to new opportunities for the development of the sci-fi industry.

During the awards ceremony, Gan wowed the audience by premiering the first trailer of the sci-fi movie "Underground Deep Palace" produced by EV/SFM, based on Xiao Xinghan's award-winning novella, which is in the final phase of post-production and will debut on various video platforms.

Award winners, organizers and guests of the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards pose for a group photo in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

The awards ceremony was preceded by a sci-fi summit forum, where keynote speeches were given by Jack Gao, CEO of Smart Cinema, on artificial intelligence, and by Zhu Qi, a researcher at the China National Academy of Painting, on dystopian sci-fi and philosophy. Later, a roundtable discussion on exploring diverse and integrated sci-fi using historical elements was held. The forum also included a discussion on the shaping of a new era of Chinese sci-fi, featuring young Chinese sci-fi writers such as Duan Ziqi, Tianrui Shuofu, Lu Ban, Dong Xin'ai, Lu Hang and Qi Ran.

Young sci-fi writers take part in a panel discussion during a summit forum before the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Jack Gao delivers a keynote speech on artificial intelligence during a summit forum before the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Yao Haijun (L) and Dong Renwei (C), two of the founders of the Chinese Nebula Awards, and children's sci-fi writer Li Shanshan walk the red carpet before the award gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin walks the red carpet before the award gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Creators of sci-fi movie "Underground Deep Palace" introduce behind-the-scenes stories on stage during the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

A children's choir performs at the opening of the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

(Left to right) Li Yong, deputy general manager of Luzhou Laojiao; Gan Weikang, president of EV/SFM; Gillian Zhao, president of Warner Bros. Discovery China; Jack Gao, CEO of Smart Cinema; and Tang Yong, licensee of Three-Body Universe, pose for a group photo on the red carpet before the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Participants pose for a group photo on the red carpet before the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]