A widower's entertainment

Chapter 322 [China's First Hugo Award] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

The story of Gabriel García Márquez's visit to China and his outrage over piracy, culminating in his scathing remarks at a symposium in Beijing that he would never relinquish copyright to China even a hundred years after his death, has caused quite a stir in the Chinese literary world. After all, the incident was even reported in official newspapers in Márquez's home country.

However, it is clear that the situation in the domestic publishing industry will not change because of Márquez's words.

Those in literary circles were well aware of the current situation, which was difficult to change, and each expressed their own views and opinions. Lin Youcheng did not attend the symposium, so he was not questioned about it. However, as Zhang Wei informed him, Márquez did mention the popularity of Lin Youcheng's novel "The Time Traveler's Wife," which had been published overseas, during his literary exchange with Qian Xuesen.

Bowers from Time Publishing Company also made a special trip to Xinghua Hutong to find Lin Youcheng and inform him that the novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" was selling very well overseas.

No, it wasn't just popular, it was an absolute explosion!

More importantly, the news wasn't that the novel was a huge success, but that Lin Youcheng's novel, "The Time Traveler's Wife," had actually won the Hugo Award, the Nobel Prize of science fiction literature.

Bowers looked on excitedly, his eyes shining with excitement, and stared straight at Lin Youcheng, his voice trembling slightly, as he said, "Mr. Lin, congratulations on winning the Hugo Award!"

"really?"

This news surprised Lin Youcheng greatly; his eyes widened in astonishment.

Although he had considered the Hugo Award that Bowles had mentioned before, he was still quite surprised that "The Time Traveler's Wife" won the Hugo Award in 1990.

"of course it's true!"

Bowles exclaimed excitedly, "I knew this novel deserved the Hugo Award!"

"Oh my God, you have no idea how popular this novel is!"

It's clear that Bowles felt it was only natural, as if "The Time Traveler's Wife" deserved the Hugo Award.

Lin Youcheng was still somewhat dazed. He knew that in another time and space, the first person in China to win the Hugo Award for science fiction would not be for more than 20 years.

Has his novel, "The Time Traveler's Wife," actually won the Hugo Award?
Clearly, Lin Youcheng was unaware of the immense impact his novel had caused overseas. Upon translation and publication, thanks to its unique title and introduction, as well as the extensive promotion from Time Publishing Company, it was hailed as the pinnacle of Eastern science fiction romance novels. Moreover, it made no secret of its claim that Lin Youcheng's novel would win the Hugo Award, naturally attracting considerable attention.

The idea of ​​a science fiction romance novel from a developing country seemed like a science fiction story to some overseas readers. Driven by curiosity or a desire for the unusual, as well as the novel's premise of a romantic science fiction love story, the first edition of 200,000 copies sold out in the United States without anyone noticing. It then gradually sparked a great deal of discussion in the US, largely due to the promotion by the international giant publisher, Time Inc.

Of course, this is also because Time Publishing Company has high hopes for Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife".

The results certainly did not disappoint Time Publishing Company, with the novel being reprinted time and again, and sold not only in the United States, but also in other countries and cities overseas.

Undoubtedly, just as young domestic readers were amazed and deeply moved by this science fiction romance novel, literary works are all interconnected to some extent. It could even be said that this romantic science fiction love story resonated even more deeply with American readers overseas.

Truly moving love transcends not only a century, but also thousands of miles, touching different people in different worlds at the same time.

There's no way around it; Lin Youcheng's novel, "The Time Traveler's Wife," is just too wonderful and too romantic!

Fang Hui's words—"Now it's dark, and I'm tired. I love you, forever and ever. Time is nothing"—also resonated with readers in the United States, moving them to tears. Because of love, fate brought me, years later, to meet you, years ago; because of love, you, now, will fall unconditionally in love with me, who knows nothing now; because of love, I will wait forever for the you who has vanished. All of this is simply because of the love between you and me.

No matter what fate has in store for me, I will still love you. I will still embrace you at some point. I will still sit on the grass waiting for you. My whole life will be spent because I love you.

American readers absolutely adore this incredible love story. After all, who wouldn't want such a fateful love, and who wouldn't believe that there's someone destined for them, just like the protagonists in the novel, experiencing a love story full of science fiction?

As Lin Youcheng wrote in his novel, encountering love in the long river of time is itself a science fiction-like thing. After all, the probability of two people with commonalities meeting is said to be one in 200,000, the probability of getting to know someone is one in 2 million, the probability of them growing closer is one in 20 million, the probability of becoming friends is one in 200 million, the probability of becoming best friends is one in 2 billion, and the probability of meeting a soulmate is—one in 6 billion!

Lin Youcheng's words were like Cupid's arrow of love, striking the hearts of all American readers.

This romantic science fiction story is so captivating and incredible. The ensuing discussion naturally intensified, which is understandable given how well the story resonated with the United States. Readers even found it hard to believe that an author from a less developed country could write such an imaginative science fiction romance.

It is precisely because of these incredible elements that "The Time Traveler's Wife" has become increasingly popular in countries such as the United States.

This is why even Gabriel García Márquez had heard of Lin Youcheng's novel, because, as domestic readers have commented, some foreign readers also believe that "The Time Traveler's Wife" is comparable to "Love in the Time of Cholera".

Different readers will have different opinions and different interpretations of Hamlet, but at this moment, both domestic and foreign readers share the same view: "The Time Traveler's Wife" is quite moving and undoubtedly wonderful and excellent.

This is the most important reason why this novel won the Hugo Award.

Bowers said excitedly, "Mr. Lin, you must come to The Hague, Netherlands to receive the award. Also, the readers in the United States are very eager to meet you."

It is clear that this year's Hugo Awards ceremony will be held in the Netherlands.

Actually, the Hugo Award isn't very well-known in China. Otherwise, Chen Aige would have been a little confused when he heard about the award last time. Clearly, only some science fiction writers in China know about this award.

Actually, in another timeline, the 1991 World Science Fiction Association annual meeting might be held in China next year. This is thanks to the efforts of Chinese science fiction writers, especially the editors of *Science Fiction World* magazine. Science fiction is a niche genre, and prejudice against it stems from ignorance. To improve this situation, Yang Xiao, editor-in-chief of *Science Fiction World*, and his team traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, to attend the 1990 annual meeting—this year's meeting. To save money, they traveled for eight days and eight nights by train. When they arrived at the venue, travel-worn, science fiction writers worldwide were stunned: What? They came by train? That's science fiction!

In the final vote, China overwhelmingly defeated Poland, winning the right to host the 1991 annual meeting. The 1991 World Science Fiction Association annual meeting was subsequently held in Sichuan. Science fiction writers from different countries danced the joyous Guozhuang dance around three bonfires, reveling all night. Most dramatically, tragedy struck the next day when a sudden downpour triggered a mudslide that cut off roads and communication lines, trapping over two hundred Chinese and foreign writers in Wolong. They relied entirely on a forest fire prevention radio to urgently appeal to the government for help—a truly dramatic turn of events.

This is precisely why Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife" has caused such a stir overseas. Just as when domestic science fiction writers walked into the conference hall, science fiction writers from all over the world were stunned, Lin Youcheng's science fiction romance novel has now stunned them as well.

What?! There are such romantic science fiction novels in the East? That's practically science fiction!

Lin Youcheng remained calm upon hearing Bowers' words, and said with a smile, "We'll talk about that later."

Lin Youcheng wasn't in a rush to go abroad to receive the award. He hadn't gone to accept it when his novel, "The Devotion of Suspect X," won the highest award for mystery literature in Japan. Of course, this was also because his children were still too young. In addition, Lin Youcheng himself didn't have any particular thoughts about going abroad. He never thought that the moon was rounder or brighter abroad than it was in China.

Although he might not have to take a train for days and nights like the editors of "Science Fiction World" to save money, Lin Youcheng personally didn't have a strong idea of ​​traveling a long distance to the Netherlands.

Bowles was unaware of Lin Youcheng's thoughts. He was excitedly chatting with Lin Youcheng about how winning the Hugo Award for "The Time Traveler's Wife" had caused the novel's sales and popularity to skyrocket. Overseas readers were astonished that a writer from a backward country like Lin Youcheng had won the Hugo Award in the science fiction world, exclaiming, "God!"
Clearly, the Hugo Award publicity fueled a frenzy of discussion surrounding the novel, especially in the United States, where publications like the Chicago Literary Journal reported on Lin Youcheng's novel. Of course, the most important reason for this was the novel's captivating and incredible nature.

Of course, Lin Youcheng was also very happy, because such hot sales volume naturally meant that the overseas royalties he would receive would be quite incredible.

News of Lin Youcheng's novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" winning the Hugo Award abroad has circulated in Beijing's literary circles. However, the mainstream literary circles know little about this seemingly unreliable "what if" award and can hardly imagine the extent of Lin Youcheng's international influence from winning the Hugo Award with "The Time Traveler's Wife".

After all, mainstream literature in China hasn't paid much attention to science fiction. Previously, the moving nature of the novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" prevented some criticisms about science fiction from significantly affecting the overall evaluation of the novel. However, it's undeniable that science fiction is generally overlooked. Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife" is not just science fiction, and you could even say it doesn't have much science fiction concept. It's simply a love story about a patient suffering from chronic time displacement syndrome, who travels through time every time she has an attack. It also discusses life, life and death, love, and waiting.

These are the thoughts of the mainstream literary world regarding Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife." As with previous mainstream reviews of the novel, it contains so much: time travel, love, marriage, children, friends, literature, music, death, drugs, desire, and faith, all cleverly blended together, both poetic and incredibly simple.

Literary workers see more in the novel and unique plot and story structure, like a fantastic and romantic poem, full of poetry and imagination.

These are all affirmations of Lin Youcheng's novel "The Time Traveler's Wife," rather than affirmations of science fiction literature. Of course, this novel also allowed literary workers and readers to see a completely new literary world, showing that the combination of science fiction and love can be so romantic, moving, charming, and incredible.

As for the Hugo Award, the Nobel Prize of science fiction literature, I know quite a bit about it.

It was only when the news of a domestic author winning the Hugo Award gradually spread that domestic science fiction writers heard about it, and Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife" won the Hugo Award, that it was truly a huge surprise.

Everyone was truly stunned!

Absolutely stunned! Only these comrades truly understand just how amazing the Hugo Award Lin Youcheng won is!
This is the first Hugo Award in China!
It is absolutely a groundbreaking existence!
Of course, the mainstream literary circles in China already know how prestigious the Hugo Award is, but what truly reveals the brilliance of Lin Youcheng's novel, *The Time Traveler's Wife*, is yet to come—more straightforward and simple numbers will reveal all.

They saw what science fiction is like, and what a world they dared not even imagine!
(End of this chapter)