Chinese sci-fi hits peak after success of Three-Body trilogy

Sci-fi author Liu Cixin's Three-Body trilogy has not only put the media spotlight on Chinese sci-fi, but also drawn wider attention to the once small science-fiction market in China. [Photo/China Daily]

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin failed to win the Nebula Award on Saturday, but the book has still made history as the first Chinese sci-fi novel to enter the shortlists of two of the top fantasy awards in the world－the Nebula and Hugo awards.

Having sold more than 1 million copies since it was first published, the success of Liu's Three-Body trilogy has not only put the media spotlight on Chinese sci-fi, but also drawn wider attention to the once small science fiction market in China.

According to a report earlier this year on the publishing industry journal China Book Review, the number of new sci-fi titles published has been growing since the Chinese version of Liu's Three-Body trilogy was published at the end of 2010. In 2012 there were nearly 200 new sci-fi books published－a peak for the niche market.

"Liu single-handedly lifted Chinese sci-fi to the world level," says Yan Feng, a professor of literature at Fudan University.

While Yan praises Liu, his comment also hints at the shortcomings of the Chinese sci-fi publishing industry－a lack of originality in Chinese sci-fi novels and Chinese publishers favoring translated works over local sci-fi writers.

"In the sci-fi genre, only Liu's works have reached the quality of our selection," says Xu Xiaochun, editor of Dookbook Company, which focuses on genre fiction. "We only publish the best in the genre."

Since 2012, the company has been importing classic Western sci-fi novels, including the Foundation series by American sci-fi master Isaac Asimov, and works by renowned British sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke.

Xu says the Foundation series has sold more than 200,000 copies in China.