The Fool's Bones

刘宇Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaMar 2019

Rating 3.6
Word count
107K words
Chapters
12
ISBN
9787559628756

Tags

Science Fiction Science Fiction ImaginationPlot TwistTurning PointHuman NatureSplit PersonalityGood and EvilPsychological PortrayalSuspense NarrativeRealistic ThemeShort Story Collection

Summary

"A short story collection divided into two parts by theme. The first part draws on reality, with tightly interlocking plots that are twisty and entertaining—for example, in "The Fool's Bones," the narrator's shift from disgust and avoidance to wholehearted help for the fool in searching for his lost wife is deeply moving; and in "The Writer," the fierce confrontation between the writers "Black Heather" and "White Heather," inspired by split personality, grips the reader. The second part belongs to fantasy and science fiction, whose elements add luster to already compelling plots—for example, in "The Three Days of Sisyphus," the bored narrator suddenly can relive a certain day, so "I" experiences the beauty of first love countless times, tries again and again to save his father, and finally discovers that this repetition comes at the cost of borrowing from the future. The common theme of this collection is the unpredictability of life; no one can successfully evade life's trials and gifts—joy, pain, peace, distortion..."

Editor's review

This short-story collection works precisely because it is divided yet unified: the first half draws on realist material—a fool searching for his wife, a writer's clash of personalities—with tightly linked plots that linger through shifts in the characters' attitudes; the second half turns to fantasy and science fiction, using premises such as reliving a single day or borrowing against the future as a magnifying glass for the boredom, obsessions and costs of ordinary life. The shared theme is life's unpredictability—no one escapes its trials or gifts, and joy, pain, peace and distortion may all arrive at once. Liu Yu writes for readability: stories open directly, turns are clear, and each piece suits a commute or bedtime. Readers need not go cover to cover; start with the realist half to find the voice, then move into the fantasy and science fiction to hear the same theme in different keys. For readers who like fate overturned and human nature glimpsed at short length, this book is efficient to browse.

Who it's for

A good fit for

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Reading tips

  1. Read the realist half first, then the fantasy and science fiction half, to see the theme's variations more clearly.
  2. Pause a few minutes after each story and recall how the title echoes the ending; the aftertaste becomes more apparent.
  3. Mark surprising turns with sticky notes, then compare how different stories handle unpredictability.

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 第一部分
  3. 傻子的骨头
  4. 作家
  5. 达摩流浪者
  6. 色类自有道
  7. 复仇
  8. 第二部分
  9. 西西弗斯的三日
  10. 无明
  11. 拉克西斯
  12. 你是我爸吧

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a story collection? It is a short-story collection divided by subject into two parts: the first draws on reality, the second leans toward fantasy and science fiction. Each story stands alone, so it need not be read in order; it suits reading one piece at a time in spare moments.
What do the realist and fantasy/science-fiction parts share? According to the materials, both share the theme of life's unpredictability: no one escapes its trials or gifts. The realist stories create poignancy through shifts in attitude, while the fantasy and science-fiction stories magnify obsession and cost through their premises; read them against each other.
Is it suitable for bedtime reading? The stories are self-contained and short, so one works well before sleep. Some involve split personalities, reliving a single day and other suspenseful, reflective material, so the mood is not always light. If you are easily pulled into plots, read the heavier pieces during the day.

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About the author

刘宇 Author

Liu Yu is a Chinese author whose works span a notably wide range of subjects. Public information about him is limited, and his identity and background are not clearly documented. Six of his works are included in the collection, covering categories such as programming and design, science fiction, medicine, and inspirational growth. His technical representative work, Serverless Architecture: From Principles and Design to Project Practice, addresses the theory and practice of serverless architecture. In literary writing, he has published The Fool's Bones and Emoji Diplomat, the latter suggesting, from its title, a light and humorous take on contemporary life. His medical works include An Introduction to Commonly Used Qi-Tonifying Chinese Medicines and the two-volume Learn Chinese Medicine with Me, which covers the origins and properties of Chinese medicines and detailed explanations of common herbs, respectively, showing a systematic approach to traditional Chinese medicine knowledge. Overall, Liu Yu's writing crosses technology and the humanities, balancing professional depth with accessibility.