Fairyland

Name: Fairyland
ISBN: 9787521212433

《小说选刊》杂志社 / 辽宁省作家协会Writers Publishing House · ChinaAug 2026

3.4

Word count: 164K words
Chapters: 14
ISBN: 9787521212433

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Summary

This collection comprises the winning works of the inaugural Cao Xueqin Chinese Literature Award: the full-length novel prize went to Zhang Ping's In Life-and-Death Guardianship; the novella prize to Ma Xiaoli's The Blue Rose on the Arm and Liu Jiandong's The Taste of Licorice; and the short story prize to Ban Yu's Nightingale Lake, Zhang Huiwen's Birds and Pond Fish, and Zhe Gui's Wonderland. The Cao Xueqin Chinese Literature Award is a major literary prize sponsored by the Liaoning Writers Association and open to the entire Chinese-language literary world, with the editorial board of Fiction Selections responsible for judging as the academic support unit. The selected works are distinctive in their approaches: In Life-and-Death Guardianship confronts reality head-on, The Taste of Licorice seeks out the marginalized, and The Blue Rose on the Arm rewrites the lives of the underclass. Through these writers' brilliant craft, readers are treated to a richly rewarding literary feast.

Editor's review

Wonderland is not a novel by a single author but a collection of novellas and short stories from 2023, compiled by the editorial board of Fiction Selections. It brings together new work by more than twenty major contemporary writers, including Wang Meng, Wang Anyi, Liu Liangcheng, Lu Min, Ge Liang, and Shi Yifeng, forming a carefully composed spectrum of contemporary literature. The title "Wonderland" is richly suggestive: it points not to some ethereal realm of illusion but serves as a metaphor for the spiritual high ground and ideal vistas these writers construct through language above ordinary reality. From Wang Meng's deep retrospective on the fate of intellectuals in "Skies Full of Rosy Clouds" to Lu Min's subtle cross-section of urban emotion in "Known but Unnamed," and Liu Liangcheng's poetic retelling of a frontier legend in Benba, the anthology spans an enormous range of subjects and narrative styles, precisely capturing the complex pulses of present-day Chinese society and the faint tremors of individual hearts. As an annual selection, its value lies in offering readers an efficient window onto the forefront of contemporary literary creation, where they can encounter both the latest explorations of established masters and the distinctive voices of promising newcomers. Reading this book is like taking a walk through the heart of the literary scene.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want a quick overview of the landscape of contemporary Chinese novellas and short stories in 2023
Literature lovers who enjoy diverse narrative styles and delight in moving between different stories
Creative writing practitioners or students in related fields, who can use it as a reference for studying contemporary narrative technique
Busy urban readers who like to experience a range of subjects and emotional densities within a single reading session

Not a good fit for

Readers who insist on a single-thread, full-length story
Readers with little interest in literary or serious narrative who seek strong plot and fast-paced entertainment

Reading tips

There is no need to read in order; begin with any piece that interests you, as each is an independent, complete world.
As you read, note how different writers approach similar themes of the era with differing perspectives and techniques—this is where the pleasure of an anthology lies.
After finishing a piece, pause for a moment to let it settle before moving on, so that different narrative styles do not interfere with one another.

About the publisher

Writers Publishing House China · Founded in 1953

Writers Publishing House is a Chinese publisher focused mainly on literary publishing. Its output covers classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature and Eastern philosophy, with some extension into popular reading such as social fiction and parenting books. Its catalogue contains more than 900 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber and its edited editions, Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and foreign literary classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and Lost Illusions. In terms of authors, it includes classical writers such as Cao Xueqin and Gao E, foreign masters such as William Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Balzac, and translations by translators such as Zhu Shenghao, Geng Jizhi and Fu Lei. Overall, its publishing profile balances Chinese and foreign literary classics, emphasizes quality translations, and serves both academic and general readers; publicly available information on its specific publishing plans is limited.

版权信息
序为读者选择更优秀的文学作品
生死守护[节选]
在传奇故事里彰显正义——读张平长篇小说新作《生死守护》
手臂上的蓝玫瑰
负重如何前行——评马晓丽小说《手臂上的蓝玫瑰》
甘草之味
多重的声音改革开放时代的故事——评刘建东中篇小说《甘草之味》
夜莺湖
夜莺湖抑或夜莺·湖——时空间性视域下的班宇小说《夜莺湖》
飞鸟和池鱼
羁鸟与故渊——浅谈《飞鸟和池鱼》中的自我捆缚
仙境
“隐秘通道”或临界——评哲贵小说《仙境》

FAQ

Why is the author listed as the editorial board of Fiction Selections?

Because this is an annual anthology, selected and compiled by the editorial team of Fiction Selections from the many works published in 2023, representing the literary judgment and vision of the compiling institution.

Were all the works in the book published here for the first time?

Not entirely. Most of the pieces in the collection have already appeared in major Chinese literary journals such as Fiction Selections, People's Literature, and Harvest; the book's value lies in its authoritative annual survey and concentrated presentation.

Is this book suitable as an introduction to literature?

Very much so. It offers a shortcut to encountering many leading writers, with accessible lengths and rich variety of subject matter, helping beginners quickly build an understanding of the diversity of contemporary literature.

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About the author

《小说选刊》杂志社 Author

The editorial office of the magazine Fiction Selected is an editing and publishing body attached to the magazine of the same name, and has long been engaged in selecting and promoting contemporary fiction. The magazine mainly selects outstanding novellas and short stories published in literary journals across the country, combining the functions of archival preservation and dissemination of works, and serves as one of the important windows for observing the landscape of contemporary Chinese fiction. Among the works currently attributed to the editorial office is the single title Wonderland, classified as a classic work. Public information is limited, and the office's specific history and staffing are difficult to ascertain; yet its editorial practice shows that its work focuses on sifting fine works from a large volume of submissions and published pieces, emphasizing diversity of subject matter and maturity of narrative, and acting as a bridge for the circulation and reception of contemporary fiction.

辽宁省作家协会 Author

The Liaoning Writers Association is a writers' organization in Liaoning Province and appears as a collective institutional name. It mainly functions to connect writers, organize literary creation, and promote the development of local literature. Public information is limited, and details of its history and organizational structure are not recorded in the available data. Among the works held in the collection, the association is associated with the book Wonderland, which is classified as a classic work, suggesting that its compiling or editorial direction involves the arrangement and publication of literary works. As a local literary organization, it generally undertakes tasks such as uniting local writers, supporting new literary talent, and facilitating creative exchange and the promotion of works, playing an organizing and liaison role in regional literary activities. This introduction is based on limited available information and does not include other unconfirmed details.