Trance State

Name: Trance State
ISBN: 9787521233292

陈楸帆Writers Publishing House · ChinaMar 2026

4.0

Word count: 156K words
Chapters: 13
ISBN: 9787521233292

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Summary

Chen Qiufan's novella and short story collection *The State of Trance* is one volume in the "New Forces in Chinese Literature" series. The series aims to survey and take stock of the creative achievements of young writers in the new era, showcase the youthful strength of new-era literature, and measure, by a professional aesthetic standard, the individual representative works and latest writing of young writers today. The science fiction collected in *The State of Trance* is filled with inquiries into the world and the universe. Where algorithms have not yet reached lies the human brain, with its hundreds of billions of neurons and connections as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, giving rise to countless dazzling thoughts and aesthetic forms. Science fiction has already become embedded in our era, becoming a structure and pattern of human civilization and of the individual psyche, shining brightly in the night.

Editor's review

This collection brings together Chen Qiufan's science fiction in novella and short story form, with its themes anchored in inquiries into the world and the cosmos. The author's concern is not merely technological spectacle but the places algorithms have yet to reach—the thought and aesthetic sense born from the hundreds of billions of neurons and vast synaptic connections in the human brain. This concern allows the stories to retain, beyond their science-fictional premises, a sustained reflection on individual minds and the structure of civilization. Most pieces carry a speculative temperament; readers must follow the narrative into the questions themselves rather than wait for simple answers. Suited to readers with a basic interest in science fiction who are willing to dwell between premise and metaphor. It helps to treat each piece as a thought experiment and, after finishing, ask: which real-world situations do the technological problems in the story correspond to? For readers following new Chinese science fiction and young writers, this collection offers samples worth close reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers keeping up with new Chinese science fiction in novella and short story form
Readers who enjoy speculative premises and want to think about the relationship between technology and the mind
Literary readers interested in young writers and the arc of the series
Readers accustomed to mulling over questions after finishing rather than following plot alone

Not a good fit for

Readers looking only for light, escapist science fiction
Readers impatient with abstract speculation and metaphor
Readers expecting a single complete novel-length narrative

Reading tips

After each piece, jot down the core question it raises in a few sentences, for easy comparison across the book.
Slow down where the premises are dense; clarify the concepts before entering the plot.
Set technological premises against real-world situations; reading with questions in mind yields more than chasing plot.

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
中国文学新力量丛书编委会
出版前言
出神状态
丽江的鱼儿们
巴鳞
人生算法
无债之人
双雀
菌歌
超载
猫托梦
九紫离火

FAQ

What kind of science fiction is this book?

It leans toward speculative science fiction, focused on inquiries into the world and the cosmos and on the relationship between technology and the human mind and the structure of civilization. Premises serve the questioning; readers need to follow the narrative into the thinking rather than rely on a single plot line.

Do I need a background in science fiction?

Not necessarily a deep one, though some science fiction reading experience makes it smoother. The premises and concepts are fairly dense, and readers used to science fiction expression will find it easier to enter; newcomers can slow down and clarify the concepts before reading the plot.

Why is the human brain called the place algorithms have yet to reach?

This is one of the author's central images: hundreds of billions of neurons and vast synaptic connections give rise to thought and aesthetic form. The stories use this image to probe the boundary between technology and the human mind; the specific meaning needs to be understood in light of each piece.

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About the author

陈楸帆 Author

Chen Qiufan is one of the more closely watched authors in Chinese science fiction, with seven works currently held in the collection. Because public information is limited, details of his personal life, education, and awards are not discussed here; his works nonetheless show a strong inclination to approach real-world issues through technological imagination. His representative titles include The State of Trance, Twelve Tomorrows, the four-volume collection Insect: Great Fantasists—Classic Science Fiction Stories, A Place Called Hope, 2036: Brain-Net Doomsday, the nine-volume Nebula: Global Chinese Science Fiction Nebula Awards series, and AI Futures. His writing often revolves around cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and virtual reality, connecting future scenarios with present-day social experience. His subjects span both science fiction and financial themes, combining the rigor of technological extrapolation with a concern for how people live and choose amid technological change.