The Alienated

言七苦Jul 2020

2.5

Word count: 283K words
Chapters: 140

Summary

At the end of the 21st century, the world's population has reached a terrifying peak. Population surges and resource shortages have bred all kinds of conflicts, while environmental change and technological development have pushed human evolution into the "Divergence Era"—a period of confrontation among three forces: the mutants, who have awakened special abilities for various reasons but are few in number; ordinary people, the most numerous, who occupy the largest sphere of influence; and the modified humans, created under the drives of ordinary people's interests and desires. The three kinds of humans wrestle with one another, maintaining a delicate balance, yet beneath the calm, undercurrents surge. Zhou Ci was an ordinary young Chinese man until he awakened a perceptive ability and was drawn into the vortex of the divergent forces. By touching inanimate objects, he can perceive their memories over the past year. In China he once established good cooperation with some police forces, but he also leaked his own secret. In a case where modified humans assassinated mutants, he realized the danger of his situation; for his safety, he had no choice but to leave his homeland for America, preferring to live as a destitute scavenger rather than expose his ability to seek huge profits.

Editor's review

Set in the "Divergence Era" of the late 21st century—a time of population surge, resource strain, and the coexistence of awakened powers and human augmentation—The Alienated builds its stage of suspense and maneuvering on the delicate balance among three factions: ordinary people, the alienated, and the augmented. The protagonist Zhou Ci's ability is a clever design: by touching an inanimate object, he can read its memories from the past year—a sharp investigative tool and a dangerous liability at once. It brings him into cooperation with the police, yet when the secret leaks, he is forced to flee to the United States and resign himself to life as a scavenger. The novel's readability comes from the constraints on the power and the constant pressure of exposure; following the protagonist as he treads carefully through assassinations and investigations, readers can feel the tension of scarce trust and information as power. If you enjoy urban supernatural fiction, factional power struggles, and suspense with a touch of social extrapolation, this book offers a tight pursuit line and steadily mounting jeopardy. While reading, watch for the costs and choices that come with using the power—that is more compelling than mere displays of strength.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy urban supernatural settings and factional power struggles
Readers drawn to suspenseful pursuit and the pressure of a secret identity
Readers open to a socially extrapolated backdrop on the edge of an apocalyptic world
Readers interested in abilities that read the memories of objects

Not a good fit for

Readers looking only for light, sweet romance or slice-of-life stories
Readers sensitive to depictions of violence, assassination, and factional conflict
Readers who prefer the technical detail of traditional hard science fiction

Reading tips

Clarify the relationships among ordinary people, the alienated, and the augmented before entering the main case; the reading will flow more smoothly.
Pay attention to the boundaries and costs each time Zhou Ci touches an object to read its memories—this is key to understanding his situation.
Read the pursuit and flight passages in one stretch to better feel the sustained pressure of an exposed identity.
After finishing, revisit the world-building in the opening; you will find that many conflicts were planted in those few background details.

版权信息
1 心岩
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
2 光影
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
3 迷途
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
4 逆旅
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
5 敛羽
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
6 困兽
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
7 沉沦
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
8 暗夜
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
9 血雨
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
10 腥风
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
11 绝境
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
12 终结
Chapter 01
Chapter 02
Chapter 03
Chapter 04
Chapter 05
Chapter 06
Chapter 07
Chapter 08
Chapter 09
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

FAQ

What exactly are the limits of Zhou Ci's ability?

The material shows that by touching inanimate objects, he can perceive their memories within a one-year limit. There are two main limits: he must touch the physical object, and the information covers only the past year. This means that to investigate a case he must find the key object, and that once his secret is known to others, he himself will find it hard to protect himself.

I haven't read similar books—can I start with this one?

Yes. The story unfolds through Zhou Ci's personal experiences, and the background of the three factions is gradually explained as the plot advances. It is advisable to slow down at the beginning and first remember the basic layout of the "Divergence Era"; the characters' motives and factional conflicts will then be easier to understand.

Is there a heavy romantic subplot?

From the material, the main line is Zhou Ci's survival and investigation after his ability is exposed, he is drawn into an assassination incident, and he is forced to flee to the United States. The focus is on factional maneuvering and suspenseful pressure rather than romance. If you expect a romance-centered story, this may not suit your taste.

What does the title "The Alienated" refer to?

It refers to the small number of people who awaken supernatural powers under environmental change and technological development. Together with the ordinary people, who are the majority, and the augmented, who emerge from interests and desires, they form a three-way standoff; the title points precisely to this group and its situation.

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About the author

言七苦 Author

Yan Qiku is an author whose work is primarily oriented toward science fiction, though publicly available information about them remains limited. The library holds three of their works, all belonging to the Yi Hua Zhe series: Yi Hua Zhe (Part One), Yi Hua Zhe (Part Two), and Yi Hua Zhe. Based on what is known, Yan Qiku's writing concentrates on science fiction and unfolds a long-form narrative across two volumes under the same title—a structure that typically requires the author to build a world, advance the plot, and develop characters over an extended span. Although their nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name cannot currently be confirmed, and no existing author profile is available for reference, these three works in the same series already indicate a sustained commitment to science fiction writing. For readers interested in Chinese science fiction, especially serialized long-form storytelling, Yan Qiku is a name worth noting and learning more about.