The Alienated (Part One)

Name: The Alienated (Part One)
ISBN: 9787505754089

言七苦China Friendship Publishing Company · ChinaSep 2022

3.0

Word count: 148K words
Chapters: 72
ISBN: 9787505754089

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Summary

At the end of the 21st century, environmental change and technological advancement pushed human society into an "Age of Divergence"—the Altered, the Modified, and the Ordinary, a three-way standoff. The three kinds of humans wrestle with one another, maintaining a delicate balance, yet beneath the calm, undercurrents surge. Zhou Ci, a seemingly ordinary young Chinese man, can touch inanimate objects and perceive their memories over the past year. During an incident in which the Modified assassinate the Altered, Zhou Ci realizes he is already in danger; for his safety, he has no choice but to flee his homeland for the United States. But what he never expected was that this would drag him completely into the vortex of the three great factions. Are the Altered the favored children standing at the forefront of evolution, or monsters that disrupt the laws of life's development? As Zhou Ci's tense and perilous investigation unfolds, the truth will be revealed step by step.

Editor's review

Alienated (Part One) is a science-fiction-tinged mystery novel by young author Yan Qiku. At its core is the special group known as "the Alienated," people who possess abilities beyond ordinary humans due to genetic mutation but are consequently ostracized, surveilled, and even hunted by society. The protagonist, Lin Shen, an Alienated who hides his identity, is accidentally drawn into a series of bizarre cases. As he pursues the truth, he gradually uncovers a vast conspiracy surrounding the origin of the Alienated and struggles to survive in the gap between self-identity and external oppression. Yan Qiku's writing is delicate and full of tension, building not only a logically coherent near-future world rife with danger but also tightly weaving science-fiction premises with profound explorations of human nature. In the novel, superpowers are no mere thrill; they become a prism for interrogating "what makes us human" and examining social prejudice and institutional violence. The plot advances link by link, with cleverly planted suspense, and through alternating action scenes and psychological description, readers can clearly feel the protagonist's struggle and growth. As the first part of a series, the book successfully lays out a grand worldview and a complex web of character relationships, ending with enough suspense to leave readers eager for what follows. Overall, this is a work that seeks depth within its genre framework, combining readability with intellectual substance.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the combination of science-fiction premises and mystery narrative
Deep readers who enjoy exploring issues of identity and socially marginalized groups
Readers who appreciate portrayals of characters growing through adversity and inner struggle
Readers looking for the opening of a series with a solid worldview and long-buried foreshadowing

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light, purely entertaining diversion
Readers who cannot accept an unresolved ending in the first part and having to wait for the sequel

Reading tips

Pay attention to the multiple metaphors of "alienation" in the book—it refers not only to physiological mutation but also to social and psychological estrangement
Note the shaping of the supporting cast; their individual storylines are important pieces for understanding the complexity of the worldview
As you read, consider: if "abnormal" becomes the norm, who gets to define the standard of so-called "normal"?

About the publisher

China Friendship Publishing Company China · Founded in 1983

China Friendship Publishing Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literary titles, covering classical Chinese literature, foreign literature, folk literature and cultural appreciation. According to the books in the database, its classical list includes celebrated dramas and novels such as The Peony Pavilion, The Romance of the Western Chamber and Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, as well as note-style classics like Hong Mai's Rongzhai Suibi. In foreign literature it offers translations of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Kawabata Yasunari's Snow Country and Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, involving translators such as Zeng Siyi. It also publishes The Complete Literary Works of Lu Xun and titles associated with the "Xue'er Shuguan" editorial group, balancing the collation and popularization of classic texts. Public information on its publishing features and plans is limited; the above is summarized only from the books in the database.

版权信息
心岩
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
光影
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
迷途
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
逆旅
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
敛羽
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
困兽
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
沉沦
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

FAQ

Is this a standalone story?

No. This is the first part (Part One) of the Alienated series. The story has a complete plot arc, but the larger conspiracy and worldview will unfold in subsequent works.

What is the tone of the novel?

The tone is rather cold, suspenseful, and contemplative. Although there are superpower battle scenes, the core focuses more on the protagonist's psychological pressure and the oppressive social atmosphere.

Has author Yan Qiku written other works?

Yan Qiku is an author active on online literature platforms, known for science fiction and mystery. The writing is solid, with a strength for building atmosphere and depicting characters' inner lives.

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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.