Our Master

Name: Our Master
ISBN: 9787559827883

凡一平Jun 2021

3.8

Word count: 76K words
Chapters: 19
ISBN: 9787559827883

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Summary

This collection brings together Fan Yiping's latest short fiction: five novellas and short stories written in 2019. "Our Master" was selected for the 2019 Harvest literary ranking and the Yangtze River Literature Review literary ranking, and won the October Literary Award. Fan carefully constructs his plots, revealing the truth where it is least expected, and uses his effortlessly skilled humor and vivid dialogue to dilute the buildup of sorrow, thereby telling of life's turns and the struggles of human nature, and portraying the joys and sorrows of ordinary people and the absurdity of reality. In "Our Master," for example, a funeral triggers memories and recounts the lives of several children who went astray in childhood; "Card Players of Two Centuries" depicts the love and friendship of a group of "greasy" middle-aged men; "Bounty" portrays the life-and-death friendship of ordinary people under heavy pressure; and "Wei Qi's Nursing Home" tells of rural elderly people's awakening in the final years of life... These stories collectively showcase Fan Yiping's latest thinking about society and his current creative skill, and remain rewarding and highly readable.

Editor's review

These five novellas and short stories continue Fan Yiping's signature strength as a storyteller: he carefully constructs the plot, unveils the truth where it is least expected, then uses humor and vivid dialogue to dilute the sorrow, allowing ordinary people's fortunes to mirror the absurdity of reality. "Our Master" uses a funeral to draw out the twists in the lives of childhood companions, "Card Players of Two Centuries" explores middle-aged love and friendship, "Bounty" tests life-and-death friendship under the pressures of life, and "Wei Qi's Nursing Home" brings rural elders to an awakening at the end of life. The collection is consistently readable and rewarding, standing on character and dialogue rather than showy technique. It suits readers who want complete stories in short form and are willing to savor the warmth and coldness of human affairs; those expecting grand narrative or rigorous social analysis may find it light. Reading the pieces separately is recommended, leaving a little time after each to dwell on the moment the truth is revealed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy novellas and short stories and value complete, readable storytelling
Readers interested in the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, the absurdity of reality, and human affairs
Office workers who want to read contemporary fiction in short-story rhythm during commutes or before bed
Literary readers following Fan Yiping's work and wanting to understand his recent novellas and short stories

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer grand long-form narratives and need complex structures
Readers expecting rigorous social critique or theoretical analysis rather than storytelling
Readers uninterested in humorous tone and diluted sorrow, seeking only heavy realism

Reading tips

It is not necessary to read straight through; start with a piece close to your own experience, then return to the rest.
Pause after each piece and recall the foreshadowing before the truth is revealed, to appreciate the author's craft in constructing the story.
Notice how dialogue advances the plot and dilutes sorrow; excerpt one or two passages as writing reference.
If time is fragmented, read one piece at a time to avoid mixing characters and emotions from consecutive stories.

版权信息
我们的师傅
我
韦卫鸾
蓝上杰韦燎
师傅
两个世纪的牌友
上世纪
本世纪
唐云梦的救赎
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
赏金
韦旗的敬老院

FAQ

Which pieces are included in this book?

According to the materials, the book collects five novellas and short stories Fan Yiping wrote in 2019, including "Our Master," "Card Players of Two Centuries," "Bounty," and "Wei Qi's Nursing Home." "Our Master" was selected for the 2019 Harvest literary ranking and the Yangtze River Literature Review literary ranking, and won the October Literary Award.

Is it suitable for reading in one sitting?

In terms of length, yes, but reading piece by piece is recommended. The five stories each have independent characters and situations, and reading them consecutively can blur characters and emotions; pausing after each piece to savor the moment the truth is revealed and the wit in the dialogue better captures the author's approach to diluting sorrow.

What are these stories mainly about?

Overall they depict the joys and sorrows of ordinary people and the absurdity of reality, telling of life's turns and the struggles of human nature. For example, "Our Master" uses a funeral to trigger memories and recounts the lives of several children who went astray in childhood; "Bounty" portrays the life-and-death friendship of ordinary people under heavy pressure; and "Wei Qi's Nursing Home" depicts rural elders' awakening in the final years of life.

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About the author

凡一平 Author

Fan Yiping is a contemporary Chinese novelist about whom limited public information is available. The library currently holds five of his works, including A Hundred-Year History of Dingniu Ye, The Murder in Shangling Village, The Lover of Shangling, Our Master, and The Singing Cicadas. Judging from these titles, his writing often centers on social reality and suspenseful mystery, frequently set against rural or grassroots life. His narratives move forward through criminal cases, the fates of characters, and emotional entanglements, combining the observational strength of social fiction with the suspense of detective stories. Recurring place names such as Shangling Village suggest possible connections of setting and character across his works, forming a relatively coherent literary world. Existing categories place his work under social fiction, mystery and suspense, and classic works, indicating a balance between readability and realistic concern. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and awards are not clearly recorded, no inferences are made here; the above summary is based solely on the subjects and style of the works in the library.