Mr. Absurd

Name: Mr. Absurd
ISBN: 9789815207392

赵胜浩宇出版社 · SingaporeMar 2024

2.6

Word count: 44K words
Chapters: 63
ISBN: 9789815207392

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Summary

The Mr. Absurd series of humorous, witty satirical shorts upholds the mission and social responsibility of "striving for the rise of Chinese culture and forging a mirror of social morality." Through unique works and a distinctive perspective, it employs exaggerated, satirical, humorous, and witty artistic means and a philosophical contemplation of human nature to depict in realistic terms certain undesirable phenomena in society. For example, "premium mooncakes" alludes to food safety, "crocodile-brand leather shoes" reflects counterfeit and shoddy goods, "special powers" exposes shoddy construction, and "fishing in the great river" warns of environmental pollution. The use of specific terms such as large yellow croaker, mermaid, Muddy Island, Gaosheng County, the blind, and the naive-and-sweet invariably serves to satirize, castigate, and alert, teaching through entertainment so that people gain something and find inspiration after laughing.

Editor's review

Mr. Absurd is an experimental novel that author Zhao Sheng released after years of accumulation, building through nonlinear narrative and black humor a urban parable both familiar and alienated. With the daily encounters of the protagonist "Mr. Absurd" as its thread, the book breaks the identity anxiety, interpersonal estrangement, and existential predicaments of modern life into a series of fragments that seem absurd yet strike straight at the heart. Zhao Sheng's writing style is cold and restrained, and within seemingly casual scene splicing lurks a profound interrogation of the order of modern civilization. The book's depiction of the spiritual state of urban people is especially precise—that experience of feeling utterly lonely in a crowded crowd is layer by layer dissected by the author with a scalpel-like touch. The value of this work lies not only in its literary experimentalism but also in how it touches the shared spiritual pulse of contemporary readers: in an age when meaning dissipates, how to face the absurdity of life and remain clear-headed about oneself. Although the symbolic technique in some chapters is slightly obscure, overall this is a sincere work capable of provoking lasting thought.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers who enjoy experimental narrative and philosophical reflection
Readers interested in the spiritual state and existential predicaments of modern urban people
Readers who appreciate a cold, restrained style and black humor
Those hoping to step outside the framework of traditional linear narrative in search of a new reading experience

Not a good fit for

Readers who seek strong plot momentum and traditional story structure
People who hope to obtain clear spiritual comfort or light entertainment from reading

Reading tips

It is recommended to read in segments in a relatively quiet environment, pausing briefly after each chapter to reflect
Pay appropriate attention to the recurring images in the book (such as mirrors, streets, and silence), which form the key to understanding the text
Do not rush to look for linear logic; try to feel the emotional tension and philosophical hints behind the words

About the publisher

浩宇出版社 Singapore

Haoyu Publishing House is a Chinese-language publishing institution registered in Singapore. Public information about it is limited, and its publishing focus covers culture, literary appreciation, social sciences, documentary literature, classical poetry and classic works. It has 55 titles in the collection, including representative books such as Exploring the Limits of Life, The Crimson Steed Not Yet Galloped, The Chinese Road Model and the Development of Human Civilization, Recounting the Past, The Harmony of Heaven and Earth and Changing with the Times, Flame Flowers Blooming in the Southern Frontier, True Feelings Are Rare in Life and Spring of the Heart, spanning fiction, philosophy and prose. Its representative authors include Yang Hailang, Long Binghao, Liu Bo, Chen De'an, Wu Xinhua, Shen Longyan, Zhong Yuxiang and Zhu Anyang, with Chinese-language writers as its main author resource. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house serves overseas Chinese-language readers, and its books are mostly distributed overseas through agencies, with an emphasis on titles that balance literary quality and intellectual substance.

版权信息
作者简介
内容简介
致读者
荒诞先生第1季
出狱
啤酒炸弹事件
意外之财
优质月饼
求医问药
生财之道
鸭子牵线
鳄鱼牌皮鞋
“特异功能”
平步青云
校长训话
大河垂钓
横遭不测
荒诞先生第2季
起死回生
殡仪馆风波
再起波澜
民众的呼声
大风刮来的钱
炒股危机
喝凉水塞牙
进门喜当爹
老婆醒醒
永远的跳楼价
赌石奇遇
汤里游泳的苍蝇和半只脑袋的鸡
东方的“比萨斜塔”
不被尊重的“职业”
生无可恋
癞蛤蟆的梦想
永不凋谢的玫瑰
猪一样的队友
扶不起的阿斗
中医的未来
乞丐的逻辑
迷你版的鸵鸟蛋
粽子的疗效
有惊无险的旅行
天堂的橄榄枝
餐桌的礼仪
变质的比赛
大师的决断
可望而不可即的“零元购”
骗子的电话
隔岸观火的人群
田园时光
荒诞先生第3季
邂逅火星使者
飞向火星
族长召见
虫族来袭
火星奇遇
喜获姻缘
全民公敌
火星生态农场
火星密使
荒诞先生语录
《荒诞先生》作者访谈稿

FAQ

Is this book difficult to understand?

The work is somewhat experimental, with nonlinear narrative and dense symbolism, requiring a certain amount of attention and thought from the reader. But it is not obscure or difficult; its core emotions and predicaments resonate universally.

How is this book different from common urban novels?

It does not focus on telling a complete, dramatically twisting story but instead focuses on fragmented scenes and psychological moments, aiming to reveal the absurdity and alienation beneath the surface of modern life; it is more literary and intellectual.

Does author Zhao Sheng have other works in a similar style?

Zhao Sheng's creations mostly take urban modernity and reflection as their theme, and his style is distinctive. Mr. Absurd is a relatively concentrated and mature presentation of his style and can be regarded as a representative work of his creative ideas.

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About the author

赵胜 Author

Public information about Zhao Sheng is limited, but his writing and editorial work span several fields, including industrial technology, finance and economics, and software learning. Four titles are known, covering a notably wide range of subjects: a professional volume, Female Reproductive Ultrasound and Clinical Practice; two discussions of technological trends, Industry 4.0: The Future Is Happening and Made in China 2025: The Industrial Internet Opens a New Industrial Revolution; and a social novel, Mr. Absurd. These works suggest an interest in real-world industrial change and technological evolution, as well as an attempt to address social issues through fiction, combining knowledge synthesis with writing for a general readership. In the absence of biographical details, his professional background cannot be determined, and readers may turn to the individual titles to understand the different directions of his writing.