Zero and Other Fictions (Modern Chinese Literature from Taiwan)
Language: English
Pages: 160
ISBN: 0231157401
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Huang Fan burst onto Taiwan's literary scene in the 1980s, publishing pointed urban portraits and political satires that captured the reading public's attention. After decades of innovative work, he is now one of Asia's most celebrated authors, crucial to understanding the development of Taiwanese literature over the past fifty years.
The first collection of Huang Fan's work to appear in English, this anthology includes Zero, a prize-winning dystopian novella echoing George Orwell's chilling 1984. Set in a postapocalyptic world, Zero features Xi De, a young man raised in an elite community who risks everything to challenge his society's charismatic leader and technocratic rule. Huang Fan's novella poignantly illustrates the quandary of an idealistic man trapped among conflicting claims to truth, unsure whether to think of himself as heroic or foolish in his ultimate choice of resistance and sacrifice.
This anthology also features three critically acclaimed short stories: "Lai Suo," which established Huang Fan's reputation as a groundbreaking author; "The Intelligent Man"; and "How to Measure the Width of a Ditch." In "Lai Suo," a naïve individual becomes the pawn of powerful men intent on political advancement. In "How to Measure the Width of a Ditch," an unreliable narrator spins an absurdist, metafictional tale of his childhood in Taipei, and in "The Intelligent Man," Huang Fan weaves an allegorical satire about political reunification set against a backdrop of Taiwanese migration to the United States, with a trenchant look at expanding business interests in mainland China and Southeast Asia. All together, these remarkable works portray the tensions and aspirations of modern Taiwan.
Department another call. “I called a few days ago and asked how many ditches there are. Do you remember?” “Ah!” she cried out softly. “My name is Xie.” “I didn’t expect you to call again, Mr. Xie.” “Why not?” “People always call me.” She continued, “May I ask why you are so interested in that question?” I detected a sound. I guessed that it was the sound of someone covering their mouth to laugh. “A lot of people ask the same question, but for the moment I can’t explain it.” I said, “How
at the star-filled sky, peering into the dreamlike past and the unknown future. Only when the first light of morning from the east shone on his half-bald head, which resembled an egg, did he return to that time when he sat in front of the television in 1978—the beginning, end, and intermission in his life. 1 One week after getting out of prison, Lai Suo turned thirty. He wore an old gray woolen suit, was as thin as a matchstick (he had contracted a chronic stomach ailment), and had pronounced
functioning smoothly. But Xi De’s heart had undergone a change of sorts. He had departed from the perfect work life that had been arranged for him. He had begun to make contact with the outside world in a spirit of curiosity, uncertainty, and alertness. One Sunday afternoon, Xi De set off for the Central Academy he had long since left. The chaste and elegant dorms, the refreshing gardens, and the students who held themselves aloof from the world all stirred warm memories. Professor Kang Zaoshi
believe that anyone who returns from their first vacation is bound to be a bit absentminded. This is to be expected and tolerated. But we have noticed that your absentmindedness has extended well beyond a week and has lasted three months now.” “I know, but …” “In principle, we allow the individual to work things out in his own way in such cases. We refer to this as a transitional period in the maturation of character. But your case is beyond the norm, so we have no choice but to help you.” The
twenty-minute walk. “You’re alone?” “I have no parents,” she replied. “They worked at the hydrogen plant in the Second Industrial City, but they were killed in an accident. What about you?” “My parents live in an agricultural city.” After a short distance, Lian Lian took his hand and sat with him on an iron bench beside the road. “It’s a beautiful night,” she said. “There are quite a few people out for strolls.” Xi De grew quiet. This place was totally unlike Central City, which was so cold