You’ve Never Heard of China’s Greatest Sci-Fi Novel

Beijing: In 2011, a tragic train accident near Wenzhou made people question China’s fast pace of growth. Forty lives were lost, and many felt scared about the cost of that speed. An important essay at the time urged China to slow down and think about its people and values.

Authors like Ma, part of the Industrial Party, disagreed. Instead of slowing down, they argued it was important to learn from these mistakes and keep pushing ahead. The sci-fi novel Lingao became popular during this time. It connected people online, sparking conversations about politics and morals in a safe space. These forums allowed everyone to share ideas, even about tough topics.

The Industrial Party’s ideas are all about building and making things. Fred Gao, a journalist who supports this thinking, said that they view building as beautiful and creative. This idea goes beyond China. For example, Elon Musk also shares this focus on technology and engineering. However, the way politics work is different in China.

Lingao is a difficult read for many, and not just because it’s long. Its writing style is tough, and many find it hard to understand. The authors believed that writing beautifully was not important. Instead, they focused on technical terms, making it tough for readers who aren’t familiar with science or math.

The book raises important questions about energy and technology. For instance, how can you create energy without oil? These themes are central as the story follows 500 time travelers seeking to colonize Lingao County in China.