Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 241 Nebula Award Ceremony

After the host's brief opening speech, the first trophy of this year's Nebula Awards was awarded.

Best Novel Award.

When the host read out the title of "Neuromancer" (Neuromancer), the audience burst into warm applause.

Fang Minghua also applauded.

I have to say, this book is really awesome.

It's about a genius hacker, a female killer, a special forces officer, and a consciousness manipulation expert. They are hired to do two things: steal a key and obtain a password.

They are career criminals and hopeless misanthropes; they are in self-imposed exile while subconsciously searching for a way home. And their employer is the most powerful opponent that mankind has ever encountered since the beginning of civilization...

This is the first book to win the Hugo Award, Nebula Award and Philip K. Dick Award at the same time, a record that no one can break.

What’s even more powerful is that it foreshadows the computer network world of the 20s!

William Gibson not only created "cyberspace" in his book, but also gave birth to a culture "cyberpunk": "high technology, low life".

At this time, a middle-aged man in his thirties with glasses and messy hair stood up, greeted everyone with a smile, and then walked quickly to the podium. It was the author William Gibson.

Then came the list of winners for the best novella, American science fiction novelist John Varley

Of course he is also very handsome.

So he whispered:

"I do care a little." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

Next is the award for the best short novella, and the book "Country Teacher" is among the nominees.

At this moment, the host held an opened envelope with an incredible expression on his face.

His subtle movement was seen by Emily, who was sitting next to him. She had an inexplicable fondness for the young man from the mysterious country of Dongfeng.

Gibson took the stage to receive the trophy, a spiral nebula made of clear synthetic resin, and delivered his acceptance speech.

The theater immediately burst into thunderous applause.

This guy doesn't understand computers at all, so he typed out this novel that belongs to the online world word for word on a traditional typewriter!

"The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed," Gibson said as he walked off the podium to a round of applause.

Jack was stunned.

It was because of the scenes described in this novel that moved her.

Gentle and elegant, generous and decent.

"Press Enter" is a murder suspense story about computer networks and artificial intelligence.

After a pause, he read out loud:

"The novel that won the best short and medium story at this year's Nebula Award is "Village Teacher" from China! Please invite the author, Mr. Minghua!"

Emily was overjoyed. Somehow, she really hoped that this novel would win the award.

It is said that this novel was written last year (1984) when this guy was studying for a degree in English literature at Columbia University.

Seeing the host reading the list of nominated novels, Fang Minghua couldn't help but straighten up.

"It seems that you are very concerned about whether your Chinese compatriot can win the award."

"It's impossible to win the prize!" Jack, who was sitting on the other side of Emily, whispered immediately after hearing this.

Or is it because his father was also a teacher?

She turned her head and suddenly found that Fang Minghuali, who was sitting next to her, took out a red tie from his pocket, tied it around his neck, and stood up again.

"You, why are you going?" Emily asked subconsciously.

"Go and receive the award." Fang Minghua replied casually, then thought of something and asked in a low voice: "Emily, please help me see if my tie is tied properly?" "It's tied properly."

"Thank you."

Fang Minghua strode towards the podium, leaving Emily still messy in the wind.

The guest of honor was the famous Isaac Asimov.

"Mr. Minghua, as a Nebula Award presenter, I have handed this small trophy to many writers, but as a Chinese, this is the first time." Asimov said with emotion.

Fang Minghua replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Asimov, but I think there will be more Chinese people who will accept this trophy from you later."

When Fang Minghua took the trophy from the host, the venue once again burst into warm applause.

This is the first time that an Asian with black hair and yellow skin appears on the podium!

Fang Minghua held the trophy in one hand and took out a piece of paper from his pocket with the other. Facing the dark crowd in the audience, he said with a smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. It is a great honor for me to receive the Nebula Award. Between the two distant cultural planets of Chinese and English, there is a spiral nebula that connects them together. This is the Nebula. prize."

Here I would like to thank the translator of this book - a friend of mine, the beautiful Miss Li Li from Yenching University, who translated it into English. I also want to thank another friend of mine, Sun Lizhe, who is studying for a doctorate at the University of Chicago. Sir, he delivered it for me, and of course the editors of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

"Without their cooperation, this novel would not have been able to meet readers in the United States. Finally, I would like to thank the readers of this book for sharing this book."

"Next, I would like to talk about some of my feelings about this novel. Han Yu, a famous litterateur in the Tang Dynasty of my country, wrote an article called "Teacher's Theory", in which he once said this sentence: Teachers, so they preach and teach. "Dispelling doubts" means that teachers are used to impart principles, teach students, and explain doubts."

"I think the teacher Li Baoku in the novel did it. It was he who cleared away the fog of ignorance, and the stars were all over the sky, and the majesty of the universe shone in the starry sky."

"thank you all!"

There was thunderous applause from the audience. Fang Minghua returned to his seat after receiving the award. Emily looked at her with admiration, while Jack looked away and felt embarrassed.

Of course Fang Minghua didn't say anything and accepted the congratulations from the two girls.

The award ceremony ended quickly, and Fang Minghua accepted another interview with reporters. By the time all of this was finished, it was already 10 o'clock in the evening.

Fang Minghua originally wanted to contact Sun Lizhe, but it was too late now. He would visit him tomorrow.

After checking into the hotel at night, Fang Minghua took a hot shower and then lay half-ly on the bedside. He picked up the phone on the bedside table and made an international long-distance call to Song Tangtang in his hometown, telling himself that it was a good thing that he had won the award.

Of course I want to share it with the girl I love.

The girl was very happy to hear this: "Minghua, I will tell your parents about this after get off work tonight to make them happy!"

"By the way, I also called Lili to express my gratitude. She also contributed a lot to your winning this time!"

"Okay, thank her properly for me."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Minghua originally wanted to call Yang Xiao, editor-in-chief of Chengdu Science and Literature, but decided not to do so after thinking about it.

I didn’t tell anyone that I came to the United States to study, so there’s no need to show off now.

"Sleep, we have to find Sun Lizhe tomorrow." Fang Minghua got into bed.

Here in the United States, the Nebula Award for Best Short and Novelette was won by a Chinese young man, which has become top news. However, in China on the other side of the ocean, everything is calm.

Just at the beginning of January this year, the United States announced the official launch of the "Star Wars Project", also known as the "Strategic Defense Plan for the Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System", and it was only a week after domestic newspapers began to report it, not to mention that the Science Fiction Nebula Award was not very popular. news?

But two people are paying close attention to the news on the other side of the ocean.

(End of this chapter)