Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 249 Koreans also want to introduce that space opera

Among the ten writers who came to visit and study this time, six were from East Asia, but Fang Minghua did not have many contacts with Korean or Japanese writers.

Unlike writers from India and Pakistan, who share the same origin, although the relationship between the governments is not good due to religious reasons, there is the so-called India-Pakistan dispute, and they do not give in to each other on issues including the sovereignty of Kashmir.

However, because they have English as a common medium, the two writers have a close relationship and often talk about literature together.

On the other hand, although China, Japan and South Korea share a common cultural origin, and Japan and South Korea have used Chinese characters for a long time, there are barriers to communication even among writers - without a common communication medium, they all speak poor English. .

So the Korean writer Kim Dong-wook and I were just acquaintances.

Jin Dongxu was thin, had long hair, and always had a straight face. Fang Minghua felt as if everyone owed him money.

Today, Jin Dongxu walked in front of them and said politely to Fang Minghua in broken English: "Mr. Fang, can I talk to you alone?"

Zhang Xianliang next to him still understood this sentence, smiled and said to Fang Minghua: "Okay, you guys chat, I'll go back and prepare first, I have my lecture tomorrow."

After saying that, he nodded to Jin Dongxu, turned around and left.

Before Fang Minghua went abroad, Taro Yamamoto of Kodansha contacted Fang Minghua and reached an agreement on the copyright fee for adapting it into a comic. It is said that the adaptation was personally directed by the famous Japanese cartoonist Akira Toriyama, with Tetsuo Hara as the artist, and preparations are in full swing.

However, what Fang Minghua didn't expect was that how could he, a Korean, understand this book?

According to news from Japan, this science fiction novel serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Shōnen MAGAZINE" has become very popular in Japan, and is now being adapted into a manga for publication.

"Oh, no, if I remember correctly, the Chinese version should be fighting the Yamato Empire and defeating Oda Nobunaga." Jin Dongxu said.

Jin Dongxu was silent for a while, and then suddenly said: "Mr. Fang, we also want to introduce your novel and serialize it in our country's "Weekly Korea"."

Fang Minghua and Jin Dongxu continued walking along the river bank. Fang Minghua really couldn't figure out what the Korean writer wanted to talk to him.

But Fang Minghua was a little surprised when Jin Dongxu opened his mouth: "Mr. Fang, I want to talk to you about some of the plots in "My Journey is the Sea of ​​Stars" that you wrote."

Apart from necessary etiquette, the two seemed to be strangers.

South Korea's technology tree focuses entirely on electronic communications and medical fields, with little focus on aerospace technology and basic science.

Talk about this?

Fang Minghua really didn't expect it.

Seeing Fang Minghua's somewhat surprised look, Jin Dongxu was silent for a moment before saying, "I understand Japanese and have read the Japanese version."

"You want to introduce it too?"

But this was a private matter, so Fang Minghua naturally didn't bother to ask, so he said, "Mr. Jin, which plot do you want to discuss?"

Oh?

Do you understand Japanese?

Fang Minghua was surprised.

Why haven’t I seen the two of them talking in Japanese with the Japanese writer Akagawa Jiro?

This is it

Fang Minghua had an imperceptible smile on his face, but his tone remained calm as he said, "What's wrong with this plot? It's not written well?"

Compared with Japan and China, Koreans are less interested in science fiction.

"Yes, but when we signed the contract with Kodansha, it was stated that the Japanese side could modify certain plots in the novel with the consent of the author. This was done by the Japanese side and had nothing to do with me." Fang Minghua said with a look on his face. easy.

As one of the "Four Asian Tigers", South Korea has also experienced long-term rapid economic growth since the 60s. It should have also given birth to "golden science fiction", but why not?

In fact, although the economy is developed, it is completely different from Europe, the United States, Japan, and China -

"It's the naval battle between the Han Empire and the Goryeo Kingdom in the novel, and the plot of Lu Xun's defeat of Yi Sun-shin."

The scientific and technological background naturally affects the varieties of Korean science fiction fruits. If a science fiction writer is like a fruit tree, and the country where he grows is the soil in which he takes root, then the nutrients in the soil play a decisive role in whether the fruit is sweet or not. The variety of fruit depends on what kind of crops the soil is suitable for. Not caring about space adventures, only focusing on human nature itself has become the most prominent label of Korean science fiction.

In addition, under the long-term dictatorship, science fiction has always been regarded as a popular science tool for children, and real science fiction creation has also struggled.

Except for a few science fiction movies that use science fiction shells to reflect human nature, such as "Snowpiercer", "Hanjiang Monster", and "Invasion of the Ironworms", there are almost no well-known science fiction works in South Korea. Not just in the 1980s, but also in the new millennium.

The stars and the sea will never be the dream of Koreans.

But this writer named Jin Dongxu said that he would introduce his own "space opera"!

Is it just for this plot?

Besides, you are just a small writer, and it’s not like Taro Yamamoto who is the editor-in-chief of Kodansha. You think it’s caused by introduction?

Jin Dongxu seemed to see Fang Minghua's doubts, and he said: "Mr. Fang, please don't doubt my sincerity. I am the second son of Kim Chang-ho, the president of "Korea Daily".

WTF, WTF, WTF

Fang Minghua said several times in his mind: "F*ck".

I couldn’t tell that this silent young man was actually the son of a chaebol!

"In addition, Mr. Fang, if we cause your novel to be serialized, please authorize us to modify some of the plots, with your consent of course." Jin Dongxu added.

shit

Really done it.

But it has nothing to do with me.

Fang Minghua immediately agreed to Jin Dongxu's request.

Of course, the two parties only had a verbal agreement, and the actual signing of the contract would have to wait until Fang Minghua returned to China.

Although you say you are the son of a chaebol, without official authorization, who would believe it?

After talking about the business, the two returned to the hotel, and Fang Minghua returned to his room.

Zhang Xianliang was half lying on the bed looking at his manuscript. Tomorrow was his lecture. When he saw Fang Minghua coming in, he asked curiously.

"Minghua, what is that South Korean looking for you for?"

"They want the long science fiction piece I wrote to be serialized in their country." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Okay, there is another Korean translation."

"It's just nonsense. People in their country don't like to watch science fiction, especially this kind of space opera."

"Then why import it?"

"I guess I was unhappy with some of the plots in the novel." Fang Minghua smiled and briefly recounted some of the plots in the book, making Zhang Xianliang laugh.

"This Jin Dongxu is really interesting."

The next morning, when everyone went to the breakfast room to have breakfast, Fang Minghua met the Japanese writer Akagawa Jiro again.

The two said hello, and Akagawa Jiro sat opposite Fang Minghua with a plate of cereal and a glass of milk.

Fang Minghua still has a good impression of Akagawa Jiro.

Japanese best-selling author, especially good at mystery novels. In the 1970s, he made his debut in the Japanese literary world with his translation of "Ghost Train", which won the Popular Reading Mystery Novel Newcomer Award. From then on, he wrote "Sherlock Holmes", "Three Sisters" and "Gorgeous Detectives". A series of mystery detective novels.

At least he is more famous than Kim Xudong, but to be honest, no one in China pays attention to the Korean literary world.

The two of them chatted in not very fluent English while eating, and soon they came to "My Journey is the Stars and the Sea" written by Fang Minghua while chatting about literature.

"Mr. Fang, I really enjoyed reading your science fiction novel. It was written with great momentum, especially the naval battle between the Han Empire and Goryeo. It was so enjoyable."

Fang Minghua just smiled and said nothing.

He saw Jin Dongxu sitting not far away with an ugly face.

Hey, the little action between these two people

Forget it, it's none of my business, I'm still going to listen to Zhang Xianliang's lecture.

(End of this chapter)