Winners of the 14th Annual Xingyun Awards for Chinese Science Fiction

The 14th annual Xingyun Awards for Chinese science fiction were presented May 13. The ceremony was held in a hotel by the Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, Sichuan, China.

BEST NOVEL 2022

  • Once Upon a Time in Nanjing, by Tianrui Shuofu (China Citic Press)

Other finalists:

  • The Parallel Mountain Town of Tang Empire, by Liang Qingsan (People’s Literature Publishing House / Eight Light Minutes)
  • The Red Stone, by Jiang Bo (Sichuan Science & Technology Publishing House / Science Fiction World)
  • The Apocalypse, by Yan Leisheng (New Star Press / Eight Light Minutes)

BEST NOVELLA 2022

  • “The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life”, by Zhou Wen (Non-exist SF, March 2022)

Other finalists:

  • Bian He and the Jade, by Dong Xinyuan (SCIFIDEA)
  • “Descartes’ Demon”, by Fenxing Chengzi (Nebula Ⅻ)
  • “The Tower”, by Yang Wanqing (Nebula Ⅻ)

BEST SHORT STORY 2022

  • “The Stars without Dream”, by Chi Hui (The Stars without Dream)

Other finalists:

  • “Running Away from Evening Glow”, by A Que (wlkhds.com)
  • “How to Review a Paper Created by Five Senses”, by Shuang Chimu (Harvest, Issue 4 2022)
  • “A Record of Lost Time”, by Regina Kanyu Wang (Harvest, Issue 3 2022)

BEST TRANSLATED WORK 2022

  •  If We Can’t Go at the Speed of Light (collection), by Kim Cho-Yeol (Korea); translated by Chun Xi (Sichuan Science & Technology Publishing House / Science Fiction World)

Other finalists:

  • “Good Hunting”, by Ken Liu; translated by Xue Bai (Good Hunting)
  • The Stars are Cold Toys, by Sergei Lukyanenko (Russia); translated by Xiao Chuzhou (New Star Press / Eight Light Minutes)
  • The Found and the Lost (collection), by Ursula Le Guin; translated by Zhou Huaming, Hu Shaoyan, Regina Kanyu Wang, Chen Qiufan, Hu Xiaoshi, Jiang Bo, Li Te, Yao Renjie, Mu Ming, San Feng (Henan literature & Art Publishing House / Imaginist)

BEST NON-FICTION 2022

  • History of Chinese Science Fiction in the 20th Century, by Wu Yan, Jia Liyuan, Ren Dongmei, Xiao Han, Jiang Zhenyu, Wang Yao (Peking University Press)

Other finalists:

  • The Transformation of Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction, by Zhan Ling (China Social Sciences Press)
  •  “A Decade of Science Fiction”, by Li Guangyi (Fourty-two Histories)
  • “Technology as the Way, Silkpunk as an Antidote”, by Jin Xueni (SF Research Newsletter, 2(1) 2022)

BEST REVIEW 2022

  • “Contemporary Science Fiction as Oxygen for Scientists’ Brain: A review of The Pillars of a Great Power”, by Yao Lifen (Science Popularization Times, 24 June 2022)

Other finalists:

  • “The Chaos of Digital World: Thoughts on Writing about Artificial Intelligence – A Review of Martha Wells’ Killer Robots Series”, by HeavenDuke (Nebula SF Review, March 2022)
  • “Lukyanenko: The Interstellar Spiral in the Science Fiction of Soviet Russia”, by Hai Ke (Eight Light Minutes Culture, August 2022)
  • “The Four Don’ts and the Three Laws: Philosophical Reflections of the East and the West in Shuang Chimu’s Science Fiction”, by Guo Wei (Literature and Art Newspaper, 28 March 2022)

BEST NEW WRITER 2020-2022

  • Tianrui Shuofu

Other finalists:

  • Dong Xinyuan
  • Lu Hang
  • Qi Ran

BEIDOU MEDAL FOR PROMOTING SF

  • Gan Weikang

[Thanks to Feng Zhang and the World Chinese Science Fiction Association for the story.]

Finalists of 14th Annual Xingyun Awards for Chinese Science Fiction

Finalists for the 14th annual Xingyun Awards for Chinese science fiction have been announced by the World Chinese Science Fiction Association. Winners will be revealed at a ceremony to be held in Guanghan, Sichuan, China on May 13.

BEST NOVEL 2022

  • The Parallel Mountain Town of Tang Empire, by Liang Qingsan (People’s Literature Publishing House / Eight Light Minutes)
  • The Red Stone, by Jiang Bo (Sichuan Science & Technology Publishing House / Science Fiction World)
  • The Apocalypse, by Yan Leisheng (New Star Press / Eight Light Minutes)
  • Once Upon a Time in Nanjing, by Tianrui Shuofu (China Citic Press)

BEST NOVELLA 2022

  • Bian He and the Jade, by Dong Xinyuan (SCIFIDEA)
  • “Descartes’ Demon”, by Fenxing Chengzi (Nebula Ⅻ)
  • “The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life”, by Zhou Wen (Non-exist SF, March 2022)
  • “The Tower”, by Yang Wanqing (Nebula Ⅻ)

BEST SHORT STORY 2022

  • “The Stars without Dream”, by Chi Hui (The Stars without Dream)
  • “Running Away from Evening Glow”, by A Que (wlkhds.com)
  • “How to Review a Paper Created by Five Senses”, by Shuang Chimu (Harvest, Issue 4 2022)
  • “A Record of Lost Time”, by Regina Kanyu Wang (Harvest, Issue 3 2022)

BEST TRANSLATED WORK 2022

  • If We Can’t Go at the Speed of Light (collection), by Kim Cho-Yeol (Korea); translated by Chun Xi (Sichuan Science & Technology Publishing House / Science Fiction World)
  • “Good Hunting”, by Ken Liu; translated by Xue Bai (Good Hunting)
  • The Stars are Cold Toys, by Sergei Lukyanenko (Russia); translated by Xiao Chuzhou (New Star Press / Eight Light Minutes)
  • The Found and the Lost (collection), by Ursula Le Guin; translated by Zhou Huaming, Hu Shaoyan, Regina Kanyu Wang, Chen Qiufan, Hu Xiaoshi, Jiang Bo, Li Te, Yao Renjie, Mu Ming, San Feng (Henan literature & Art Publishing House / Imaginist)

BEST NON-FICTION 2022

  • The Transformation of Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction, by Zhan Ling (China Social Sciences Press)
  • History of Chinese Science Fiction in the 20th Century, by Wu Yan, Jia Liyuan, Ren Dongmei, Xiao Han, Jiang Zhenyu, Wang Yao (Peking University Press)
  • “A Decade of Science Fiction”, by Li Guangyi (Fourty-two Histories)
  • “Technology as the Way, Silkpunk as an Antidote”, by Jin Xueni (SF Research Newsletter, 2(1) 2022)

BEST REVIEW 2022

  • “Contemporary Science Fiction as Oxygen for Scientists’ Brain: A review of The Pillars of a Great Power”, by Yao Lifen (Science Popularization Times, 24 June 2022)
  • “The Chaos of Digital World: Thoughts on Writing about Artificial Intelligence – A Review of Martha Wells’ Killer Robots Series”, by HeavenDuke (Nebula SF Review, March 2022)
  • “Lukyanenko: The Interstellar Spiral in the Science Fiction of Soviet Russia”, by Hai Ke (Eight Light Minutes Culture, August 2022)
  • “The Four Don’ts and the Three Laws: Philosophical Reflections of the East and the West in Shuang Chimu’s Science Fiction”, by Guo Wei (Literature and Art Newspaper, 28 March 2022)

BEST NEW WRITER 2020-2022

  • Dong Xinyuan
  • Lu Hang
  • Qi Ran
  • Tianrui Shuofu

[Thanks to Feng Zhang and the World Chinese Science Fiction Association for the story.]

13th Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction

Chinese writer Liang Qingsan makes his acceptance speech via video link for best novel at the 13th Chinese Nebula Awards held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Dec. 10, 2022. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

The winners of the 13th Xingyun Nebula Awards for Chinese Science Fiction were revealed at a ceremony held December 10 in Chengdu.

BEST NOVEL

  • The New New Newspaper Press: Shadow of the Enchanted Metropolis, by Liang Qingsan (New Star Press)

BEST NOVELLA

  • “The Eye of Saishiteng”, by Wanxiang Fengnian (The Eye of Saishiteng: A Collection of the 4th Lenghu Award Winning Stories)

BEST SHORT STORY

  • “Lunar Bank”, by Liang Ling (Lunar Bank)

BEST TRANSLATED WORK

  • Star Maker, by William Olaf Stapledon, translated by Baoshu (Sichuan Science and Technology Press)

BEST NEW WRITER (2019-2021)

  • Lu Ban

(Note: the results in two other Xingyun categories, Best Non-Fiction and Best Review, were not reported by China.org.cn.)

Also presented was the inaugural Star Bridge Award which recognizes those who contribute to the international promotion of Chinese sci-fi literature. It went to the team of Chinese and foreign publishers and translators — including Nozomi Omori and Yao Haijun — who helped promote the Hugo Award-winning novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin internationally, in particular for their promotion of the Japanese edition.

Another addition this year was the Best Science Fiction Game Idea award, which was given to Planet: Reboot by MMC Society.

The awards ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in Guanghan, Sichuan province in November, however, Covid-19 outbreaks delayed the awards several times, and led the organizers to finally change location, and resulted in several winners participating via video link.

[Thanks to Feng Zhang and the World Chinese Science Fiction Association for the translations of the story titles.]

Finalists for the 13th Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction

Example of Xingyun Award trophy from 2021

The finalists for the 13th Xingyun (Nebula) Awards for Chinese Science Fiction have been announced by the World Chinese Science Fiction Society. The winners of this juried award will be revealed at  the Xingyun Weekend to be held in November 2022.

BEST NOVEL

  • The Times of Great Antiquity, by Su Xuejun (China Broadcast, Film & Television Publishing House)
  • Reset, by Qidaojun (Qingdao Publishing House)
  • Secrets of the Lost Town, by Qi Yue (People’s Literature Publishing House)
  • The New New Newspaper Press: Shadow of the Enchanted Metropolis, by Liang Qingsan (New Star Press)
  • Travel with My Dear Android, by A Que (Aviation Industry Press)

BEST NOVELLA

  • “The Silence of Ever-Peace”, by Liang Qingsan (The Silence of Ever-Peace)
  • “A Letter to the Other World”, by Wang Yuan (Nebula XI: A Letter to the Other World)
  • “The Eye of Saishiteng”, by Wanxiang Fengnian (The Eye of Saishiteng: A Collection of the 4th Lenghu Award Winning Stories)
  • Alea Iacta Est, by Xiao Xinghan (Baihua Literary & Art Press)
  • “The Candle Shadow Killer”, by Zhao Lei (Non-Existing SF WeChat Account, October 2021)

BEST SHORT STORY

  • “2039: The Era of Brain-Computer Interface”, (Science Fiction World, November 2021)
  • “Sky Towards”, by Wanxiang Fengnian, (Galaxy’s Edge 008: Sky Towards)
  • “Hummingbirds were Stopping over Honeysuckle Flowers”, by Yang Wanqing (Science Fiction World, April 2021)
  • “The Man Who Fought against Time”, by Pan Haitian (The Eye of Saishiteng: A Collection of the 4th Lenghu Award Winning Stories)
  • “Lunar Bank”, by Liang Ling (Lunar Bank)

BEST TRANSLATED WORK

  • Zima Blue and Other Stories, by Alastair Reynolds, translated by Chen Qiufan, Liu Huiying (Hunan Literature & Art Publishing House)
  • Solaris, by Stanisław Lem, translated by Jing Zhenzhong (Yilin Press)
  • Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, translated by Geng Hui (Yilin Press)
  • Inherit the Stars, by James P. Hogan, translated by Qiu Chunhui (New Star Press)
  • Star Maker, by William Olaf Stapledon, translated by Baoshu (Sichuan Science and Technology Press)

BEST NON-FICTION

  • Modernity and the Unknown:Research on Late Qing Science Fiction, by Jia Liyuan (Peking University Press)
  • A Study of Beijing SF Gaming Industry, by Liu Yukun & Yao Lifen (Beijing SF Industry Development Research)
  • “Chronicles of Collegiate SF Societies: In Search of Lost Memories of the Early SF Communities”, by He Liu (GCores.com, October 13, 2021)
  • “Workshop Report on ‘Sci-Fi China: Avatars, Aliens & Anthropos’”, by Regina Kanyu Wang (42 History WeChat Account, April 29, 2021)
  • “Science Fiction as Method: Parallel Universes Crossed”, by Song Mingwei (Foreign Literature & Arts, June 2021)

BEST REVIEW

  • “What do We Expect When We Read Fantastic Literature? Notes on Reading Sunlight Trilogy”, by Regina Kanyu Wang (New Star Press WeChat Account, September 9, 2021)
  • “Retro-futurism and Steampunk: The Postmodernist Parody in The Difference Engine”, by Lyu Guangzhao (Inquiry and Criticism, No. 4).
  • “The Love for Science Fiction, the Profoundness of Meditation: A Review of Meditations on Chinese Science Fiction Literature: Wu Yan’s Self-selected Academic Works”, by Guo Wei (Popular Science Times, January 15, 2021)
  • “The Person who Forgot Worries”, by Li Guangyi (Dushu, February 2021)
  • “Conversations on Chinese Feminist Science Fiction Literature”, by Yao Haijun, Zhao Haihong & Cheng Jingbo (She – A Collection of the Classic Works of Chinese Female Science Fiction Writers)

BEST NEW WRITER (2019-2021)

  • Fenxing Chengzi
  • Liu Qi
  • Lu Ban
  • Tian Rui Shuo Fu
  • Wei Mo

[Thanks to Feng Zhang and the World Chinese Science Fiction Association for the story.]

2021 Xingyun Awards for Chinese Science Fiction

Cover of Best Novel winner Across the Rings of Saturn by Xie Yunning

Winners of the 12th Chinese Nebula (Xingyun) Awards for Chinese SF in 2020 were announced on October 23 at a ceremony held in Chongqing, China.

BEST NOVEL

Winner (Golden Award):

  • Across the Rings of Saturn, by Xie Yunning

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • The End of the Silver Age, by Qi Yue
  • Chongqing Labyrinths: Strange Events in the Mist, by Earl E
  • Seven States of Galaxy Saga: The Phantom of Haojing, by Bao Shu & A Que
  • The Little Mushroom Man, by Yishisi Zhou

BEST NOVELLA

Winner (Golden Award):

  • “The Persons who are Trapped in Time”, by Cheng Jingbo

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • “The Curse of Einstein”, by Hui Hu
  • “The Colorless Green”, by Lu Qiucha
  • “The Years of Our Invisibility Shield”, by Teng Ye
  • “A Mountain of Dust”, by Wanxiang Fengnian

BEST SHORT STORY

Winner (Golden Award):

  • “Preface to the Reprint Edition of ‘Overture 2181’”, by Gu Shi

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • “Synecdoche, Chongqing”, by Duan Ziqi
  • “Operation Spring Dawn”, by Mo Xiong
  • “My Lover is not Human”, by Chen Qian
  • “The New Year Gifts”, by Han Song

BEST TRANSLATED WORK

Winner (Golden Award):

  • Alternate Worlds: The Illustrated History of Science Fiction, James Gunn, translated by Jiang Qian

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • The Search for Philip K.Dick, Anne R Dick. Translated by Jin Xueni
  • Steel Beach, John Varley. Translated by Qiu Chunhui
  • A Scanner Darkly, Philip K. Dick. Translated by Yu Juanjuan
  • Astounding: John W.Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A.Heinlein, L.Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction,  Alec Nevala-Lee. Translated by Sun Yanan

BEST NON-FICTION

Winner (Golden Award):

No Award

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • “Science Fiction and High Concept Films”, by Zheng Jun
  • “The Settings and the Network of Settings in Science Fiction Writing”, by Liu Yang
  • “What do ‘The Wandering Earth’ and ‘The Man from Earth’ have in common other than Earth, or What on Earth is Science Fiction?”, by Xi Xia
  • “Marxism and Science Fiction”, by Fu Changyi
  • “Science Fiction between 1949-1966: The Speed of China, from Fantasy to Reality”, by Xiao Han

BEST REVIEW

Winner (Golden Award):

  • “Anyone can Imagine an Airplane, but Only a Science Fiction Writer Can Imagine the Flight Mileage Cards: Review of ‘Store of the Worlds’”, by Jiang Zhenyu

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • “‘The Snow of Jinyang’: Silkpunk and Retro-futurism”, by Lyu Guangzhao
  • “The Engineer’s Mind in Science Fiction Writing: Review of ‘The Möbius Space’”, by Sanfeng
  • “The Force of Science Fiction: Preface to the Chinese Edition of ‘Alternate Worlds: The Illustrated History of Science Fiction’”, by Liu Cixin
  • “In the Land of Wandering Ghosts: Rereading Han Song’s ‘The Hospital’”, by Zhong Tianyi

BEST NEW WRITER (2018-2020)

Winner (Golden Award):

  • Duan Ziqi

Other finalists (Silver Award)

  • Bai Bi
  • Fenxing Chengzi
  • Su Wanwen
  • Zhao Lei

[Thanks to Feng Zhang for the press release.]

2020 Xingyun Awards for Chinese Science Fiction Winners Announced

The eleventh annual Xingyun Awards for Chinese Science Fiction were presented by the World Chinese Science Fiction Association on April 24, 2021. The ceremony was held in Lingshui, Hainan Province. Due to Covid-19, the award ceremony was postponed from November 2020 to April 2021.

BEST NOVEL

  • WINNER: The Stars, Qi Yue

Other finalists

  • Memory Deviation, Wu Chu
  • The Cosmic Egg, Wang Jinkang
  • A Voyager in the Sea of Stars, A Que

BEST NOVELLA

  • WINNER: “Astronomical Priests”, Baoshu

Other finalists

  • “Host”, Cheng Jingbo
  • “The Algorithms for Life”, Chen Qiufan
  • “Forget-Me-Not”, A Que

BEST SHORT STORY

  • WINNER: “In This Moment, We are Happy”, Chen Qiufan

Other finalists

  • “The Man Who Recedes into the Past”, Baoshu
  • “Seventeen Years”, Bai Bi
  • “The Personification Algorithm”, Yang Wanqing

BEST NON-FICTION

  • WINNER: Cognitive Estrangement: Study of Science Fiction by H.G. Wells, Li Chan

Other finalists

  • “’Materials’ and ‘Devices’ in Science Fiction: A case study of Tower of Babylon and Folding Beijing”, Fei Dao
  • “Relic, Mirage and Future-land: The positioning of contemporary science fiction”, Dai Jinhua
  • “I Have Run into this Galaxy Before: Reading Galaxy Edge No.4”, Jiang Zhenyu

BEST TRANSLATED FICTION

  • WINNER: Central Station, Lavie Tidhar, translated by Chen Yang

Other finalists

  • Dragon’s Egg, Robert L. Forward, translated by Kuan Yuan
  • “Magician”, Satoru Ogawa, translated by Ding Dingchong
  • Marrow, Robert Reed, translated by Jia Ye

BEST ARTWORK

  • WINNER: Cover of Science Fiction World Translation 6/19, Wu Wei

Other finalists

  • Cover of The Listener, Butu
  • Cover of Cat Country, Guangyuan
  • Illustration of Dark Forest in Illustration Collection of the Three-body Problem, Techism-Heyuan

BEST NEW WRITER (2017-2019)

  • WINNER: Mu Ming

Other finalists

  • Wang Nuonuo
  • Fenxing Chengzi
  • Wu Chu
  • Zhao Lei

[Based on a press release.]

Liu Cixin Wins A Chinese Nebula Award

Liu Cixin, author of the “Three-Body” trilogy, won the “Best Achievement Award” during the 2015 Xingyun (“Nebula”) Awards for Global Chinese Science Fiction in Chengdu City on October 18.

More than 40,000 readers voted for the 12 prizes given during this year’s Xingyun Award. The ceremony was attended by over 1,000 science fiction writers and readers, both from China and abroad.

The only other winner announced by China’s English-language news services was for the best screenplay for a science fiction film.

This was awarded to “Mist,” which was written by Wang Kanyu and Wu Shuang, according to Dong Renwei, a science fiction writer and one of the founders of the Xingyun Award.

The annual award, created in 2010, is given by the World Chinese Science Fiction Association. It is the only award for Chinese-language science fiction works and writers that recognizes achievements regardless of place of publication.

The 2015 Xingyun Awards nominees in all 12 categories were posted by Amazing Stories in August. Interestingly, Best Achievement, the category just won by Liu Cixin, was not among the 12. Was this an extra honor inspired by the author’s Hugo win?