r18novel Chapter 100 The True Story of the Editorial Department
Chapter 100 The True Story of the Editorial Department
Chapter 99 The True Story of the Editorial Department
The editorial department of Science Fiction World magazine has been quite lively lately.
The reason was that the novel "The Martian" became a huge hit, which also boosted the sales of the magazine "Science Fiction World".
In recent months, the magazine has averaged over 350,000 copies sold per month.
In an era of declining sales of print media and magazines, Science Fiction World magazine has a kind of beauty that goes against the trend.
Editor-in-Chief Qin Li never expected that a science fiction novel written by a director would be so wonderful and loved by so many readers.
Recently, many of the letters I've received from readers have been asking Zhang Jun how he writes novels, or what other novels he hasn't published yet.
However, along with the novel's popularity, some dissenting voices have also emerged.
For example, some people suspect that the novel "The Martian" was ghostwritten by Zhang Jun, otherwise why would a director write such a wonderful science fiction novel?
Furthermore, the scientific aspects are very rigorous, with few errors. Even the seemingly illogical parts are artistic embellishments made for the sake of the novel's creation.
So the doubt about Zhang Jun is whether he possesses the necessary knowledge. What makes a director think he knows all this?
However, this discussion remained confined to the internet and did not expand, even disappearing altogether. The reason is simple: this novel had academicians and professors from Tsinghua University serving as advisors.
Furthermore, while you say Zhang Jun is a director, don't forget that he didn't graduate from an arts school like the Beijing Film Academy. He's a top student who got into Tsinghua University through the regular college entrance examination, majoring in astronomy.
This provides a source for the knowledge related to astrophysics, since it's quite normal for a top student from the astronomy department of Tsinghua University to understand these things.
This is also the most shocking and incongruous aspect of Zhang Jun's career as a director.
Because the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University has absolutely nothing to do with the profession of director. Even if you said you graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University, people would accept it, since at least you're somewhat related to art.
But the fact is that Zhang Jun has successfully directed three films, fully demonstrating his abilities.
Because he's been so successful as a director, people sometimes overlook the fact that he's not a professionally trained director. So when he presents a science fiction novel, many people subconsciously think it's impossible.
Actually, nothing is impossible. Even liberal arts students can create science fiction novels. They may lack hard science and technical logic, but they can focus on soft science fiction, such as philosophical ideas.
When Liu Cixin was interviewed and asked what he thought of Zhang Jun's science fiction novels, he praised them highly.
"I read the novel. It has a very solid and rigorous writing style, and the story is also very exciting."
He continued, "I think that to create science fiction, one needs to have a certain level of scientific literacy and a rich imagination."
I'm an electrician myself, and I can write science fiction novels too.
That makes sense. No one says that science fiction can only be written by academic luminaries; soaring imagination is the most important thing.
So as the serialization of "The Martian" continued to be a hit, the public gradually accepted the fact that Zhang Jun had scientific literacy and a rich imagination.
Some readers even began to wonder if Zhang Jun, whose main profession is directing, would adapt his novels into films.
The general sentiment online is pessimistic about this issue.
Because text and images are ultimately two different mediums, there are many problems to face when trying to turn an imagined scene into an image.
However, in a previous interview, Zhang Jun stated that he did intend to bring some of his imagined stories to the big screen. It's just that the timing wasn't right, so they remained as written works.
When the time is right, Zhang Jun should be able to turn his story into a movie and bring it to the big screen.
With this hope, Chinese-language films might actually have a science fiction option in the future.
Zhang Jun's move can be seen as laying the groundwork for cultivating a foundation of science fiction movie fans, especially those who didn't have high expectations for Chinese-language science fiction films, are now gradually developing some curiosity.
Next, Zhang Jun can use his written works to prove his imagination and break the stereotype among the general public and science fiction fans that Chinese artists cannot do science fiction.
Another problem facing "The Martian" is the criticism from public intellectuals.
The novel tells the story of the Chinese space agency's landing on Mars to explore the planet, and how astronaut Ma Qiang was left behind on Mars and eventually rescued by a rocket provided by a neighbor in the north.
This story raises a question: what are the doubts about China's space program?
As is well known, compared to the other side of the Pacific and its northern neighbor who inherited the legacy of its elder brother, China's space program is currently very weak.
Other countries landed on the moon decades ago, but China's space program didn't send its first person into space until 2003.
With this level of capability, they still want to explore Mars and even establish a Mars base? Isn't that just wishful thinking?
As a result, the reputation of "The Martian" was affected, and it only scored 6.4 on Douban.
The most upvoted comment below is: "It makes Chinese people have unrealistic fantasies and unable to be down-to-earth."
"The Martian" claims it was wronged, stating that in its original timeline, it topped the Amazon bestseller list and held the number one spot on the New York Times weekly bestseller list for eight consecutive weeks.
Why is my reputation so bad now that I've changed nationalities and the main character?
Zhang Jun also expressed his helplessness. He did not expect that he could avoid the accusations of ghostwriting, but he could not avoid the trouble of public intellectuals using the novel to attack China's aerospace industry.
The space agency was also helpless; I had worked hard and diligently to arrange space missions and plans.
How come a novel suddenly appeared, and these people are using it to attack me? What kind of logic is that?
Fortunately, the space agency remained calm; they were used to being attacked and didn't really care. However, the novel "The Martian" began circulating within the agency, and many professionals had read it.
Even relevant leaders have read the novel and exchanged opinions with Academician Zhao, who guided its creation.
And that's how Zhang Jun's name came to the ears of the leaders of the relevant aerospace departments, who became interested in him.
The leaders weren't upset that Zhang Jun wrote a novel that led to the attacks; rather, they thought the novel was really well-written and felt it was a pity that Zhang Jun had gone on to become a director.
This guy is a real talent!
Regardless, "The Martian" has become one of the most talked-about Chinese science fiction novels due to its topicality, at least making a name for itself.
More importantly, this novel has also attracted attention abroad.
Science fiction magazines from Singapore and Japan quickly sent representatives to contact *Science Fiction World*.
After obtaining Zhang Jun's consent, the magazine collaborated with science fiction magazines in Singapore and Japan.
In May, the first English version of "The Martian" was officially released in Singapore. The Japanese version followed closely behind, being released in early June and generating a tremendous response.
However, overseas audiences pay more attention to the works themselves, and not so much to Zhang Jun, the author.
Science Fiction World magazine also plans to contact magazines in Europe and the United States to introduce The Martian to science fiction fans around the world.
For Zhang Jun, this is a good thing.
The greater his fame, the less likely his works are to be plagiarized or borrowed.
When the copyright is in his hands, he can decide whether to film it himself or sell it.
Because the magazine sold well, the editorial department was also praised, and everyone was in high spirits and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
No, it's because Zhang Jun's new movie is about to be released, and Qin Li specially prepared a treat for him.
"Listen up, everyone! You've all worked so hard lately. To reward you all, we're going to see a movie together, and nobody's allowed to miss it!"
One editor asked, "Editor-in-chief, what movie are we going to see?"
Qin Li said, "Reign of Assassins, a movie directed by Teacher Zhang. He wrote The Martian, which boosted our magazine's sales so much, so naturally we have to support it."
Jia Si raised her hand and said, "I watched the trailer and behind-the-scenes footage, as well as the media reports after the premiere. I heard it's very good."
The editors had no objections; it wasn't their own money, and it was Zhang Jun's movie. They'd heard his movies were all pretty good, so going to see one wouldn't hurt.
The best movie theater nearby, showing at 4:30 pm.
The editorial staff of Science Fiction World, numbering around twenty, had booked all the best seats in the middle rows. Qin Li sat in the middle of the sixth row, flanked by Jia Si and Lao Zhang.
The air conditioning in the screening room was blasting; someone who had just come in from the 30-degree Celsius weather outside couldn't help but shiver.
"The movie theater is still the most comfortable place."
Jia Si placed the popcorn bucket in the cup holder on the armrest: "This air conditioning is much better than the crappy air conditioner in the office."
Old Zhang pushed up his glasses: "Once the magazine's sales pick up a bit more, I'll apply to get a new air conditioner for the editorial department."
"That depends on whether we can produce better works, like 'The Martian'," Qin Li said with a smile.
The lights dimmed, and the patch panel installation began.
It's a bug in Motorola's new phone. The scene shows the male and female protagonists sending text messages on their phones, with Jay Chou's song playing in the background.
"This photo of GG is really awkward," a young editor in the back row muttered quietly.
"Bear with it, the main feature is coming up soon."
When the dragon emblem appeared, the theater fell silent.
Qin Li adjusted her posture, took off her glasses, wiped them, and put them back on. She wasn't really a fan of martial arts films; she preferred romance, science fiction, and suspense.
But today, when I watch "Reign of Assassins," besides supporting Zhang Jun, I'm mostly just curious.
What would it be like for a director who can write hard science fiction like "The Martian" to make a period martial arts film?
The ink-wash animation at the beginning of the film has a very high-quality feel.
The logo of Guanzhi Pictures is a wooden door that is slowly pushed open, with warm light shining from behind it; the red Great Wall logo of China Film Group is solemn and grand.
Iogo for Zhang Jun's personal studio is simple: a seal with the two characters "Zhang Jun" in seal script.
Then the title appeared, "Reign of Assassins," the two characters emerging from the rain, the ink blurring as if wet by the rain. Some adjustments had been made compared to the film shown at the premiere.
The main feature begins.
Rainy night, alleyway, assassination.
Qin Li slowly sat up straight, her body initially relaxed.
She's not an action movie enthusiast, but the pacing and camerawork of the opening fight scene were so impressive that even a layman like her could tell it was high-quality.
Each shot gives the audience ample time to see the action clearly, yet it doesn't drag. It's fast enough to take your breath away when it needs to be fast, and slow enough to capture the subtle changes in the characters' eyes when it needs to be slow.
Although Qin Li doesn't understand film technology, she can feel the rhythm.
Just like reading a good novel, the pacing of the plot is just right, neither too fast nor too slow, allowing you to keep up without getting bored.
When Xi Yu appeared, Qin Li let out a soft "whoosh".
A light rain fell as someone walked from the end of the alleyway with an oil-paper umbrella. Although they were not walking fast, there was a sense of oppression that made it hard to breathe.
Dressed in black, with a black umbrella, only his face was white, he looked like a blade slicing through the darkness of the rainy night.
Next, Qin Li forgot that she was watching a movie.
Xi Yu didn't even lower her umbrella; a slender sword sprang from its ribs, its flash so fast it was just a blur. The five men in black fell to the ground almost simultaneously, each with a small wound on their throat, blood mingling with the rain.
The entire assassination was clean, cold, and without a single unnecessary movement.
"Handsome—" Jia Si couldn't help but say.
Qin Li nodded subconsciously; this scene was meticulously crafted. There wasn't a single line of dialogue, yet the character's ruthlessness and composure were already established.
"That's the difference between text and images," Qin Li thought to herself.
She was used to reading written descriptions in magazines, but seeing a director use cinematic language to create characters was still very different.
The same scene might require an entire paragraph of description in writing. But in a movie, a few shots, a few dozen seconds, and the characters are brought to life.
The film slows down as it moves into the Jiangnan town section.
Qin Li watched Zeng Jing and Jiang Asheng borrow and return umbrellas on the screen, cook together, and eat a simple dinner in the old house's kitchen.
The firelight from the stove reflected on my face, the fumes from cooking, the clinking of bowls and chopsticks during meals—every detail felt so real.
She suddenly remembered the descriptions in "The Martian" of Ma Qiang planting potatoes and repairing equipment at the Martian base.
Zhang Jun seems to be particularly good at capturing these everyday details, able to bring out the quality in the most ordinary things.
"This person is very observant of life," Qin Li said to Jia Si.
Jia Si nodded: "That's why the details in 'The Martian' are so realistic. Growing potatoes requires calculating the amount of sunlight, and repairing equipment requires understanding the principles—it's not just something you imagine."
The movie was excellent; both the action scenes and the dramatic scenes captivated the audience in the theater, making it a very enjoyable watch.
When the movie ended, the audience began to get up one after another, but many people remained seated, including Qin Li.
She sat in her seat, watching the credits roll, her mind still replaying scenes from the movie. She'd long since finished her popcorn, the empty bucket resting on the armrest, but she didn't pay it any mind.
"How is it?" Jia Si nudged her arm.
Qin Li snapped out of her daze and blinked: "————Beautiful."
Old Zhang took off his glasses and wiped them: "This art design, this cinematic language—Teacher Zhang's filmmaking style is the same as his novel writing style, with solid attention to detail."
"Yes, it's solid."
Qin Li found the right words: "No showing off skills, no sentimentality, just honestly telling the story well and making the characters believable."
The editors began to leave, discussing the matter in small groups.
As Qin Li stepped out of the theater, she squinted slightly, blinded by the bright corridor lights. It was already night outside, and neon lights streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the cinema lobby, illuminating the marble floor in a kaleidoscope of colors.
"Let's go eat."
She greeted everyone, "I've booked a Sichuan restaurant; the editorial department is having a get-together today."
Inside the private room of the Sichuan restaurant, two large round tables were packed with people.
Before all the dishes were served, the editors had already started chatting, naturally about the movie "Reign of Assassins" that they had just finished watching.
"My favorite scene is the kitchen scene."
One female editor said, "The scene where they pulled out the wrong beard was so realistic and lifelike."
"I prefer the final battle at the pagoda."
The young male editor's eyes lit up: "The direction, the editing, the action choreography in the film are amazing!"
Old Zhang took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Have you noticed that Teacher Zhang has a particular characteristic when filming?"
No matter the type, he can find the core of that type and then perfect that core.
"Little Miss Sunshine" is a heartwarming family story, "About Time" is a romantic fantasy, "Sherlock on the Plains" is a rural comedy, and this "Reign of Assassins" is a martial arts film.
He grasped the core of martial arts films, but presented it in a very modern way.
Qin Li nodded: "That's why he can film anything convincingly, without anything coming out as a mishmash."
"That's probably why he's able to write science fiction."
Jia Si continued: "What is the core of science fiction? It is the imagination of the future, the thinking about technology, and the concern for the fate of mankind."
The Martian has captured the core of science fiction.
Survival of an individual in extreme environments; human solidarity and cooperation in the face of crisis.
The dishes were served one after another: boiled fish, spicy blood curd, sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce, and spicy chicken—the aroma of chili oil filled the entire private room.
As everyone ate and chatted, the topic gradually shifted from "Reign of Assassins" to Zhang Jun himself.
"Do you think Professor Zhang will ever make science fiction movies in the future?" a young editor asked.
After these words were spoken, the table fell silent for a few seconds.
Qin Li picked up a piece of boiled fish and stirred it in the bowl: "He definitely wanted to make a film, otherwise he wouldn't have written 'The Martian'."
"But science fiction movies are hard to make."
Old Zhang said, "Special effects cost money, scientific advisors need to be hired, and the world-building needs to be done—it's much more difficult than making a martial arts film."
"
"It's only because it's difficult that we need to film it."
Jia Si's eyes lit up: "Just imagine, if Teacher Zhang applied that same dedication he showed when making 'Reign of Assassins,' that grasp of the 'core' of genre films, to science fiction, what would the result be?"
The editors all imagined it.
They had all seen "The Martian," some more than once.
The scenes in the novel—the Martian sandstorms, the construction of the habitat, the details of planting potatoes, the tension of the final rescue—if they were presented as a film—
"That must cost a fortune!" someone exclaimed.
Money is not a problem.
Qin Li put down her chopsticks: "The problem is technology. Are there any companies in China that can do this kind of special effects?"
I heard that the special effects for "Reign of Assassins" were all done by a Hong Kong company.
"But someone has to try."
Jia Si said passionately, "If you don't try, you'll never have it."
Just like with "Reign of Assassins," if Mr. Cheung hadn't tried making martial arts films, we wouldn't be able to see such wonderful movies today.
That makes sense.
Qin Li recalled the scene from the movie she had just watched.
The exquisite fight choreography, the meticulous art direction, and the solid character development—all of these are built upon the director's profound understanding and mastery of the genre.
What if this kind of control were applied to science fiction films?
She suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.
However, Qin Li knew that it would take time, accumulation, and the support of the entire industrial system.
But she looks forward to that possibility: what would happen if a director who can write hard science fiction novels and make excellent genre films really took on the challenge of making Chinese science fiction films?
"Come on, everyone, let's raise our glasses."
Qin Li raised her beer glass: "First, to celebrate the record-breaking sales of 'Science Fiction World'. Second, to wish 'Reign of Assassins' great box office success in advance."
third----"
She paused, then smiled and said, "Thirdly, I hope that one day we can see Professor Zhang's science fiction movies in theaters."
"Cheers!"
Twenty-odd glasses clinked together, beer foam splashing out and shimmering under the light.
With this wonderful anticipation, the editors in the editorial department enjoyed a delicious dinner.