New Books Network Wu Jianren, "New Story of the Stone: An Early Chinese Science Fiction Novel" (Columbia UP, 2025)
Sep 11, 2025
Liz Evans Weber, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester, discusses her new translation of Wu Jianren's 'New Story of the Stone.' They delve into how Jia Baoyu is transformed from a romantic figure into a politically aware character amid the backdrop of early 20th-century China. Topics include the cultural contradictions of the Boxer Rebellion, the rise of science fiction in literature, and Wu's commentary on societal changes and Western influences—themes that resonate deeply in today's context.
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Wu Jianren's Role In Late Qing Literature
- Wu Jianren wrote widely in late Qing China and used fiction to critique society during a period of intense change.
- His novels blend journalism's eye for gossip with sharp social observation and satirical wit.
Historical Forces Driving Reformist Fiction
- Late Qing China faced demographic strain, corruption, and military defeats that produced urgency for reform.
- Intellectuals debated self-strengthening, constitutional reform, and revolution to save the nation.
Fiction As A Tool For National Reform
- Liang Qichao argued fiction could educate citizens and build national identity after 1902.
- Wu Jianren and peers responded by using novels as instruments of social and political persuasion.
