The literary era since 1979

Chapter 334 Science and Technology is Productive Force

The next day, at the editorial office of People’s Literature.

As soon as Fangyan finished his vacation, he went straight to the editor-in-chief's office with the manuscript of "Science Fiction Technology is Productivity".

Along the way, I heard Lu Shuyou, Yu Deli, Chen Xiaoman, Zhu Wei and others arguing endlessly.

The topic of discussion is naturally "Chinese science fiction literature".

"Is science fiction considered 'science fiction'? Or is it considered 'literature'?"

"I think this review in the newspaper makes a lot of sense. Literature emphasizes thought, literary quality and artistry, while science fiction pursues narrative and imagination. In essence, science fiction cannot be called literature at all."

Lu Shuyou's words immediately attracted the support and echo of Yu Deli, Li Dongbao and others.

"But Director Lu, don't forget that literature is the study of human beings. Great science fiction literature relies on the logic and imagination of science fiction, but its essence is still to make reasonable speculations, profound insights and exquisite displays of human nature, so science fiction literature still belongs to the category of literature."

Chen Xiaoman argued with reason, and Zhu Wei, Wang Fu and others also stood on her side.

The two sides were arguing with each other and the atmosphere was tense. When they saw Fangyan walking through the aisle, they immediately called out to him.

"Iwako!"

"Sister Xiaoman, wait a minute. I'll have a good chat with you guys after I finish reporting to Editor-in-Chief Wang."

Fangyan clasped his hands together and expressed his apology.

Afterwards, I knocked on the door of the editor-in-chief's office and saw Wang Meng smoking a cigarette, puffing out smoke, looking very uncomfortable.

As soon as Fangyan smelled the cigarette, he couldn't help but feel the urge to smoke. He pursed his lips and suppressed his urge.

Wang Meng handed Huazi over, "Want one?"

Fangyan swallowed his saliva and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but forget it, I'm trying to quit smoking now."

Wang Meng cast a scrutinizing look at him, "Quit smoking?"

"Xiaoxiang doesn't like secondhand smoke, it's quite harmful." Fangyan cleared his throat. The real reason was actually "quit smoking and prepare for pregnancy."

Hearing this, Wang Meng put out his cigarette in the ashtray and said, "Yes, from a scientific point of view, smoking hurts others and yourself."

"But then again, we smokers have made a lot of contributions to the country." Fangyan said in a joking tone.

Smoking brings jobs and creates tax revenue. Smokers contribute to both the medical system and national defense.

Smokers are really great!
Serving the country and the people, sacrificing the small self and achieving the big self, he is simply a great benefactor of the country.

"Your perverse logic makes me want to have another one so that I can continue to contribute to the country."

Wang Meng burst into laughter and motioned for him to sit down.

After Fangyan sat down, he handed over the manuscript and said, "Teacher Wang, this is the article I told you about on the phone."

"Have some tea while I take a look."

Wang Meng started browsing, reading aloud as he read.

"An important aspect of transforming science fiction ideas into actual productivity is to promote science fiction to the general public, especially young people, and cultivate a generation with more curiosity, imagination, creativity and a solid scientific foundation."

"The ideas put forward by science fiction creators inspire and promote the development of real scientific research, while technological development and scientific research breakthroughs also provide a continuous source of creative inspiration for science fiction creation."

"..."

"This is a good summary: 'Science fiction is for imagination, but science and technology are for realization.'"

I turned the manuscript back to the first page and couldn't help but sigh: "Interesting, your manuscript is really interesting."

Fang Yan took a sip of tea and said, "Teacher Wang, you are too kind."

"Not at all."

Wang Meng smiled.

In the situation of "spiritual pollution", it was quite bold and daring to dare to write science fiction novels for clients, but at the critical moment, he always had creative thinking and actually thought of combining imagination and productivity, and science fiction literature and science and technology.

Fangyan said: "I am just shouting out when I see injustice."

Wang Meng said: "As a result, you poked a hornet's nest and attracted so many hornets. They have been stinging you every day in the newspaper these days."

"I have a thick skin and I am not afraid of being stung."

Fangyan said, "Besides, I am right, what should I be afraid of!"

Wang Meng appreciated it and said, "What you said makes sense. Then tell me, in which newspaper or magazine will you publish this article?"

Fangyan did not hide the fact, "If it can be published in the People's Daily, that would be the best. If not, then Guangming Daily."

"All right!" Wang Meng said with satisfaction, "It's a pity to put your article in a literary and artistic newspaper. You must put it in a national newspaper and let the scientific and theoretical circles come and discuss it. Maybe this 'spiritual pollution' can..."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "You and I are thinking the same thing."

"You are as smart as a monkey!"

Wang Meng praised, "This way, the benefits will not flow to outsiders. Do you think you can write a science fiction novel for People's Literature?"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"People's Literature" is the hall of Chinese literary journals. If science fiction novels can be published in it, it is tantamount to "People's Literature" giving science fiction literature a legitimate name. It is also Wang Meng and Renwen Press's disguised support for Fang Xiaojiang.

“This is not the first time that People’s Literature has published a science fiction novel.”

Wang Meng said, "As early as 79, we published "Death Light on Coral Island". It was at that time that science fiction entered the fast lane until it encountered this "spiritual pollution".

"It turns out that science fiction literature and People's Literature have such a connection." Fangyan suddenly realized, but he was extremely conflicted.

After all, I had already promised to write a novel for Science Fiction World first.

"Oh?"

Wang Meng was very surprised. "You just went to Chengdu, and you have a new work so soon?"

"The tentative name is Artificial Intelligence."

The dialect introduces the story in a concise and concise manner.

It is about a human couple who adopt a robot boy named "Beibei" who has been programmed with emotions, but the boy is eventually abandoned because he is not human. So Beibei embarks on a journey to find a way to turn the robot into a human.

“It’s a bit like a tadpole looking for its mother.”

Wang Meng raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, it is written specifically for young people and children."

Fang Yan said: "In addition to popular science knowledge, it contains speculations and descriptions of future science and technology, such as mobile phones, new energy vehicles, emotional robots, and artificial intelligence. It also introduces some basic theories and laws of science fiction literature, such as the 'Three Laws of Robotics'."

Wang Meng asked: "What are the three laws of robotics?"

"It was mentioned by the American science fiction writer Asimov in I, Robot."

After Fangyan said the "three laws", he smiled and said: "These three laws shine brightly in science fiction, making 'artificial intelligence' an important topic discussed by scientists and science fiction writers around the world."

Wang Meng said: "Chinese children must not fall behind in the world's cutting-edge science of 'artificial intelligence'."

"There is also the 'uncanny valley' and the 'Fermi paradox'..."

Fangyan gave examples one by one, emphasizing the uncanny valley theory.

When the similarity between robots and humans reaches a certain level, humans will not have any favorable impression of the robots. On the contrary, the more similar the robots are to humans, the more disgusted and fearful they will be. The favorability level will drop to the bottom. It is for this reason that "Beibei" will be abandoned by the human couple due to disgust.

"That makes sense."

Wang Meng said: "The logic is rigorous and seamless. In my opinion, it is better to do this. Although this "Artificial Intelligence" cannot be serialized in "People's Literature", it can be reprinted. "Science Fiction World" should not be so stingy, right?"

"Not really, that's not the case."

The two smiled at each other, and their laughter gradually spread outside the house.

Everyone in the editorial department was stunned and the argument stopped abruptly. Everyone was curious about what Wang Meng and Fang Yan were laughing at.
The answer soon became apparent.

"Science and Technology are Productive Forces" written by Fang Yan was published on the front page of People's Daily.

For a time, a thousand layers of waves were stirred up.

What was originally just a debate in the literary and art circles against science fiction literature has now spread like overflowing water to the scientific and theoretical circles, triggering attention and discussion from all walks of life.

Regarding science fiction literature, science and technology, people either support, oppose, praise or criticize them.

If there were Weibo, Tik Tok and Kuaishou at that time, the dialect would be on the hot search list for at least a week and would be on the headlines every day.

As more and more media outlets got involved, top leaders also noticed this big discussion and invited Hu Muqiao over.

"Xiao Fang, this doll, always brings some unexpected surprises."

"It's really interesting, for example, this 'new quality productivity'." Hu Muqiao said: "The scientific and technological innovation productivity that has broken away from the traditional growth path and meets the requirements of high-quality development..."

“This productivity argument is a must!”

"Also, I think we should stop the 'eliminating spiritual pollution' thing. Without science fiction, how can we ignite children's scientific dreams?"

(End of this chapter)