The literary era since 1979

With the official opening of the award ceremony, the neo-orthodox school and the social reasoning school were forced to end their quarrel and call a truce.

This farce came to a temporary end.

Fangyan originally thought that there would be no unexpected events, but he never expected that an accident would happen as expected.

Keigo Higashino's "Magic Ball" unfortunately failed to win the 30th Edogawa Ranpo Award, losing to Kanano Torii's "Descendants of the Miko".

The story is about a remote mountain village haunted by ghosts. After 23 years, an incredible falling death incident happened again. The surviving man and woman are struggling on the line between life and death while approaching the truth about the "ghosts".

It sounds like a weird novel of the perverse school, but in fact, it is a social mystery novel.

Once again, the social reasoning school defeated the shortlisted new orthodox school and even the orthodox school's works!

The way he eats is so ugly!

Not only Shimada Soji was dissatisfied with the award result, but the orthodox writers were also full of complaints and looked unhappy.

Keigo Higashino sat there in a daze, his eyes empty and his face full of frustration and unwillingness.

I sat there in a daze until the end of the award ceremony, and saw the winning author being surrounded by reporters and editors like the moon surrounded by stars.

Suddenly, Fangyan patted the trembling shoulder.

"Hitsuno-kun."

Suzuki Yoko's tone was full of concern, "Are you okay?"

"It's okay, it's okay, I just feel a little bit disappointed. We were only one step away from winning the award..."

Higashino Keigo forced a smile and said, "Maybe my novel is not good enough to win the Edogawa Ranpo Prize."

"Don't overthink it. Whether you can win the award depends not only on the quality of your work, but also on whether your novel meets the tastes and preferences of the judges this year." Fang Yan said, "In fact, since you have been shortlisted for the finals, you already have the ability to win the Edogawa Ranpo Award."

Higashino Keigo was stunned, "Really?"

“Swoosh.” Suzuki Yoko nodded and consoled him, “Higashino-kun, you just lack some luck.”

Fangyan said nothing and patted Keigo Higashino's shoulder again.

Not to mention the Edogawa Ranpo Prize, even the Nobel Prize is sometimes considered nonsense and a joke.

After all, the Nobel Prize in Physics can be awarded to meteorologists and artificial intelligence. So, does that mean physics no longer exists?

Or is it that the end of physics is computers? Or perhaps the Nobel Prize judges also bought a few shares of artificial intelligence concept stocks?

With the comfort of the two, Higashino Keigo gradually adjusted his mentality and became more energetic:

"Fang Yan-san, is it really what you said?"

"Mr. Fangyan is absolutely right!"

At this moment, Shimada Shoji intervened and walked up to them with a smile.

"Mr. Shimada!" Keigo Higashino saluted politely.

"Higashino-kun, don't be discouraged. I think your novel is definitely worthy of the Edogawa Ranpo Award."

Shimada Soji glanced at him and said, "It's just that due to some off-field factors, he was unfortunately not selected."

Fangyan followed his gaze and everywhere he saw were the social reasoning writers who were serving as judges for this event.

"Think about my book "Astrology Murder Magic", didn't it win any award that year?"

Shimada Shoji smiled coldly, "It seems that not only the new orthodox school, but even the orthodox school don't know how they have offended the judges."

"Cough cough!"

Fangyan pretended to cough. He didn't want to get involved in the dispute between the neo-orthodox school and the social reasoning school.

Soji Shimada was tactful enough not to bring it up again, but instead enthusiastically invited them to Kyoto University.

"Kyoto University?!"

Fangyan and Suzuki Yoko looked at each other. Hashimoto Yui is now teaching at Kyoto University.

Shimada Shoji smiled and said, "Yes, there is a group of passionate young people there who are determined to break the 'Sei-Chang Curse'."

Fangyan gradually realized that although the Japanese mystery community did not give due respect and praise to Shimada Soji's "New Orthodox School".

However, among teenagers, the Mitsubishi series caused quite a stir.

The mystery novel research societies at various universities are all fascinated by Shimada Soji's unique style of fantasy, weirdness and grotesqueness. The mystery society of Kyoto University is not only one of the earliest mystery societies in Japan, but also the base camp of the "new orthodox school".

Soji Shimada is very optimistic about the prospects of this club. He not only serves as an advisor, but also often visits Kyoto University to provide guidance and communication with members.

"I wonder if you would like to go to Kyoto University?"

Shimada Shoji said sincerely, "I believe the students will be very interested in Fang Yan-kun's 'Forensic Reasoning Style'."

"Teacher Fang!"

Yoko Suzuki's eyes were full of anticipation.

"Alright."

Fangyan readily agreed, "Yoko is from Kyoto. Even if Shimada-san doesn't invite us, we will still go to Kyoto."

"Is this true? That's such a coincidence!" Shimada Shoji laughed, "Higashino-kun, what about you?"

Keigo Higashino shook his head, feeling deeply regretful that he was not a full-time writer and had to go back to work and support his family.

Moreover, during the conversation with Fangyan, I had some sudden realizations and vaguely figured out the ideas for my next work.

"Or is it a campus mystery novel?"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows.

Higashino Keigo nodded and said, "I haven't decided on a name yet, so for now it's called After School."

"Go ahead!" Fangyan and Suzuki Yoko encouraged.

"Hi!"

Keigo Higashino was so excited that he blurted out.

Shimada Soji frowned, "Not strong enough, try again."

Fangyan held back his laughter and wanted to say casually, "You want to write a mystery in such a low voice?"

"Hi!" Higashino Keigo raised his voice, "Shimada-san, Fangyan-san, and Yoko-san, I will definitely work hard and continue to move towards the Edogawa Ranpo Award!"

Shimada Shoji said: "Good! Very energetic!"

…………

Kyoto University, Reasoning Club.

Hozuki Ryotaro ran in hurriedly, holding the Yomiuri Shimbun in his hand. "Damn it! This is too much!"

"What's wrong, Rontarou?"

Club members including Agano Takemaru and Ono Fuyumi all focused their attention on him.

"The results of this year's Edogawa Ranpo Award have been announced! Our new orthodox school work was not selected again!"

Ryotaro Hozuki unfolded the newspaper and said, "The winner is still from the social reasoning school!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar and everyone started cursing and venting their dissatisfaction.

"Didn't we expect this to be the result?"

"Yes, as long as the old scholars of the social reasoning school control the jury, the new orthodox school will never have a chance to rise."

"These old guys are stubborn and conservative. They won't accept new things at all!"

"It's just like what the pedestrian said. If we don't defeat the social mystery school, it will be impossible to change the current situation in the mystery novel industry!"

“………”The “Xingren” that everyone was talking about was the president of the Kyoto University Mystery Club and one of the founders of the Shin-orthodox school, Ayatsuji Yukito.

Hozuki Ryutaro looked around. "By the way, where is the pedestrian? Why can't I see any sign of him?"

Ono Fuyumi explained that Shimada Soji had just called and specifically asked for Ayatsuji Yukito.

After a while, a burst of sporadic and hurried footsteps were heard outside the house.

Ayatsuji Yukito opened the door with excitement written all over his face: "Good news! Good news!"

My grandson Takemaru, Ono Fuyumi and the others looked at each other, "Is Mr. Shimada coming to our place?"

Ayatsuji Yukito didn't play dumb and shouted, "There's also Fangyan-san!"

"Fangyan-san? The Fangyan-san from China?"

“That’s him! He’s the dialect-speaking man who wrote “Malice,” “The Ring,” and “The Village Postman”!!”

In an instant, the whole place was boiling, and the just cold atmosphere immediately became hot and noisy.

Ryotaro Hozuki suddenly said, "Wait, wait, Fangyan-san is considered a social reasoning person, right?"

It was like pouring a basin of cold water on a blazing fire, and the crowd who were cheering "Long live" fell silent in an instant.

"They are sworn enemies, so why did Mr. Shimada invite Fangyan-san?" Ryoutaro Hozuki was surprised.

"Fool!"

Ono couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Of course Fangyan-san is not a social reasoning person. He can't even figure out such a simple truth."

Ayatsuji Yukito nodded in agreement, "That's right. We can't classify Fangyan-san as a social reasoning writer just because of Malice. Don't forget that his Ring has some traces of the absurd school." Then he looked around, "And Mr. Shimada said on the phone that Fangyan-san created a school called 'Forensic Reasoning Style', and its concepts and techniques are very suitable for our new orthodox school..."

"Si Guoyi!"

"As expected of a dialect-speaker, he can actually create his own school of reasoning."

"Forensic reasoning? It sounds like a mystery novel with forensics as the main theme and core. It's really exciting."

"........."

There was no prejudice against each other and everyone talked at once. Their words revealed their warm welcome to the dialect.

Ono couldn't help but ask with anticipation: "Xingren, did Mr. Shimada tell you on the phone when Fangyan-san will come to Kyoto?"

"In the next two days." Ayatsuji Yukito clapped his hands, "We should quickly think about how to entertain them."

…………

Two days later, the sky was gloomy and snow was falling like willow catkins.

The cold wind whistled and blew towards Ayatsuji Yukito, Hozuki Ryoutarou and others who were standing at the school gate.

Fortunately, they didn't have to freeze for long, and a taxi carrying Fangyan, Shimada Soji and Suzuki Yoko appeared in front of them.

"This is my grandson Takemaru, a student in the Department of Philosophy in the Faculty of Literature."

"This is Ono Fuyumi..."

"This is Yukito Ayatsuji, the president of the Kyoto University Mystery Club and the founder of the New Orthodox School."

Shimada Soji introduced them one by one, and said proudly: "They are all my disciples too!"

"Nice to meet you."

Fangyan shook hands with everyone one by one. When he shook hands with Ayatsuji Yukito, he smiled and said, "On the way, I heard from Shimada-kun that the real founder of the New Orthodox School is actually you."

Ayatsuji Yukito was stunned for a moment, then bent down and shook his head, repeatedly saying, "I'm not, I didn't."

"pedestrian!"

With a serious face, Shimada Soji said that it was with the official publication of his "The Jukakukan Incident" that the new orthodox mystery was truly established.

That is, 1987, the year when this novel was published, is regarded as the "first year of new orthodox writing."

"No, no, no, without the guidance of Mr. Shimada, I would not be able to complete "The Jukakukan Incident" by myself."

Ayatsuji Yukito waved his hand and said: "The protagonist 'Shimada Kiyoshi' in the book is taken from Mr. Shimada and his character 'Mitarai Kiyoshi'. This is to pay tribute to Mr. Shimada who inspired my new orthodox thought!" Then he bowed respectfully.

“Here it comes again. Here it comes again.”

Shimada Soji reached out and brushed the snow off his disciple's shoulders.

"Arnold, forgive me, I still can't figure it out."

Suzuki Yoko wondered, "Compared to the traditional school, what is the 'new' about the new traditional school?"

"That's a good question!"

Shimada Shoji grinned, "I'm afraid we are the only ones in Japan who can answer this question."

Ayatsuji Yukito, Ono Fuyumi and others were very proud of themselves. As they led Fangyan and the others to the campus, they began to explain seriously.

"We have to go back to the history of reasoning to talk about this."

Shimada Soji said: "Edgar Allan Poe's 'Poe' can be called 'authentic'..."

"In Poe's reasoning, there are fingerprints and blood collection. There must also be hair, dog hair, fragments of insect remains, stones and soil brought by shoes left at the scene. These things are collected as materials for analysis to identify the criminal. These were already included in The Murders in the Rue Morgue in 1841. Poe introduced the latest scientific theories in his work to give a reasonable explanation to the strange phenomena at the scene."

"Conan Doyle inherited this. The Sherlock Holmes he created was a scientist who collected fingerprints and blood at the scene for scientific testing, which is the same as the modern on-site investigation practice."

"Then there came Agatha Christie, a genius writer, and then Van Dine, and the detective story took on a completely different form. The stage was a set place, such as a train or a ship, with established people in the place, and the detective entered from the outside."

"The author makes inferences based on the reader's complete grasp of the material, and then points out the unexpected culprit before the reader does."

"So, there is a clear difference between Van Dine's character and Poe's character."

"This is a game with a set framework, a murder mystery novel in the form of a game, a closed space, a fair supply of materials, an introduction to the characters on the scene at the beginning, the detective comes from the outside, and only uses materials that the reader knows. This is Van Dine's new orthodox approach."

"But this practice has not been introduced to Japan, just like Edgar Allan Poe's orthodox works have not been introduced to Japan."

"It wasn't until nearly 10 years later that I, Yukito, Takemaru and others finally realized this approach in Japanese mystery novels."

"Can I say that the new orthodox school has made some revisions to the orthodox school based on 'Van Dine's orthodox ideas'?"

Suzuki Yoko blinked.

Shimada Soji said: "It can be said that the so-called 'new orthodoxy' should be more accurately called 'new Van Dineism'..."

"Teacher Shimada, I don't think so!"

Ayatsuji Yukito suddenly interrupted and said, "I still hold the same view. The new orthodox reasoning is neither a 'correction' of Edgar Allan Poe's reasoning philosophy nor a complete copy of Van Dine's orthodox reasoning philosophy. Rather, it is a new type of orthodox reasoning that surpasses Edgar Allan Poe and Van Dine in all aspects."

Shimada Soji shook his head and laughed: "Xingren, you are still so extreme."

Seeing that everyone held their own opinions, Suzuki Yoko lowered her voice and said, "Teacher Fang, the more I listen, the more confused I become. Do you understand?"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Maybe it's not that complicated. The orthodox reasoning is to build a secret room first and then kill the person inside, while the new orthodox reasoning is to kill the person first and then build a secret room around the body. The mystery, the murder method, and the murderer are also designed in this order."

The two groups of people who were arguing about who was right and who was wrong turned their eyes over.

Shimada Shoji praised: "Very insightful!"

"As expected of you, you can sum up the essential difference between the traditional and new traditional schools in just one sentence."

Ayatsuji Yukito's fiery eyes were filled with admiration.

"No, no." Fangyan waved his hand.

Ayatsuji Yukito asked, "I wonder what you think of the reasoning principles of the Honkaku school, such as the 'Ten Commandments of Reasoning'?"

"This is another point of disagreement between me and Yukito," said Shimada Shoji, "neither of us can convince the other."

Fangyan smiled and said, "It's not polite to chat in the snow. Why don't you wait until we go inside?" (End of this chapter)