Sky City

Author: Shi Zhiyuan Su Sheng et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Awarded the Short Story Excellence Award in the First Global Chinese Youth Writing Competition, "A Sky City for Chinese Children"
The sunset by the Glass Lake is beautiful, with the sky filled with red clouds, and islands flying past. Little birds tilt and glide!
This is a brilliant meteor shower in the Cambrian period. Countless meteors, those tall trees, the bat caves on the cliffs, the deep blue sea, lighting up the dorsal fins of fish rising in the sea.
"Pop—" One with fire landed by the Glass Lake, turning into warm dust.
A small flower sprouted from the dust at that moment, so warm that it thought it had reached a sunny spring.
It was stunned by the traces of light in the sky.
The reflection of meteors in the lake awakened sleeping water birds.
They spread their wings and flew into the sky, chasing the trails of the meteors.
This batch of highly unique and individual short stories describes the pain, confusion, and inner insights of growing up from various angles and in various ways, ranging from satire to seriousness, from direct to subtle.
Their themes and styles cover a wide range from "absurd" comedic martial arts to beautiful and melancholic fairy tales; from the fresh and pleasant rural style of Shen Congwen to the postmodern style filled with dense imagery and mysterious synesthesia. The breadth is astonishing, and there are also outstanding works that shine with exceptional talent.
Reading them deeply reveals the author's unparalleled command of language and keen sense.
If these works reflect some of the general characteristics of contemporary youth writing, it is that: they have unique styles and are colorful and diverse.