2005 China Short Stories 100

Author: Wang Jianbing (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The phrase "short and exquisite" in "short and exquisite essays" carries significant weight. Both "short" and "exquisite" are challenging to achieve, as they require brevity and precision. Many clever writers opt for long essays, discussing events, sharing reflections, or narrating processes. As long as the overall structure is well-handled, the success rate remains relatively high. Short poems and short novels are also difficult to write. Many people, aware of this difficulty, turn to writing long novels or long poems, where the clutter and redundancy are less noticeable. This is like wearing a long robe—whatever shortcomings exist inside, whether in the body or the clothes, are concealed. Stage magicians even hide various-sized bottles and jars inside their robes. This makes the robe seem even more magnificent. If the robe is too short, it becomes a short jacket, and a moment's carelessness can reveal something "small," making it even harder to perform tricks. In beauty pageants, contestants often wear swimsuits in one round, allowing imperfections to be exposed and beauty to be showcased. Writers who specialize in short essays face this challenge head-on. However, not everyone overcomes this difficulty and succeeds. Those who do are the wise. Even if they haven't mastered all eighteen martial arts, they have at least practiced in other fields. For example, many skilled writers come from the realms of poetry and fiction. The more such skilled writers there are, the more beneficial it is for the development of essays.
In 2005, the good works that caught the eye may not have been published that year. From the perspectives of appreciation and collection, some are included, creating a wonderful mosaic with the masterpieces of that year. Some of the selected works still feature prominent writers whose works are enduring, enjoyable to read, and reveal their long-term literary prowess and judgment on things.