Snake Man - Pan Jiazheng Academician's Science Fiction Works Collection: Pan Jiazheng Academician's Science Fiction Works Collection

Author: Pan Jiazheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Pan Jiazheng, a renowned expert in hydraulic engineering and a member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has dedicated his life to the field of water conservancy. His footsteps have spanned the vast landscapes and towering mountains of China, and he has participated in and led numerous large-scale water conservancy projects that have gained international acclaim. At the age of over seventy, he took a different path, turning to science fiction writing, which was indeed something I had never anticipated. When I faced stacks of manuscripts written in his elegant calligraphy, a sense of astonishment and admiration arose within me. Pan Sir asked me to write a preface for his collection of works, but I truly felt unworthy of the task. Have you not seen that those who write prefaces today are either esteemed authorities or pioneers in their fields. Although I consider myself an avid reader, fiction has always been my favorite genre. From my childhood, when I was captivated by novels like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin, to my middle school years when I extensively read the works of Lu Xun, Ba Jin, and Mao Dun from the May Fourth Movement, as well as Soviet-translated novels after the liberation, I have always read them cover to cover but never gained any artistic insight or developed a passion for writing. This "superficial reading" approach has often been reprimanded by my elders as "reading idle books." From this, it is clear that I am not qualified to write a preface for a novel, let alone a science fiction one. After much hesitation, I finally came up with a relatively honest solution: to share my limited thoughts on science fiction as a "light appetizer" (an entrée in Western cuisine) before the readers dive into the main course. If they find it appealing, they may enjoy a taste; otherwise, they can skip straight to the main content. Although I have never written a novel, as a reader, I deeply understand how challenging it is to craft one. An author must not only possess rich life experience and a sharp, penetrating gaze to understand society and its diverse people but also meticulous planning, a compelling plot, and suspense to keep readers hooked. I believe writing science fiction is even more difficult—it requires not only the general skills of fiction writing and literary craftsmanship but also extensive scientific knowledge and a highly imaginative mind. Thus, it can be said to be a fusion of scientific phenomena and literary art, a crystallization of realism and romanticism. Generally, science is based on facts and experiments, adhering strictly to the deductive logic of mathematics, which often gives it a rigid and dull impression. However, throughout human history, science has sometimes required bold conjectures and hypotheses. Take, for example, the early 20th-century debate over the particle and wave theories of light, or the 1950s' hypothesis of the double helix structure of DNA. Science fiction, on the other hand, goes even further, offering more imaginative space and speculation. The famous French science fiction writer Jules Verne, with his works like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Children of Captain Grant, has captivated generations of students and played an immeasurable role in fostering their spirit of scientific exploration. Of course, science fiction is not the same as fantasy or magical realism, which are purely speculative. For instance, ancient Chinese fantasy novels like The Investiture of the Gods or Hollywood blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings, despite their intricate plots and engaging stories, revolve around non-scientific "mystical forces." I believe such novels and films are generally meant for leisure and relaxation. After a tiring day of work or life, readers can use them to unwind, but if they take them too seriously or try to imitate them, they may easily stray into delusion or the wrong path. In short, science fiction can be seen as a new "compound" formed by arranging the "elements" of science in a "non-conventional order." Its "building blocks" should be rational and scientific, but its development and extrapolation go beyond the conventional norms of current science, being futuristic or even highly imaginative. This is my limited understanding of science fiction, and naturally, the novels written based on this foundation are indeed science fiction. I think it is highly beneficial for cultivating young people's love for science, courage in innovation, and pioneering spirit. And for adult scientists and engineers, why not? As people age, they often become confined to their familiar domains due to accumulated experience in a particular field, and once they step out of the "line," they may feel aimless. Pan Sir is a renowned engineering and technology expert with profound knowledge and a successful career. While continuing to contribute to China's water conservancy projects, he has also a "second front" by writing science fiction and inspiring the younger generation. Is this not a model that all scientists and engineers can emulate?