Drug offender

Author: Pan Jiazheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Academician Pan Jiazheng is a renowned Chinese water conservancy technology expert, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He has dedicated his life to the cause of water conservancy, with his footsteps spanning the vast landscapes and towering mountains of his homeland. He has participated in and led numerous large-scale water conservancy projects that have gained fame both domestically and internationally. At the age of over seventy, he took a different path, writing science fiction novels—a fact that truly surprised me. When I faced stacks of manuscripts written in his elegant handwriting, a sense of astonishment and admiration arose within me. Professor Pan asked me to write a preface for his collection of works, but I honestly feel that this is far beyond my capabilities. Have you not seen that those who write prefaces nowadays are either illustrious authorities or pioneers in their respective fields? Although I consider myself an avid reader, novels are certainly my favorite genre. From my childhood, when I was captivated by novels like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin, which celebrate loyalty and heroism, to my middle school years, when I read extensively from the New Literature Movement after the May Fourth Movement, such as the works of Lu Xun, Ba Jin, and Mao Dun, as well as Soviet-translated novels after the liberation, I have always read them cover to cover without gaining any artistic insight or developing a passion for writing. This "superficial reading" approach has often been reprimanded by my elders as "reading idle books." This clearly shows 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 novels as a "light appetizer" (an entrée in Western cuisine) before the readers dive into the main course. If they find it appealing, they can savor it lightly; 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 write one. An author must not only possess rich life experience and a sharp, perceptive gaze to understand society and its diverse people but also meticulous planning, a compelling plot with twists and turns, and suspense to keep readers hooked, making them eager to find out what happens next. I believe that writing science fiction novels is even more difficult, as it requires not only the general creative skills and literary foundation of other novels 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 speaking, science is based on facts and experiments, adhering strictly to the deduction of mathematical logic, which often gives it a rigid and dry impression. However, throughout human history, spanning thousands of years of civilization, science has sometimes required bold hypotheses and assumptions. Take, for example, the early 20th-century debate over the particle theory and wave theory 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 speculative elements. The famous French science fiction author Jules Verne, with his renowned works like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Children of Captain Grant, has captivated generations of middle and high school students, playing an immeasurable role in fostering their spirit of scientific exploration. Of course, science fiction is not the same as fantasy or magical realism, which differ from pure speculation, such as the ancient Chinese fantasy novel The Investiture of the Gods or the American blockbuster The Lord of the Rings. While these works may feature intricate plots and engaging stories, their core revolves around non-scientific "mystical forces." In my view, such novels and films are generally recreational and leisure-oriented. Readers can use them to relax after a stressful workday, but if they take them too seriously or attempt to imitate them, they may easily stray into delusion or go astray. 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, by definition, science fiction. I believe that it is highly beneficial for cultivating young people's love for science, courage in innovation, and pioneering spirit. And for adult scientists and engineers, is it not equally inspiring and motivating?
As people age, they often become confined to their familiar fields due to accumulated experience in a particular area. Once they step out of their "line," they may feel lost and aimless. Professor Pan, as a renowned engineering and technology expert with profound knowledge and a successful career, continues to contribute to China's water conservancy projects while alsoing a "second front" by writing science fiction novels. He uses this to inspire the younger generation—should this not serve as an exemplary model for all scientists and engineers?