October Collection: Orange Volume. Short Stories

Author: Xie Mian et al
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-05-01
Features: "October Treasures" series is a collection of selected works from the "October" magazine since its inception over 20 years ago. These works once caused a sensation and generated significant social impact during their time of publication. The series is divided into seven volumes—Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Purple—with five volumes of mid-length fiction, one volume of short fiction, and one volume of essays. The series is edited by renowned scholar Professor Xie Mian and literary critics Meng Fanhua, Chen Xiaoming, He Shaojun, and Cheng Guangwei. The series features a unique design, not only compiling outstanding works but also including self-reflections by the authors on their creative experiences, old photographs of the authors from that era, and insightful critiques by critics on the works. "October" was at the forefront of both the intellectual liberation movement and the artistic liberation movement of its time. If "October" had only led the way in intellectual enlightenment without corresponding rich and innovative artistic expression, it would eventually have lost its readers. Looking back now, among the widely acclaimed works of that era, there were indeed flaws such as artistic crudeness or overly direct expression. As the saying goes, "What is not elegant in speech will not last in action." Those crudely artistic works, even if they caused a sensation for a time, would not endure. The works published in "October" and praised by critics not only record the depth of thought achieved in an era but also the precision of art reached in that era. There are works that first sent out an "absolute signal" for artistic reform in theater creation and performance, depicting the decline, hesitation, and pursuit of young people facing adversity, as well as the solitary traveler setting off on foot from a station. Another work pioneered innovative narrative techniques in fiction, where the protagonist's 30-year rise and fall transformed into a butterfly's dream. Yet, the author concludes, "No matter how high you fly, it comes from the earth and must return to it. Whether human or butterfly, both are children of the earth." These works document the path of literature in an era, condensing its entire hardship and glory. Perhaps all this underscores the significance and value of publishing the "October" treasury edition today. Chinese literary journals, at the dawn of the new century, are facing severe challenges. The screens of film and television and leisure publications have captured much of the remaining free time of those leading busy lives, making it difficult for pure literature to engage those with little leisure to savor refined artistic works. Moreover, market operations and media influence have driven away a significant number of readers. In terms of creation, economic factors and the allure of timely and popular works have caused some writers to lose patience and perseverance. The idea of writing for the times and using works for the world has been met with indifference or even ridicule by some writers. The fashionization of literature is like a rapidly spreading contagion, with a considerable number of literary works tragically becoming mere fast food and soft drinks. This is a severe test. Yet, amidst the, the banner of "October" still flies high, maintaining its position among the top original literary journals in China. What enables "October" to persistently win such favor from readers? What is its secret of success? These are the motivations behind the idea of publishing the "October Treasures" series. This series includes the finest works published by "October" from its founding in 1978 to 2000, with the aim of reminding people to cherish the efforts we have made. Looking back at the hardships we faced and the joy of overcoming them, we have strived to bring people to a state of awe—because these works reflect a concern for social life and the human heart, making literature a symbol of hope and pursuit. Literature has its own traditions, built through the creative labor of countless writers, poets, literary critics, and literary editors, accumulating and extending their experiences. This lineage will not be broken.