Chinese writers shine at world's prestigious sci-fi awards

CHENGDU -- Chinese sci-fi writers and artists had a rewarding night at this year's Hugo Awards.

Hai Ya took away the Best Novelette award for "The Space-Time Painter" while well-known computer graphics artist Zhao Enzhe won the Best Professional Artist award.

"I'm pleasantly surprised and very lucky, it's like my dream come into reality," said Hai Ya, who started writing science fiction when he was a university student.

Zhao has been engaged in the gaming industry for over 20 years and has developed a strong interest in sci-fi-themed creation. He is a longtime cover artist for Science Fiction World magazine, which has a bigger circulation than any other sci-fi publication in the world.

The results were announced at a formal ceremony at the 81st World Science Fiction Convention currently underway in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"Of course, I'm very happy to have such an opportunity and a platform to show myself, but I think it is the step-by-step promotion of the predecessors of Chinese science fiction that gives me such an opportunity. In the future, I will work harder to promote the progress of science fiction art in China," Zhao said in an interview after the ceremony.

In addition to the laureates, many categories under this year's Hugo Awards also saw the names of Chinese authors.

Four works by Chinese writers shortlisted for the Best Short Stories; "Chinese Science Fiction, An Oral History, Volume 1" was shortlisted for the Hugo Awards for Best Related Work while Yao Haijun, the interviewee of "Chinese Science Fiction, An Oral History, Volume 1" and Yang Feng, the editor-in-chief of the book, were also shortlisted for the Hugo Awards for Best Editor (Long Form).

The Hugo Awards, first presented in 1953 and presented annually since 1955, are science fiction's prestigious awards. The Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention, which is also responsible for administering them.

This year, a total of 1,847 valid nominating ballots were received and counted from members of the 2022 and 2023 World Science Fiction Conventions for the 2023 Hugo Awards.

The World Science Fiction Convention has taken place annually since 1939 (except during WWII from 1942 to 1945). It is the first time for the world's largest and longest-running sci-fi gathering to come to China.