Chapter 39

"Seriously, if you want to go the publication route, I suggest you quickly finish the subsequent parts. This way, after the first issue is published in the magazine, you can negotiate with the publisher, using the magazine's serialization to boost the sales of the physical book. If you don't have a suitable publisher, I can introduce one to you. The People's University Press is very well-known in the industry."

Li Wenyuan suggested, finding the novel highly appealing and potentially groundbreaking. The three major principles were clearly very insightful, almost enough to establish a new series of robot stories.

Lin Han's smile didn't fade, and he shrugged. "I'm currently in active contact, and my writing speed is pretty good. I should be able to finish all the chapters by the end of December."

"Such a fast speed?" Li Wenyuan stood up, surprised. He felt that writing sometimes depended entirely on inspiration; when it came, the words flowed like a fountain, but when it left, he could only struggle to write one word at a time.

Compared to other writers, Lin Han was almost cheating. He had the ideas in his head and just needed to write them down, making minor adjustments to avoid any bugs.

Looking at his watch, the two of them paid the bill and left the café. At that moment, the campus of Renmin University was filled with the sound of a bell. The students on the road quickened their pace, eager to get to their classrooms.

The energetic and vibrant college students made Lin Han feel that, despite being only a few years older, his mindset was already quite different.

Li Wenyuan led the way, joking, "The students at Renmin University are of high quality. I once held a book signing here, and no one brought a pirated book for me to sign. The library has a vast collection, and it's great for occasional research. In our science fiction field, necessary scientific knowledge is indispensable, and hard science fiction is more favored, so we need to keep updating our knowledge."

Indeed, writing science fiction isn't like other genres; it requires a solid scientific foundation. You can't just make things up, or you'll lose the basis in reality.

"If I weren't so far away, I would want to come here often. Spending time with these young people definitely keeps you young."

Lin Han's residence was not on the way to the university, and he would need to transfer on the subway to get there. An occasional visit was manageable.

Outside the Mingde Hall, a small exhibition stand was set up, featuring a middle-aged, refined man on the poster. The text read: "Mr. Tong Yonglie, author of 'Descendants of the War God' and 'The Moon's Mirror,' is visiting Renmin University. Students interested can enter directly."

It was almost ten o'clock, and students were gradually arriving, some carrying books and others with backpacks. It was rare for Mingde Hall to be free, so they decided to check it out.

"Zhu Zhu, hurry up! It's almost ten o'clock. If we don't get seats, I'll kill you!" A girl in flat shoes ran quickly, with another girl panting behind her.

"Don't worry, it's a science fiction lecture. You, a student of economics, won't understand it. Go ahead and save a seat for me, and I'll catch up after a short rest."

A few boys were walking together, discussing excitedly. "If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten that Mr. Tong is giving a lecture at our school, and it's at Mingde Hall. I almost missed it."

"I love Mr. Tong's 'Meteor of Centaurus.' It's a pity he hasn't released a new book in a long time. Science fiction isn't as good as it used to be."

"Exactly, except for a few notable ones, most science fiction writers aren't great. Only Li Wenyuan and Dong Haobo's books are worth reading."

"Have you seen 'The Rural Teacher' that's been getting a lot of attention on Douban? I read it, and it's pretty good. At least the author has some physics knowledge and doesn't just make things up."

Lin Han and Li Wenyuan stood in front of the exhibition stand, smiling at each other. It was quite a strange feeling to hear their own names mentioned by the students.

When they entered Mingde Hall, they found the place packed with people. The front rows were all taken, and even the middle and back rows were almost full.

More students were still pouring in from the various entrances. The hall, which could hold a thousand people, already had over eight hundred waiting in anticipation.

Lin Han chose a seat on the side and sat down with Li Wenyuan. They looked at the young faces, feeling inspired.

The audience for science fiction was young, and these people were the future pillars of support for the genre. It was heartening to know that so many were quietly paying attention and supporting science fiction. They weren't alone!

The time was almost up, and Tong Yonglie walked alone to the stage. His hair was slightly gray, but he looked very spirited in a well-tailored suit, exuding a calm and composed demeanor.

"Good morning, everyone. I was particularly worried that the venue was too large, but it turns out there are so many of you. You're not plants sent by the student council, are you?"

Tong Yonglie seemed to have a humorous personality, starting with a joke to lighten the mood.

The students responded enthusiastically, "No! We are voluntary supporters!"

"What does 'voluntary supporter' mean?" Tong Yonglie smiled. "Today, we're not discussing whether it's tap water or boiled water. We're discussing the development of science fiction literature. Science fiction is also a form of literature. Although it started late in China, it has developed quite rapidly. Recently, I read a new author's novel, 'The Rural Teacher,' which is quite popular among students. Have you read it?"

The students chattered in response, some saying they had, others saying they hadn't, and some quickly noting the title to look it up later. The atmosphere was lively, without the usual dullness of lectures, and everyone was engaged.

"Before we start today's lecture, let's clarify a concept. Many people divide science fiction into hard science fiction and soft science fiction. Who can share the differences between these two types of science fiction as you see them?"

Hands shot up quickly. This topic was a perennial favorite, generating heated discussions wherever it was mentioned.

The majority of the students were male, but females also made up about a quarter of the audience. This was at Renmin University, not Tsinghua or other science and engineering schools. Despite being a comprehensive university with a focus on humanities and history, there were still many science fiction readers, making Lin Han realize that they had underestimated the number of young readers.

Many hands were raised, and Tong Yonglie, unable to see Li Wenyuan in the crowd, randomly picked a boy in a blue-striped shirt. A staff member quickly handed him the microphone.

"Hello, Mr. Tong. The most standard definition of hard science fiction in the encyclopedia is that it is a scientific fantasy work primarily based on physical laws or engineering technology. Soft science fiction, on the other hand, is a form of fantasy literature that, while still within the realm of science, does not focus on these technologies. It can also be called social and humanistic science fiction."

Wow, not bad for a humanities student. Lin Han was impressed by the boy's memory, able to recite the encyclopedia definition verbatim.

The other students nodded in agreement after hearing his explanation. The characteristics of hard and soft science fiction had been discussed countless times.

However, Tong Yonglie wasn't satisfied. He walked to the front of the stage with the microphone. "That's the encyclopedia's definition. What's your own opinion?"

"I think the terms 'hard' and 'soft' in science fiction mainly refer to the level of technical detail and the nature of the science fiction concept. Hard science fiction uses natural sciences like astronomy, physics, and biology as the core of its theory and creativity, such as black holes, artificial intelligence, and genetic modification. Soft science fiction, on the other hand, lacks technical detail and is more abstract, focusing on social and humanistic aspects."

The audience applauded the boy, impressed by his ability to not only recite the standard definition but also provide his own interpretation, a rare quality.

Lin Han nodded in agreement. In reality, the distinction between hard and soft science fiction wasn't always clear-cut. Sometimes it wasn't just about the concept and core but also the specific form of the novel or film.

For example, a time-travel movie set on Earth, like "Interstellar," is considered hard science fiction because it is based on various physical principles, making it seem plausible. In contrast, "Triangle" involves repeatedly returning to the same day, which is more of a soft science fiction, often not considering whether it is scientifically sound.

In reality, readers tend to prefer hard science fiction, which is easier to accept and more straightforward. When reading hard science fiction, they often believe that these scenarios could indeed happen in the future.

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The author isn't exaggerating. When Yu Dan gave a lecture at our school, the thousand-person auditorium was packed, and the lecture was even broadcast live in other halls via a large screen. It was quite a scene!

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