Chapter 70

In foreign bookstores, science fiction and fantasy novels typically make up about one-tenth of the inventory, which is the most direct way to gauge whether they are mainstream.

Compared to Chinese science fiction, there is still a significant difference. Foreign science fiction tends to focus more on literary quality rather than storytelling, for example, works like Frankenstein and Gravity's Rainbow have been categorized as literary works.

In contrast, domestic science fiction emphasizes storytelling over literary quality, perhaps a legacy of wuxia novels.

Even if foreign science fiction has average creativity and imagination, it is still a well-written, clearly structured novel with well-developed characters. If it is hard science fiction, they usually choose future-oriented hard science fiction very cautiously, thus avoiding many technical flaws.

Chinese science fiction, on the other hand, is not short of excellent ideas, but when it comes to writing, it often falls short. Some novels have very good ideas, but the character descriptions are too flat, and the structure is unbalanced, failing to present the various highlights in an orderly manner.

In fact, the science fiction novels familiar to Chinese readers are mostly classics from Europe and America that have stood the test of time and reputation. Many books were written decades ago, while few of the popular science fiction novels from recent years are known to readers, creating the illusion that all European and American science fiction is of high quality.

Of course, this is not the reality. European and American science fiction, like any genre, has its share of both excellent and poor works. Since the 1980s, the number of science fiction fans and publications has grown exponentially. However, the science fiction community remains extremely conservative, favoring old-fashioned forms of novels, and a significant portion of these publications are of low quality.

At that time, novels were no longer the only form to carry the wave of science fiction culture; television, radio dramas, and movies all ventured into the science fiction domain. Western science fiction naturally evolved and gradually became a part of mainstream culture.

Now, more and more science fiction novels are being adapted into movies, and the value of science fiction novels is being recognized. This has led to "I, Robot" slowly entering the public eye.

After the news broadcast, readers who enjoy science fiction have shifted their attention to this Chinese science fiction novel, with search and download volumes on Amazon increasing significantly.

The English version of "I, Robot" has had a small success, successfully ranking in the top 100 of Amazon's "Best Asian Books" and the top 50 of the "Science Fiction" category. For a novel that has never been actively promoted, this is almost like a fairy tale.

Lin Han originally just wanted to release an English version to make it easier for foreign readers, with no intention of making much money. He priced it at only $4.99 on Amazon, while most other books are priced at over $12.

No one was pushing the development of this book, but it seemed as if an invisible hand was influencing everything. Successful novels, after achieving success and progress, tend to gain a cumulative advantage, leading to even greater success and progress. This is known as the "Matthew Effect."

After being seen by more readers and authors, "I, Robot" finally burst with boundless vitality. As one of the classic science fiction novels on Earth, it was quickly accepted and loved by people around the world.

Good books never lack attention. Previously, some novels on Earth, such as The Hunger Games, were also very popular, not only selling well but also achieving huge box office success, becoming a movie that could win the annual box office championship in North America.

After some influential figures and media personalities began reading the novel, its development officially entered a fast lane.

A few days later, Mike Resnick, a science fiction writer who has been nominated for the Hugo Award 28 times and won 5 times, and has received 11 Nebula Award nominations and the Lifetime Achievement Award "Hugo Award," posted his thoughts on "I, Robot" on B: "It deserves any praise. It is an extraordinary novel, and the author's smooth and natural translation is a refreshing sight."

As a science fiction writer who has been nominated for the Hugo Award 28 times and won 5 times, and has received 11 Nebula Award nominations and the Lifetime Achievement Award "Hugo Award," Mike Resnick's words opened the floodgates of praise.

Israeli science fiction writer Lavie Tidhar also shared his thoughts: "Thoroughly engaging, this word is not an exaggeration for this book."

This review was not posted online but in a five-star review on Amazon after purchasing the book, which was discovered by eagle-eyed readers and pushed to the top.

American science fiction writer, futurist, physicist with a Ph.D. in space science, and consultant David Brin also rarely posted such a book review on social media: "A highly imaginative novel, the author provides a detailed account of the history of robots, making us realize the true issues of artificial intelligence. Can the Three Laws of Robotics ensure a peaceful passage through centuries? 'I, Robot' tells us that even the best laws have loopholes. Additionally, the smooth translation is a pleasant surprise, a must-read for any sincere science fiction enthusiast."

David Brin's long list of titles speaks to his status in the hearts of Americans. He has won the Hugo Award four times and is known for his vivid descriptions of various alien civilizations. His praise excited the readers.

Matt Mason, the head of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, expressed his shock on Twitter: "God, I have never read such a brilliant robot novel. It feels almost real, and the Three Laws are highly relevant to our research on robots and artificial intelligence. I will have every staff member in the lab and every student of mine read this book. It's amazing!"

As a symbol of top-tier technology, MIT has always been a pioneer in high-tech and advanced research. For the head of such a high-precision lab to say that a science fiction novel is relevant to their research almost left everyone speechless.

At the same time, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, also began discussing "I, Robot" in his class, even assigning it as a post-class reading for over 50 students.

Whether it's science fiction writers or real scientists, they were almost all captivated by this novel, which is the charm of top-tier science fiction.

Even though it appeared several decades later than on Earth, "I, Robot" has not lost its appeal, driving so many people to madness.

Perhaps it is not the best-selling novel, but whenever the best science fiction novels in history are evaluated, it almost always makes the shortlist.

For this reason, the Washington Post's online edition published a book review by physicist Johnny Dyson: "Why We Should Read 'I, Robot'!"

The Los Angeles Times followed suit, with their special commentator Phelps publishing a column: "Why a Science Fiction Novel from China Is Selling Worldwide?"

The Chicago Sun-Times was not to be outdone, writing a straightforward title: "The Novel You Should Read This Week: 'I, Robot'"

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