Chinese science-fiction writer Liu Cixin met with his Russian readers during Russian Creative Week via video link on Sunday, sharing his views on writing science fiction, the development of science and technology in the future.
Liu also said that he was working on his new book but it might take some time to finish. “Probably a year or two,” Liu said.
Liu made comparison of science fictions from different times. “Science fictions in the past had a broad vision, mostly describing space and the universe, and its eyes were focused on the stars. Nowadays, science fictions focus on realistic problems, such as gender and race discrimination, environmental pollution and so on,” Liu said.
Liu, 58, said that he is trying to adapt his fiction to films and TV except for literary writing.
US streaming platform Netflix announced in September 2020 that it had ordered an English-language series based on Liu’s well-known trilogy The Three-Body Problem.
The Netflix series will see Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and writer/producer Alexander Woo write and executive produce it. Liu will also act as a consulting producer on the project.
Liu said that he will take part in the adaption process and make suggestions, but he won’t engage in role selecting as the series would be made in the US and actors from the US and Europe are preferred.
He wants the series to be attractive and well-made. “As long as the series will be interesting, I don’t care how much the series change my book,” he noted.
Liu said Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, who wrote Roadside Picnic, Hard to Be a God and Noon: 22nd Century, are his favorite Russian writers.
The Russian Creative Week, held in Moscow from Thursday to Sunday, focuses on the development and prospects of creative industries in Russia and around the world. During this week, hundreds of activities are held by people from movie, literary publishing, music and other industries. The event has been listed as one of the major events of 2021 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Liu Cixin attends the forum of Russian Creative Week via video link on Sunday. Photo: Screenshot of the forum
