Metamorphoses Of Science Fiction In China: A Genrological Approach

This paper attempts to systematically address the evolvement of deep-seated forms of science fiction in China by means of genrology or genre study, as it were.In the past few years, science fiction as a popular literature, including"scientific jottings"of Late Qing dynasty as a means of scientific enlightenment and"science fantasy"revived in early 1980s due to western influences and others before suppressed by ideological dispute in 1983, drew concerns of some researchers of literature. Thus we come to have some knowledge of SF texts in history. Till now, science fiction writing translation and criticism have had decades'long history.Yet, to our disappointment, most people are still stuck in the old dogmatized conception of science fiction as a mere mixture of scientific elements and whims of groundless fantasy, ignorant of rules and logics if itself as a literary genre.On top of this, to lay out the track of development of science fiction in China according to rules of literariness provides us with an instrumental insight, ribs and backbones of the SF continuum and depth of SF nature. Similar with other forms of literature, there exists a relation of influence and inheritance between science fiction and other genres as well as in between its subgenres, which make up homogeneity and heterogeneity of SF conglomerate, the derivatives and generic hybrid of it.The task of this paper boils down to the following points: Northrop Frye, Tzvetan Todorov and Darko Suvin's theoretical and practical genre study would be taken advantage of to reach the core value of science fiction, i.e. the SF marvel and wonder, and to clear out genre affinity with other genres, such as myth, utopia, adventure, fairy tale and high fantasy, then was applied to studies of science fiction in China. Hereafter, scientific romances and other five subgenres of science fiction as patterns of structures of science fictions are further arranged by me. Deterrence and breakthroughs of the past and in the future of the SF genre are pointed out in each branch of sub-generic path as an instruction.