Sci-fi writers from multiple countries are writing dragon-themed original sci-fi stories for the 2024 Science Fiction New Year Gala, celebrating the upcoming Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

A poster for the 2024 Science Fiction New Year Gala designed by Xun. [Image courtesy of Future Affairs Administration]

Dragons are present in both Chinese and Western cultures. However, in China, dragons are seen as more divine and auspicious, while in the West, they are often portrayed as monsters or evil beings. The varied interpretations from writers of diverse backgrounds promise to offer unique visions of dragons.

"What's special this time is our invitation for both Chinese and foreign writers to come together and write about China's highest spiritual totem, the dragon," said Ji Shaoting, founder and CEO of the Future Affairs Administration, a company that produces and promotes sci-fi works and supports new sci-fi writers in China. "The dragon is a mystical creature that resides in our spiritual world. Through this, we aim to achieve a new spiritual consensus among Chinese and foreigners during this moment," Ji added.

According to the organizer, the Future Affairs Administration, the ninth edition of the sci-fi New Year gala began on Feb. 6. From that day, one dragon-themed sci-fi story has been published daily and will continue for 11 consecutive days. The participating writers include China's Han Song, Cheng Jingbo, Zhou Wen, and Cai Jianfeng; Japan's Taiyo Fujii and Sayuri Ueda; as well as Canada's Derek Künsken and Australia's Samantha Murray.

The authors are exploring topics such as logistics, the workplace, the Spring Festival travel rush, space stations, and intergenerational relationships. They are delving into science fiction themes, including interstellar exploration, artificial intelligence, spaceship rescue, and genetic technology. The stories are being published on WeChat official accounts managed by the Future Affairs Administration and will subsequently be released simultaneously on multiple platforms across the internet.

The company's podcast has also invited nine other renowned podcasts to join forces to present a program entitled "The Dragon in Your Heart." More than 50 brands and platforms that pay attention to or contribute to China's sci-fi development are also providing merchandise, toys, and books as gifts to sci-fi fans.

Since its inception in 2016, the Science Fiction New Year Gala has become a prominent platform for global sci-fi enthusiasts. Over the past eight years, the gala has invited more than 110 writers from over 10 countries and regions, showcased over 140 fiction pieces, and exhibited more than 70 pieces of artwork. It has collaborated with 30 podcast hosts from 21 different podcasts to produce over 60 hours of podcast content. 

Notable figures in the sci-fi community, including Liu Cixin and Han Song, as well as renowned directors like Denis Villeneuve and Frant Gwo, have shared their greetings. According to statistics, in the past eight years, all the short stories published for the gala event accumulated a phenomenal 300 million views.

"The Science Fiction New Year Gala has always been our attempt to localize sci-fi. We aim for everyone to tell stories of human emotions in the most profound way, capturing the nostalgia of family reunions amidst the atmosphere of the Spring Festival. This is our method of telling Chinese stories through the medium of science fiction," Ji further commented.

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