盛世：中國，2013年

盛世：中國，2013年book. Read 310 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. 這是陳冠中繼他的《香港三部曲》後寫成的中長篇小說。

Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“盛世：中國，2013年”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof 盛世：中國，2013年byChanKoonchung. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—盛世：中國，2013年 byChanKoonchung 盛世：中國，2013年 by ChanKoonchung, 陳冠中 3.38  ·  Ratingdetails ·  1,851 ratings  ·  310 reviews 這是陳冠中繼他的《香港三部曲》後寫成的中長篇小說。

小說題材虛構,背景是當代大中國,是未來的2013年的中國。

可以說這是一部奇特的寓言小說。

評論家李歐梵教授讀後說“小說題材發前人之所未發,一開篇就精采無比,欲罷不能,緊張刺激而又令人心泛寒意,實在不容錯過”。

陳冠中這部題名為《盛世:中國2013年》的小說,寫世界經濟於金融海嘯後,全球格局進入冰河時期,中國卻安然避過劫難,反而開始步入千年一遇的盛世。

小說家的意圖是,中國盛世真的來臨了嗎？會不會所有的一切只是人為製造出來的一種迷幻效應？小說情節奇構,生鬼荒謬,有些令人驚嚇有些讓人哭笑不是。

GetACopy AmazonOnlineStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleAbeBooksWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Paperback,261pages Published 2009 by牛津大學出版社（中國）有限公司 MoreDetails... OriginalTitle 盛世—中國2013年(ProsperousAge:Chinaintheyear2013) ISBN 1409044114 (ISBN13:9780193958463) EditionLanguage Chinese Setting Beijing (China) LiteraryAwards 亞洲週刊中文十大好書for小說類(2009),香港中文文學雙年獎Nomineefor小說組(2010),PrixJanMichalskiNomineeforLonglist(2013) OtherEditions(34) AllEditions ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout 盛世：中國，2013年, pleasesignup. Bethefirsttoaskaquestionabout盛世：中國，2013年 ListswithThisBook ThisbookisnotyetfeaturedonListopia. Addthisbooktoyourfavoritelist» CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 3.38  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  1,851 ratings  ·  310 reviews AllLanguagesCatalà‎(1) Dansk‎(1) Deutsch‎(4) English‎(266) Español‎(6) Français‎(1) Italiano‎(4) Nederlands‎(4) 中文‎(9) Morefilters  |  Sortorder Startyourreviewof盛世：中國，2013年Writeareview Apr15,2012 AnabelleBernardFournier ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: contemporary-lit, sci-fi Intranslationtheory,therearetwomainfactions:the"naturalizers"andthe"foreignizers"Thenaturalizersthinkthatliteratureshouldbetranslatedinalanguagethatfeelsnaturaltothereader,asifithadbeenwrittenoriginallyintheirlanguage.Theforeignizers,ontheotherhand,thinkthatthebestwaytohonouratextistokeepthetranslationasclosetothesourcelanguageasthetargetlanguagewillallow.Inotherwords,thefirstgroupwouldhavetheEnglishsoundEnglish, Intranslationtheory,therearetwomainfactions:the"naturalizers"andthe"foreignizers"Thenaturalizersthinkthatliteratureshouldbetranslatedinalanguagethatfeelsnaturaltothereader,asifithadbeenwrittenoriginallyintheirlanguage.Theforeignizers,ontheotherhand,thinkthatthebestwaytohonouratextistokeepthetranslationasclosetothesourcelanguageasthetargetlanguagewillallow.Inotherwords,thefirstgroupwouldhavetheEnglishsoundEnglish,whilethesecondwouldhaveEnglishsoundasChineseasitcan.TheFatYearsisdefinitelyacaseofforeignization,andIthinkthebadreviewsofthisbookdon'treallytakeintoaccountthatthiswaswritteninChinese.NotonlyistherethestrangerhythmandsoundofChineseechoingthroughtheEnglish,butWesternreadersareprobablyalsounaccustomedtotheforeignstructureofaChinesetext.Idon'tknowmuchaboutChinesenarrativestructure--allthatIknowisthatit'sdifferent,verydifferent,fromourWesternconceptionofastory.DespitethedefiniteWesterninfluencesofthisnovel(mysterynarrative,science-fiction),thenovelfeelsasforeignas,Iexpect,visitingBeijingwould.Yes,ithasalotofexpositionandnotmuchaction.Yes,thelastpartofthenovel,thelongspeechbyHeDongsheng,seemstogoonforeverandever.Butthere'sapleasureinreadingthis--apleasureof,somehow,listeningtoanothertongue,anotherculture,andhearingitinEnglishinyourhead.TheFatYearsisthestoryofTaiwan-bornwriterLoChenwho,oneday,seesanoldfemalefriend,anex-judgeandnowcareeractivistLittleXi,whodoesn'tseemtobeashappyasheis.BecauseeveryoneinBeijingisveryhappy.She,andanotheroldfriend,tellhimthatthere'samonthmissinginChina:28daysin2011thatdisappearedfromcollectivememory,andthatonlyafewofthemcanremember.Chen'sdoubtsarearoused,andheseemstolosethehappinessthatheseesallaroundhim.Therebeginsaquesttofindthemissingmonth,amongpoliticalintrigue,eliteultranationaliststudentshenanigans,undergroundChristianchurchesand,eventually,love.It'stheconflictbetweenchoosingtolive"inacounterfeitparadiseorarealhell".Whichonewouldyouchoose?Thisisdefinitelyanovelfortheintellectual-minded.Koonchungpresentsalotofpoliticalandeconomicanalysis--eithertoeducatetheWesternreaderortowakeuptheChineseone,I'mnotreallysure.But,accordingtothetranslator,it'snotthatfarfetched,exceptforafewdetails.IfyouknownothingaboutChina,you'llbeilluminated.Ifyouknowalittle,oralot,you'llprobablyfindthepointofviewinteresting.TheFatYearsasksalotofdifficultquestionsthatevenWesternersshouldgrapplewith.Howmuchfreedomdowereallyhave?Isthegovernmentreallyworkinginourinterest?Isdemocracyapoliticalsystemdoomedtofailurebecauseitcannotachieveanything"big"?Ifyoulikenon-stopaction,stayawayfromthisbook.You'llgetbored.However,ifyouenjoyatextthatplayswithhighpoliticalstakesandisn'tafraidtocalladogadog,Istronglysuggestyougrabacopy. ...more flag 39likes · Like  · seereview Aug07,2011 Craig ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: translated, fiction, china, dystopia “Betweenagoodhellandacounterfeitparadise,whichonewillpeoplechoose?”istheunderlyingquestioninChanKoonchung’sTheFatYears.WhenIstartedreadingTheFatYearsIwasexpectingadystopiannovelandwassurprisedthatthebookisactuallyacritiqueofcontemporaryChinesecultureandpoliticalsystem.Luckily,itwasaninformativeandinterestingdescriptionofthefallingsoftheChineseCommunistParty,andChandoesadecentjobofblendingthestory’snarrativewiththep “Betweenagoodhellandacounterfeitparadise,whichonewillpeoplechoose?”istheunderlyingquestioninChanKoonchung’sTheFatYears.WhenIstartedreadingTheFatYearsIwasexpectingadystopiannovelandwassurprisedthatthebookisactuallyacritiqueofcontemporaryChinesecultureandpoliticalsystem.Luckily,itwasaninformativeandinterestingdescriptionofthefallingsoftheChineseCommunistParty,andChandoesadecentjobofblendingthestory’snarrativewiththepoliticaldiscussion.TheproblemIhadisChantriedtoincludetoomuch.Thereisamystery,lovestoryanddystopianelementalongwithhispoliticalcommentaryallinthreehundredpages.Insteadofdoingoneortwoofthesethingsreallywellhesquishedinall4andtheyarejustok.IimagineunlessyouarefamiliarwiththehistoryoftheCCPanditsvariouscover-upsandscandalsthebookwillbeboringorconfusing.Still,ifyouareinterestedinChinesedomesticpoliticsandenjoy“WhatIf”booksTheFatYearsisworthyourtime.TheFatYearstakesplacein2013twoyearsintoChina’sgoldenage.Theglobaleconomiccollapsein2011leftonlyChinaunscathed,allowingittoemergeastheworld’seconomicpower.PeopleinChinaareallbenefitingfromneweconomicprosperity,everyoneinChinaishappyandanentiremonthdisappearedfromcollectivememory.Whyiseveryperson,withahandfulofoutliers,intheentirecountryhappy?Whathappenedduringthatmonthandwhydoesnoonerememberit?Thesequestionssetthestageforthemysteryinthebook.TheFatYearsfollowsanumberofcharactersofvarioussocialandeconomicclassestoshowhowtheyreacttoChina’sascendancy.OldChan,aTaiwaneseauthor,istheprotagonistandthecharacterthatconnectseveryone.ThebookopenswhenOldChan’sfriend,FangCaodi,confrontshiminpublictryingtoconvincehimanentiremonthismissingfromthecollectmemoryinasortofmassamnesia.Chandoesn’twanttolistentohisoldfriend.LikemostpeopleinChina,heishappyanddoesn’twanttobotherwiththisfoolishness.Hefigureshisfriendismistakenandthereisnowayanentiremonthcoulddisappear.Nextherunsintoanex-girlfriend,LittleXI,atabookstore.LittleXiisaformerjudgewholostherpositionforfailingtofollowthePartylineandexecuteenoughsuspects.SheisoneofthefewsadpeopleinChinaandwhenChanseesheritreigniteshisloveandconvinceshimtotrywinheraffection.FinallythereisZhangDouaformerchildslaveandmigrantworkerwhonowlivesoutsideBeijing.LikeFaoCaodiheremembersthemissingmonthandtogethertheyteamuptofigureoutwhathappened.MuchofthebookconsistsofOldChantryingtolocateLittleXi.ShehasgoneoffthegridandspendsmostofhertimehidingandmakinganonymouspostsontheInternetcondemningtheCommunityParty.AsChentriestotrackherdownFangandZhangteamupandtrytopiecetogetherinformationaboutwhathappenedduringthe28missingdays.Xi,Fang,andZhangeventuallyteamupand(viewspoiler)[kidnapahigh-rankingpoliticianandforcehimtoanswertheirquestions.(hidespoiler)](viewspoiler)[Thekidnappedpolitician,HeDongsheng,(hidespoiler)]spendsabout1/4ofthenovelexplainingalltheevilstheCCPhascommittedinthelast60yearsandhowtheywerenecessaryforChinatomaintainstabilityandbecomeagreatnation.ThissectionfeelsmorelikealaundrylistoftheatrocitiescommittedbytheCCPsuchastheCulturalRevolution,TheGangofFour,theTiananmenmassacre,FalunGongmassacreandcover-upsbycorruptofficialsthananovel.(viewspoiler)[EventuallyitisreveledthateveryoneissohappybecausetheCCPdecidedtoputsmallamountsofanMDMA(ecstasy)likedruginallwater,milkandbeveragesinthecountry.Thisgiveseveryoneaslighthighfeelingandmakeseveryonefeelrelaxedandhappyallthetime.Helikensthistowesterncountriesputtingfluorideinthewaterandsayssinceeveryoneishappywhyshoulditstop?FinallyChanandcohortsletHegoknowingtheyhaveenoughinformationtocausemassunrestandruinhiscareerandHeknowshecouldhavethemkilledifanywordleaksout.ChanandLittleXiagreetogooffandspendtheirlivestogether.(hidespoiler)]Theplotisverythin,(viewspoiler)[andwenevergetareasonforthemissingmonthotherthan‘peoplejustforgot’,(hidespoiler)]andthemajorityoftheFatYearsismadeupwithpoliticalcommentary.IseasytoseewhyitisbannedinthemainlandsinceittalksaboutalotofthingstheCCPwishesdidn’thappen.Ifyou’vestudiedChinesedomesticpoliticsnothinginthebookwillbenewbutitispresentedinaninterestingwaythatmakesforafunread.IcanunderstandhowthisbookcouldbereallythoughtprovokingifyouliveinChinaandwereunawarethatthegovernmentdidthesethingsbutIthinkalotofwesternreaderswillbelesssurprised.TheFatYearswasclearlywrittenforaChineseaudienceandmighthaveproblemsgainingtractioninthewest.Thefictionalelements:thelovestory,mysteryanddystopianpartsaren’tstrongenoughtomakethebookworthreading.ThepoliticalcommentarywillonlyappealtowesternerswithabackgroundstudyingChinesedomesticpolitics.AsacritiqueonChinesesocietythisbookisfourstars,asanentertainingworkoffictionitisonlytwo. ...more flag 12likes · Like  · seereview Jan29,2012 Ryandake ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition thisbookshouldcomewithawarninglabel.it'ssupposedtobeanovel,ferchrissakes.notasynopsisofchina'spoliticalandeconomichistory.ifthey'dsoldisasthelatter,i'dgiveitfivestars.butasanovel,itblows.iboughttheaudiobookratherthantheprintversion.thenarratordoesquiteanicejob.ilistenedtoitwhileteachingmyselftoknit,fortunately.atleastsomethingusefulcameoutofthetime.thestory'ssplitintotwosections--the"story"part,andtheepilogue.i thisbookshouldcomewithawarninglabel.it'ssupposedtobeanovel,ferchrissakes.notasynopsisofchina'spoliticalandeconomichistory.ifthey'dsoldisasthelatter,i'dgiveitfivestars.butasanovel,itblows.iboughttheaudiobookratherthantheprintversion.thenarratordoesquiteanicejob.ilistenedtoitwhileteachingmyselftoknit,fortunately.atleastsomethingusefulcameoutofthetime.thestory'ssplitintotwosections--the"story"part,andtheepilogue.ifyoucangrityourteeththroughallthelongpoliticaldiatribesinthefirstpart,youarerewardedintheepilogue(whichisnearlyaslongasthestorypart,intermsofaudiobooktime).i'mcertainthattheauthorwrotethefirstpartasabitofpanderingtopopulartaste--makinga(notveryconvincing)lovestoryinordertodragthereaderthroughthecontemporarypoliticslesson.butit'snotapatchonthedullnessoftheepilogue.whentheepiloguestarted,iwasalreadyquiteexhaustedfromshrieking"getonwithit!"tomypooriPod.buttheepilogueisawholenewkettleoffish:along,long,long,long,longmonologuebyacommunistpartyhack.itbecameanendurancetestforme.idon'tlikenotfinishingbooks,andsinceihadatleastninemorefeetofDr.Whoscarftoknit,ihadplentytokeepmedistracted.mr.hackbeganwithafive-partlessoninpoliticalhistory,andthenmovedontothemorethrillingsubjectofeconomics,finallyendingwithashortcourseinmethodsofsocialcontrol.at3am,ifinallycrawledacrossthefinishline.ifeltlikei'dbeenheldinachinesepoliticalprison,forcedtoendurere-education.letitbesaidthatforthosewhoknowzipaboutchina'srecenthistory,itcanbeprettyenlightening.i'venodoubtthattheveryknowledgegapachinesecitizenislikelytohaveaboutherowncountryistheproblemthewriterwasaddressing.butifyoudoknowsomethingaboutcontemporarychina,itisapainfulgrind.however,theentireepiloguewasjustcruel.ifyou'dliketoreadanactualnovelaboutcontemporarychina,readMoYan.nowthatmanknowshowtotellastory,andidohopeinfuturethatmr.chanwillundertakesomestudyofthenovelformratherthanmerelylecturinghisreaders. ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Jul24,2012 Biblibio ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: translated, language-chinese, fiction, 21st-century Truthfully,Icouldn'tfinishthebook.TheFatYearsisbadlywrittenandcharacterized,withonlyitsmessagegoingforit.Unfortunately,even60%intothenovelthemainplotpointhadyettoappear-onlyawkwardsetup.Coupledwithoverlybluntwritingandseverlystilteddialogue,TheFatYearsisanutterlyunpleasantread.Istherepolitical,near-futurerelevancetothebook?Maybe.Butit'simpossibletoreachthepointthroughthemessandthoughthemessagescreamsloudly,itisn'tr Truthfully,Icouldn'tfinishthebook.TheFatYearsisbadlywrittenandcharacterized,withonlyitsmessagegoingforit.Unfortunately,even60%intothenovelthemainplotpointhadyettoappear-onlyawkwardsetup.Coupledwithoverlybluntwritingandseverlystilteddialogue,TheFatYearsisanutterlyunpleasantread.Istherepolitical,near-futurerelevancetothebook?Maybe.Butit'simpossibletoreachthepointthroughthemessandthoughthemessagescreamsloudly,itisn'treallysayingmuchofanything.Perhapshadthecharactersbeenbettervehiclesforthemessagethenovelwouldhavebeenmorebearable,buteachnarratorandcharacterisasstiffashis/herpredecessorandnoneareparticularlysympathetic.Theyareallcut-outs-convenientformessage-writing,butnotexactlystellarwriting.Thewritingstyleisalsodifficulttoread,butthisispartlyastylisticchoice.Halfofthebookiswritteninaflatblog-stylethatmimicshowpeoplewriteonline,butitfailstoevokeanyemotionandstumblesinmuchthesamewaythattherestofthestorydoes.Nearlyeverythingisexposition-thenovelcanfeelverydullynon-fictionattimes.TheremaybesomeimportancetoallofChanKoonchung'ssetup,butafteritdidn'tdevelopanywheremorethanhalfwayintothebook,Igaveup.PerhapstheideabehindTheFatYearswasagoodone,butitresultedinabadbook. ...more flag 9likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Dec30,2016 Anna ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction, chinese-lit, politics OnceIrealisedthattryingtoeasemyselfbackintoreadingnon-fictionafteravoidingitsinceTrumpageddonwitha900pagebiographyofMaowasill-advised,ItookupanovelaboutChinainstead.‘TheFatYears’turneduponmydystopiakeywordsearch,althoughIwouldn’tclassitasdystopian.Thesituationdescribedisonlyaslightexaggerationofcurrentaffairs.'TheFatYears'wasfirstpublishedin2009andissetin2013,sohasanexceedinglycontemporaryfeel.Thenarrativefollows OnceIrealisedthattryingtoeasemyselfbackintoreadingnon-fictionafteravoidingitsinceTrumpageddonwitha900pagebiographyofMaowasill-advised,ItookupanovelaboutChinainstead.‘TheFatYears’turneduponmydystopiakeywordsearch,althoughIwouldn’tclassitasdystopian.Thesituationdescribedisonlyaslightexaggerationofcurrentaffairs.'TheFatYears'wasfirstpublishedin2009andissetin2013,sohasanexceedinglycontemporaryfeel.ThenarrativefollowsasmallgroupofcharactersastheiruneaseaboutlifeinChinagrows.Theyrealisethatamonthhasgonemissingfromofficialrecordsandtheirmemories,sosetouttofindoutwhathappened.Thisisnotanidealisticquest,however.Onlyonecharacter,maybetwo,hasanyhopeofchangingthings.Theothersjustwanttoknowfortheirownintellectualsatisfaction.IfoundthestoryalittleslowatfirstwhileitfollowedOldChen’sdailylife.Onceheencounteredothermaincharactersandsomeanswerstotheirquestionsbegantoemerge,though,itbecameverycompelling.Thehighlights,tomymind,areeffectivelylecturesonChinesepolitics.Inawaythisisanon-fictionanalysisofChina’sgeopoliticalnearfuture,framedbyafictionalaccountofhowpeopleinChinamightexperiencethesetrends.Thewritingstyleispleasinglyironicandamusing,forexample:Astheywerethinkingandtalking,thefourmenmetatthefrontgate[ofthechurch].[...]“Who’sinchargehere?”askedFangCaodiimpatiently.“Godisinchargehere,”saidLiTiejan.“Don’ttalknonsense,”saidFangCaodi.Thestructureofthebookissomewhatodd.Thedenouementandmostpowerfulpassagesareallintheso-calledepilogue,whichtakesupnearlyathirdofthebook.Iwon’tsoonforgetthe‘livetogetherordietogether’dilemma.AlsoofnoteisthispitilesslyaccurateportraitoftheUS:America’selectedpoliticianswerebeholdentoaplethoraofinterestgroups:WallStreet,bigbusiness,thearmsindustry,localpowergroups,thechurches,thelabourunions,andvariouspublic-relationslobbies;theyalsohadtotakecareofpopularandmediaopinion.Sowhenitwasnecessaryforthemtounitetoaccomplishsomethingbigandimportant,alltheycoulddowaslookaround,totheleftandright,andfightmeaninglesslittlebattles;theydidn’tdarecuttotheboneandhealthebodypolitic,andwereevenlesslikelytotakeboldanddecisiveaction.AmericanmarketfundamentalistsandtherightwingoftheRepublicanpartyconstantlydraggedtheirfeetandaddedtotheconfusion;theywerecompletelyoutoftouchwithrealityandcouldcertainlymessthingsup,buttheycouldnotmakeanypositivecontributions.HeDongshengwascompletelydiscouragedwithWesterndemocracy.Aren’tweall.ButofcourseChinastillhasalltheseinterestgroups,justdifferentlyarranged.AsIunderstandit,alloftheaboveexceptthechurchesandPRlobbiesarepartoftheonepartystate,sowranglesbetweenthemtakeplacewithinthegovernment.Whilesaidstatecantakeboldanddecisiveaction,thenovelmakesclearthatsuchactionnearlyalwaystakestheformofpunitivecrackdownsinvolvingimprisoning,torturing,andexecutingpeoplewhoareveryprobablyinnocent,inordertosendamessage.Onerepeatedrefraininthetextisthechoicebetween‘agoodhell’and‘acounterfeitparadise’.Inotherwords,willyouacceptoppressioninreturnformaterialcomfort,orfightit?Atwhatpointisthelevelofoppressionnolongerworththematerialstabilityitallowsyou?Twoverydifficultquestionsthatarehighlyrelevantto2016andtheapproachingyear.Thebookhasnoeasyanswers,butforcesyoutoconfrontChina’sascendancyandwhatitmeansforallofus.It'safascinatingread. ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview Apr01,2012 Felice ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition ThenovelTheFatYearsbyChanKoonchunghasbeenbannedinChina.Iknowthisbecauseitsayssorightonthecoverofthebook.Bigdealright?Whatisn’tbannedinChina?DoesabookbeingbannedsomewhereenticeanyonetoreaditanymorelikeintheoldLegionofDecencydays?Whatpossibletitillationorthrillfromforbiddenknowledgecouldcomefromabannedbookthesedayswhenyoucangointheinternetandseeanytypeofpornyouwantand/orcatsspoutingphilosophywhiledressedas ThenovelTheFatYearsbyChanKoonchunghasbeenbannedinChina.Iknowthisbecauseitsayssorightonthecoverofthebook.Bigdealright?Whatisn’tbannedinChina?DoesabookbeingbannedsomewhereenticeanyonetoreaditanymorelikeintheoldLegionofDecencydays?Whatpossibletitillationorthrillfromforbiddenknowledgecouldcomefromabannedbookthesedayswhenyoucangointheinternetandseeanytypeofpornyouwantand/orcatsspoutingphilosophywhiledressedaspiglets?SothebannedinChinareasontoreadTheFatYearsisoffthetable…isthereanyotherreasontoreadit?Sometimeintheverynearfuture,2013infact,amonthhasgonemissingfromtheofficialrecordsinBeijing.NotonlythatbutnoonecaresandtheChinesepeoplehaveallgottenalotmorecheerful.Couldthesetwothingsbeconnected?TheChinesegovernmentisoperatingitsowncapitalismsuccessstoryandithaslulledthecitizenryintoastupefyingcontentment.OnesuchcomradeiswriterLaoChen.Heisenjoyinglivingoffthefatofthelanduntilsomefriendsenlightenhimastowhatisactuallygoingon.Wellthentheyallhavetotryandmakeitright.Koonchung'sdialoginTheFatYearsexistssolelytopreachaboutpolitics.ThestalenessofthecharactersandthemoralizingoftheauthoraredeathtowhateverthrilleropportunitiesTheFatYearsmighthavehad.Thisnovelisa1984meetsTheMatrixwannabe.Thereareafewintriguingideas(Governmentcontrollingmemorieswhileit’susingpropagandatobrainwashyoutodayandwouldyouratherbeunhappyintherealworldorhappyinapretendworld?)butoverall?CanIhearaHo-Hum? ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Feb25,2012 N ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Fantasticandengagingpremise,andthetranslationonthisrevealsaniceedgetothewriting,especiallyforawriterfromAsia.Theramblingfinalsectionwasfascinatingthoughalittledrawnout.Ienjoyedtheshiftinginperspectives,andalsothemeta-commentaryontheplaceofcoincidenceinfictionwriting.ChantriestocoverandaddressjustabouteverysocialtopicinChinathathecan,andpredictablysomeitemsaremoreinsightfullydiscussedthanothers.Still,assomeonewho'ssp Fantasticandengagingpremise,andthetranslationonthisrevealsaniceedgetothewriting,especiallyforawriterfromAsia.Theramblingfinalsectionwasfascinatingthoughalittledrawnout.Ienjoyedtheshiftinginperspectives,andalsothemeta-commentaryontheplaceofcoincidenceinfictionwriting.ChantriestocoverandaddressjustabouteverysocialtopicinChinathathecan,andpredictablysomeitemsaremoreinsightfullydiscussedthanothers.Still,assomeonewho'sspenttimebothbeingatouristanddoingsmidgeofbusinessinChina,IfoundIcouldrelatetoalotofwhathewaspointingoutaboutthedirectionChinaisheadingin. ...more flag 5likes · Like  · seereview Jan14,2012 Stephanie ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: kindle, east-asian, dystopia Thisisanintriguingbook,atleastthe75%.Thefirstthreequartersconsistofinter-wovenstoriesofseveralcitizensofBeijing,Chinain2013,twoyearsafteraworldfinancialcrisisthathasresultedinChinabecominganeconomicsuperpower.They'veevenboughtStarbucksandbegunservinguplycheedragonlattes.Butdon'tforget:thisisadystopiantale,asciencefictiontale.TheChinesepeople,itseems,haveacaseofcollectiveamnesiawhenitcomestotheircountry'srecentpast. Thisisanintriguingbook,atleastthe75%.Thefirstthreequartersconsistofinter-wovenstoriesofseveralcitizensofBeijing,Chinain2013,twoyearsafteraworldfinancialcrisisthathasresultedinChinabecominganeconomicsuperpower.They'veevenboughtStarbucksandbegunservinguplycheedragonlattes.Butdon'tforget:thisisadystopiantale,asciencefictiontale.TheChinesepeople,itseems,haveacaseofcollectiveamnesiawhenitcomestotheircountry'srecentpast.It'sabrilliantlywrittenexaminationofwhathumannatureiscapableof.BecauseChinaisprosperousandlifeisrelativelyeasy,atleastintermsofacquisitionofmaterialgoodsforitscitizens,thepeoplearewillingtoforget(quiteliterally)littleeventslikethe1989Tiananmenmassacreorthe1999FalunGongpersecution.Thosewhoareunableto"forget"arelabeledcrazyandlargelyignored.Andfollowedbygovernmentagentstomakesuretheydon'ttalktoomuch.Thelast25%ofthebookgetsalittle(okay,alot)complicatedanddry.Inanunexpectedandsomewhathokeyplottwist,theauthorcausesonecharactertogoonandonaboutcomplexeconomiesandChina'sactionsup'tilthatpoint.Itisinformative,butatthatpointthebookstopsbeinganovelandturnsintosomethingelsealtogether.Itjustdidn'tholdmyinterest.I'vehadaburgeoningobsessionwithChinaforafewyearsnow.I'mplanningatriptoBeijinginApril.IjustwishIwouldhavethetimetoreallymeldwiththepeoplethere.Thisisthekindofbookthatwillmakemytripseemalltoofrustratinglyshort.Chinaisafascinatingplace.SomethingtellsmeI'llbegoingtheremanymoretimesinthefuture. ...more flag 4likes · Like  · seereview Apr11,2015 NicholasWhyte ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2399046.htmlThisisafascinatingbook,byawriterwhowasborninShanghai,educatedinHongKongandnowlivesinBeijing.ThebookitselfhasbeenpublishedinHongKongandTaiwan,butisnotofficiallyavailableonthemainland(thoughafascinatingforewordbyJuliaLovellreferstoBeijing's"chicparty-hostessesslipp[ing]copiesofthebookintoguests’take-homebags").Itcameoutin2009andissetintheverynearfutureof2013,afterafurtherfinanc http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2399046.htmlThisisafascinatingbook,byawriterwhowasborninShanghai,educatedinHongKongandnowlivesinBeijing.ThebookitselfhasbeenpublishedinHongKongandTaiwan,butisnotofficiallyavailableonthemainland(thoughafascinatingforewordbyJuliaLovellreferstoBeijing's"chicparty-hostessesslipp[ing]copiesofthebookintoguests’take-homebags").Itcameoutin2009andissetintheverynearfutureof2013,afterafurtherfinancialcrisishaswreckedtheworldeconomyapartfromChina,whichhasnowbecomeTopNation,andyeteveryone-orallbutaveryfew-appearstohavecompletelyforgottenthecrucialmonthofFebruary2011,inwhichtheworldchanged.There'salotinhere,includingChristianityasaweirdforeignreligion,statedruggingofthepopulationalaBlake's7,andusingsfnalthemesasametaphorfortheerasureofJune1989fromofficialmemory;IcanseewhyofficialChinamayfeelitcutsabitclosetothebone-theprotagonist,contrastingtheWestandChina,suggeststhat:"Theonlydisparityisthat,theoretically,thepowerofWesterngovernmentsisgiventothembythepeople,whileinChinathepeople’sfreedomisgiventothembythegovernment.Isthisdistinctionreallythatimportant?"Readersmaygivetheirownanswertothequestion,takingintoaccountwhenandwherethebookwaswrittenandpublished.Anyway,InowappreciatethedepthofmyownignoranceaboutChinaevenmore. ...more flag 4likes · Like  · seereview Jun02,2018 BrianCowlishaw addedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisbookoffersseriousfoodforthought--bothaboutthesocioeconomicrealitiesofChinatoday,andbroadphilosophicalquestions.Thebasicpremisefeelstotallyplausible:afterthe2008worldwidedepression,there'sanotherworseonein2011,andoutofitChinarisesthemosteconomicallyvibrant,andarguablypowerful,nationonearth.Also,theactual28daysthatfellbetweenthefallandtherise...justdisappear,hardlyanyonecanrememberthem,andthey'regonefromallofficialreco Thisbookoffersseriousfoodforthought--bothaboutthesocioeconomicrealitiesofChinatoday,andbroadphilosophicalquestions.Thebasicpremisefeelstotallyplausible:afterthe2008worldwidedepression,there'sanotherworseonein2011,andoutofitChinarisesthemosteconomicallyvibrant,andarguablypowerful,nationonearth.Also,theactual28daysthatfellbetweenthefallandtherise...justdisappear,hardlyanyonecanrememberthem,andthey'regonefromallofficialrecords.Highlyrecommendedtoanyreaderwillingtoentertaintheideathatothernationsmightactuallya)notconsiderthemselvesnot-as-goodas,say,theUSA,andb)havestrategicreasoningbehindtheirpoliciesandactions. ...more flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Aug31,2019 Phrodrick ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition MostlikelyChanKoonchung’TheFatYearswaswrittenforaChineseaudience.LikelyitscadencesandmodesofexpressionareclosertoChinesethantoEnglish.AssuchitcanseemforeigntoanEnglishreader.Itshould.Thecoversaysitis“ThebooknooneinChinadarespublish”.Iaminclinedtobelieveitisoneofmanythatnoonedarespublish,InChina.Evenifithasbeenpublished,orcirculatesontheMainland;thesafemoneyisthatitishardtofindanddiscussionsofitareunlik MostlikelyChanKoonchung’TheFatYearswaswrittenforaChineseaudience.LikelyitscadencesandmodesofexpressionareclosertoChinesethantoEnglish.AssuchitcanseemforeigntoanEnglishreader.Itshould.Thecoversaysitis“ThebooknooneinChinadarespublish”.Iaminclinedtobelieveitisoneofmanythatnoonedarespublish,InChina.Evenifithasbeenpublished,orcirculatesontheMainland;thesafemoneyisthatitishardtofindanddiscussionsofitareunlikelytobeentirelyfree,orfreeofgovernmentnotice.IhavemyPOV.ChinaisathreattoitsneighborsandtoAmericaninterests.Sofar,itsactualvictimshavebeenAsianfisherman,bulliedordisappearedfromtheirnormalfishinggroundsandanunknownnumberofnativecitizensremovedfromthesocialnetworksorotherwiseintimidatedintosilence.Fortherestoftheplanet,itisclearthatChinaseeksthekindofpoliticalandeconomichegemonypreviouslyoperatedinAmerica’sfavor.Chinamayeventuallyoutcompeteforwesterneconomicdominanceorpushformorethansupremefreemarketstanding.Infairness,predominanceinthefreemarketisandshouldbeavailabletoanyonewhocanearntheirwaytothatposition.Exactlyhowmuch“earningit”includesbullingandcoercionisamoredelicatematter.IbelievethatChinahasthepeopleandenoughoftheresourcestobearespectedworldplayer,butnotenoughinthewayofhumanistimpulsestokeeptherestofusfrombeingworriedifnotcynical.ForallofthisconsiderwhatthemessageisthatFatYearshasforitsChineseaudience.OurprotagonistisaTaiwanesebornjournalistlivinginThePeople’sRepublicinanearandfictionalfuture.Heisverycontent,hasnodesiretoleavethemainlandandnodrivingneedtowriteanything.EveryoneheknowsiscontentedanddriventosimultaneousexpressionsofhowgreatitistobeinChina.Virtuallynooneisunhappy.Exceptfortheoccasionalmalcontent,seeminglyconspiracymindedindividualswhoappearandacthaunted.KoonchunghasbuiltadystopiaonthemodelofWaldenII.Peoplearehappy,oratleastthinktheyare.ThereisasuggestionofadruglikeSkinner’sSoma,butthereisalsoprosperityandofcourseprivilege.Thenagainnooneremembersacertainmonth.WeknowthatmonthisthemonthofTrenamanSquare,butallofthatisforgottenandnoonethinkstoaskwhy.Noonebutthepossiblywatchedfew.FatYearsisawelltoldtale.Itendswithaverylonglectureandanevenlongertranslator’snote.Theendingbringsthenoveltoatiringhalt.Buttogetherwiththenote,thecontemporaryrealityofwhatKoochunghasfictionalizedbecomesmanifest.TheimmediatesituationisthattheChina’seconomicmiraclehasstalled.LackofenforcedregulationembarrassedChinawithpoorproductsliketheirinfamousdrywall.Failuretoimproveontopdown,favoredson’sdistributionofeconomicwealthmadeforarestivepopulace.ThesearetemporaryconditionsanditisonChina’sCommunistpower-brokerstodecideiftheycanbestbuytimewithinternalimprovementsorbycreatinginternationalcrisis.Thisisalotoftophamperforanovel.Thereaderisadvisedthat,itispossiblethatTheFatYearsisawarningusingsciencefictionasabeard. ...more flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Dec31,2017 Laura ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Issciencefictiony.Isdystopianesque.IlikedthisandeverysinglecommentIcancomeupwiththreatenstospoiltheplot,soIain'tgonnagiveyousubstantivecommentary.Ohwait,Inevergivesubstantivecommentary.I'll...seemyselfout. Issciencefictiony.Isdystopianesque.IlikedthisandeverysinglecommentIcancomeupwiththreatenstospoiltheplot,soIain'tgonnagiveyousubstantivecommentary.Ohwait,Inevergivesubstantivecommentary.I'll...seemyselfout. ...more flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Feb15,2021 Milena ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition IchhabevielgelerntundhabeoftdasHandyzumGooglenindieHandgenommen.EinenSternAbzuggibtes,weilmancheKapitelfürmeinenGeschmackeinfachzuvieleFachbegriffebeinhalteten. flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Jun08,2019 Vartika ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition TheFatYearsisapieceofnon-fictionalpoliticalcritiqueoftheChineseCommunistPartyrulesetwithinthecoversofdystopianfiction.Itisincrediblydifficulttoreviewthisbookwithoutgivingawaytheverycomponentswhichmakeitsuchafascinatingread,butaswithallthings,anattempthastobemade.ThepremiseofthebookistheexplorationofacertainformofcollectiveamnesiathatplaguesChina;thekindthathasledtothenear-erasureofsomeofthemosttraumaticmomen TheFatYearsisapieceofnon-fictionalpoliticalcritiqueoftheChineseCommunistPartyrulesetwithinthecoversofdystopianfiction.Itisincrediblydifficulttoreviewthisbookwithoutgivingawaytheverycomponentswhichmakeitsuchafascinatingread,butaswithallthings,anattempthastobemade.ThepremiseofthebookistheexplorationofacertainformofcollectiveamnesiathatplaguesChina;thekindthathasledtothenear-erasureofsomeofthemosttraumaticmomentsinitspoliticalhistory.Whiletheplotispromising,itsexecutionasamélangeoffictionandcritiqueissomewhatdrab—this,however,owesitselftotheambitiousnatureoftheprojectofwritingsomethingofthissortmorethantoaflawinthewritingitself.Thus,whilethebook'scharactersandtheeventsconcerningthemmayseemtodragon;oftenunengaginglyso;itisincrediblehowthisbookbringstogetheracross-sectionofChinesesocietyandpolitytogetherintouncoveringanear-futuristicandyetreal,existingsystem.Everythingthatseemstobeworkingagainstthisbook—theunusualemphasisoncharacterandonfactualdetail;thestructuralstrangenesswithnearlyone-thirdsofthebookcomprisingofan'Epilogue';andtheseeminglyaimless,multiple-point-perspectivenarration—comestogetherinaveryrewardingandfranklymind-blowingmannerifyouhappentoputupwithitforlongenough.Thebookpicksupspeed(literally)inthelasttenpagesorso,andisgeniusinwaysscience-fictionesqueplotsrarelyeverare.ThroughthebizarreandoftenunconvincingcharactersonealsogetstogaugecertainChineseviewsonanarchy,happiness,democracy,censorshipandsexuality;andwhilecertainexplanations(suchastheonefortheverycruxofthemass-amnesiacconditionthebooksetsouttoexplore)maynotbeconvincingandonlypragmaticformsofdenouementatbest,thisisstillanextremelyinterestingbook,providedthatyoufinishitandputyourselfinapositiontoanalyseitasawholeandnotasasumofallitsparts,someofwhichoftencomeoffplainlyasbadly-written.Tobefair,thislastbitcanbeattributedtotheinevitablelossofflairintranslation.ThatTheFatYearsisbannedinChinaisunderstandablegivenboththebook'scontentsandthedegreeofstate-controlandcensorshipinthecountry.AuthorChanKoonchung'sscathingandwittycritiqueofcapitalism,consumerism,'lycheeblackdragonlattes'andtheChineseeconomic-politicalmodelarebothenjoyableandeveninimitable.Amoreconcisesummaryofthebookisimpossibletoprovidegivenitsunusualnatureingeneral,butifyouhavemanagedtoreadthisfar,youmayaswellnoteit:Thisbookmakesacaseagainstthecurrentone-partyruleinChina,aswellasacaseformicrodosing.Thisbooktalksabouthowignorancebecomeshappiness(albeitnotinsuchsimplisticterms).Theepilogueistrulyredemptiveofthenovel,andthelastsectionthereof,'HeavensavestheCommunistParty'shouldbestbereadaccompaniedbysomeambientpost-rock. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Jan24,2012 Sooz ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition “Nocountrycanaffordtobewithoutidealists,especiallynotcontemporaryChina”TheFatYearsi’vebeenreadingabouttheColdWarandhowlittletimetherewasbetweenthetriumphantsuccessofthealliedforces-endingw.w.2-andthereturnofself-intereststhatestablishedahugedividebetweenthem....adividethatwoulddominateworldpoliticsforyearstocome.i’dreadabouttheMarshallPlanbefore(Americanaidthathelpedrebuildawar-tornEurope)butihadnoideahowincredibl “Nocountrycanaffordtobewithoutidealists,especiallynotcontemporaryChina”TheFatYearsi’vebeenreadingabouttheColdWarandhowlittletimetherewasbetweenthetriumphantsuccessofthealliedforces-endingw.w.2-andthereturnofself-intereststhatestablishedahugedividebetweenthem....adividethatwoulddominateworldpoliticsforyearstocome.i’dreadabouttheMarshallPlanbefore(Americanaidthathelpedrebuildawar-tornEurope)butihadnoideahowincrediblycalculateditreallywas.howkeenlyawaretheAmericangovernmentwasofthisdivide,andhownervousitmadethem.howtheMarshallPlanwasdesignedtoaddressTHATsituationasmuchasitwasdesignedtohelprebuildhomesandschoolsandroads.soitwasinterestingtoread(inTheFatYears)oftheplantheChinesegovernmentimplementsinresponsetothepublicunrestaftertheeconomiccollapse...anditwaseasytobelievethatagovernmentcouldbethatshrewd,thatcalculating,thatmanipulative.ithinkwesometimesforgetthatagovernment-asanentity-isfollowingtheevolutionarylawsthatgovernallentities:selfpreservationandpropagation.thesetwolawsofnaturemotivatethedecisionsagovernmentmakesjustasmuchasthewell-beingandstabilityofthecountrytheyarechargedtogovern.sometimesmore.thoseincontrolcountonthepublic’signoranceandapathy,butwhenthatfails,fearisthemosteffectivetoolavailabletoensuretheirplansdon’tgetderailed.butasTheFatYearspointsout,thepeoplemaybeafraidofthoseinpower,buttheauthoritiesarealsoafraidofthepeople,andtheyareespeciallyafraidofidealists.politicalmotivesprovidethestructure-theframework-withinwhichthecharactersofthenovellivetheirlives.mostlivehappilyinthestateofignoranceandapathythegovernmenthascreatedforthem.TheFatYearstellsthestoryofafewwhodon’t.afewwhosetouttofigureoutwhatisbehindthishappyfaçade.ihavetoadmittheunfamiliarityoftheChinesenameswereconfusingattimes,sothehandylistofmajorcharactersatthebeginningofthebookwasuseful-especiallyifafewdayshadpassedsincei'dlastpickedupthebook.andwhileKoonchungdoesn’tseemtospendalotoftimedevelopingthesecharacters,theiractionsspeakforthemselves,andthereaderdoesconnectwiththem.intermsofthecharacter'sactions,ithinktheneedtohaveatribe-evenaverysmallone-comesthroughloudandclear.inthebeginningofthebook,LittleXiandFangCaodiareeachaloneseekingforsomeone-anyone-whohasnotbeenasimilatedintothehivemind.theymeetthroughamutualfriend,LaoChen,andoncetheyfindeachother,theyfindthestrengthandconfidencetoact.whilethereisamysterytobesolved,andcharacterscomingandgoing,thisisapolitically-chargedandpolitically-drivennovel.inotherwords,ifyouwantanaction-packed,suspensefuldystopiannoveltoentertainyou…readTheHungerGames ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Aug17,2011 Ivonne ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ichmusszugeben,dassesinersterLinieSchulddesCoversist,dassichdiesesBuchunbedingtlesenwollte.Ichweißehrlichgesagtnicht,obichdasCoverunheimlichodereinfachnurgenialfindensoll.JedenfalshatmichdasCoversofortangesprochenundalsichdannauchdenKlappentextgelesenhabe,warfürmichklar:DumusstdiesesBuchhaben.AllerdingswardasBuchumeinigesanders,alsichesmirvorgestellthatte.Wasnichtunbedingtschlechtseinmuss...DieGeschichtewirdausver Ichmusszugeben,dassesinersterLinieSchulddesCoversist,dassichdiesesBuchunbedingtlesenwollte.Ichweißehrlichgesagtnicht,obichdasCoverunheimlichodereinfachnurgenialfindensoll.JedenfalshatmichdasCoversofortangesprochenundalsichdannauchdenKlappentextgelesenhabe,warfürmichklar:DumusstdiesesBuchhaben.AllerdingswardasBuchumeinigesanders,alsichesmirvorgestellthatte.Wasnichtunbedingtschlechtseinmuss...DieGeschichtewirdausverschiedenenSichtenerzählt:unteranderemausderSichtvonChen,einemehemaligen,berühmtenSchriftsteller,dersichindemneuenGoldenenZeitalterChinaswholfühltundseinenWohlstandgenießtundausderSichtvonXiaoxi,eineFrau,indieChenvorvielenJahreneinmalverliebtgewesenwarunddienunmiteinerVerschwörungstheoriewiederaufgetauchtistundbehauptet,einkompletterMonatseiausderGeschichteChinasverschwunden.Auchgibtesnochdiejenigen,dieebenfallsvondemverschwundenenMonatwissenundaufderSuchenachGleichgesinntensind.Esgibteinigewenige,diedas,wasindieserZeitgeschehenist,nichtvergessenhabenunddafürkämpfen,dasgroßeGeheimnisaufzudecken.DasBuchistsehranstrengendzulesen.Nichtnur,dassderSchreibstildesAutorskomplexeristalsder,vielerandererAutoren,benutztdieserauch(logischerweise)vielechinesischeWorteundAusdrücke(z.B.Namen,Orte,etc.),diedasLeseneinfacherschweren.DiechinesischenOrtschaftenundNamensindeinfachungewohntundfremd.MirfieldasLesenwirklichschwer;anmanchenStellenempfandichessogaralssoanstrengendundunangenehm,dassichgarkeinerichtigeLustdaraufhatte,dasBuchzulesenunddasobwohlesvonderThematik,derIdeeundderGeschichteher,wirklichsehrinteressantist.AuchdieCharakterehabenalleihreneigenenCharme.Mankannsichsehrgutinsiehineinversetzenundfiebertförmlichmitihnenmit,wennsieversuchen,dasGeheimnisaufzudecken,andereMenschendavonzuüberzeugen,dassdiesesgesamteGoldeneZeitalteraufeinerVerschwörungderRegierungberuhtoderaberaufderSuchesindnachGleichgesinnten.Fazit:DieBewertungfürdasBuchwäreumeinigesbesserausgefallen,wäredasLesennichtsoanstrengendgewesen.Allesinallemkannichabersagen,dasseswirklichinteressantistundjeder,dersichfürsoetwasinteressiert,sollteesnichtansichvorbeigehenlassen.Ichfindeesvoralleminteressant,auchmaletwasvonAutorenausLändernundTeilenunsererWeltzulesen,vondenenmannormalerweisenichtsovielsieht,hörtoderliest.IchglaubezudiesemBuchmusssichjedereineneigenenEindruckschaffen.TrotzallembinichnochimmerderMeinung,dassdieIdeedieserGeschichtewirklicheinzigartig,inmanchenSituationensogarziemlichlustigundeinfachinteressantist. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Mar08,2012 Melanie ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: china, sf, read-in-dutch, 2000s, leiden-university-libraries 1.5star.Interestingideasandobservations,toldinaveryflatandboringway.The"flow"ofthestoryandthewritingaredefinitelyworthonly1star,itishorriblyclunkyandwoodenthroughout.Thecharactersareflatanduninteresting,andthedialogueoftenfeelsstilted.I'mnotsurehowmuchorevenifthisisacaseof"lost-in-translation"(IreadtheDutchtranslationandthereweremanymomentswhereIcouldguesswhattheoriginalversionsaidandwhythatwouldn'treallyworkout 1.5star.Interestingideasandobservations,toldinaveryflatandboringway.The"flow"ofthestoryandthewritingaredefinitelyworthonly1star,itishorriblyclunkyandwoodenthroughout.Thecharactersareflatanduninteresting,andthedialogueoftenfeelsstilted.I'mnotsurehowmuchorevenifthisisacaseof"lost-in-translation"(IreadtheDutchtranslationandthereweremanymomentswhereIcouldguesswhattheoriginalversionsaidandwhythatwouldn'treallyworkoutintranslationanyway),butIfoundthatIkeptstumblingonawkwardsentencesandawkwardstorytelling,whichsuckedmostoftheenjoymentfrommyreadingexperience.HavingsaidthatIdothinkthisbookdeservessomecredit.Thepremiseisinterestingandsomeoftheideasdidgetasniggerfromme(liketheChinese-Westernmergedcompanies),andthereweresomequiteastuteobservationsaboutChinathatcertainlyrangtruetome.Itistheseobservationsthatcausedthecontroversyaroundthisbook(itwasbannedinChinaapparently),becausetheyaremostlycriticalofthecurrentstateofaffairsandthusprettydaringconsideringthefactthattheauthoritiesstillkeepacloseeyeonwhatgetspublishedinandaboutChina.Sokudostotheauthorfortryingsomethingnewandjustbluntlyputtingouthisnot-so-subtleopiniononthecurrentsituationinChinaintheformofawarningaboutapossiblefuture;andkudosforraisingquestionsandsensitiveissuesinthemindsofthereaders,eventhoughhistreatmentoftheseissuestomelacked...elegance?Allinallahardbooktorate,Ididn'treallyenjoyreadingthisbook,butitdoeshaveitsmerits,soIcan'treallyhateitwithapassioneither.IthinkI'llsettleon1.5star:itbrokeawayfromthe1star,butintheenditstillfallsshortofa2-star"ok". ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Apr05,2016 NicoleMiles ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition ReallyinterestinglookatChinesepoliticsthroughanapparentlyratherlightveiloffiction.IfoundthatIcouldbetterappreciatethefirstpartofthenovelafterthecharacters'roleswereexplained.Asastory,itwas…notbad.Itwasinterestingtoseehowthecharacters'livesintersectedhereandthere,andtoseehowtheirlives/societywere.Butitwasnotthatmemorableeither…which,IsupposeisstylisticallysimilartoOrwell'snovel,1989,(thoughtheworldbetterresemblesBrave ReallyinterestinglookatChinesepoliticsthroughanapparentlyratherlightveiloffiction.IfoundthatIcouldbetterappreciatethefirstpartofthenovelafterthecharacters'roleswereexplained.Asastory,itwas…notbad.Itwasinterestingtoseehowthecharacters'livesintersectedhereandthere,andtoseehowtheirlives/societywere.Butitwasnotthatmemorableeither…which,IsupposeisstylisticallysimilartoOrwell'snovel,1989,(thoughtheworldbetterresemblesBraveNewWorldinmanywaysandthissimilarityispointedatinthenovelitselfatonepoint).TheepilogueonwardswasamuchmorestraightforwarddiscussionofChinesepoliticsandwasthebestpartofthebookforme.AlthoughI'veseenthisbookputon"sci-fi"shelves,itssci-fielementsaresoslightastonotreallybarementioning.Makenomistake,thisisapoliticalnovel.Anditisworththeread.(3starsforthemainstory+1starfortheepilogue)3.5stars ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Oct08,2011 Rob ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: random-comments-review ...IsupposeIcanseewhytheChinesegovernmentwouldnotbethrilledwiththepublicationofTheFatYears.Ithinktheanswertotheriddleofthemissingmonthissooverthetophowever,thatnobodywouldtakeittooseriously,includingthecensorsinChina.ItdoesofferthewesternreadersaglimpseoflifeinurbanChinathatwedon'toftengettosee.Itshowsalevelcriticismofthegovernment,discussionsonvarioushistoricaleventsthatareusuallytabooandanumberoffrankcom ...IsupposeIcanseewhytheChinesegovernmentwouldnotbethrilledwiththepublicationofTheFatYears.Ithinktheanswertotheriddleofthemissingmonthissooverthetophowever,thatnobodywouldtakeittooseriously,includingthecensorsinChina.ItdoesofferthewesternreadersaglimpseoflifeinurbanChinathatwedon'toftengettosee.Itshowsalevelcriticismofthegovernment,discussionsonvarioushistoricaleventsthatareusuallytabooandanumberoffrankcommentsofsexualitythatfromanauthorlivinginBeijingrarelyencounteredbythewesternreader.ItprobablylackssomethingoftheexcitementofreadingabannedbookthatitwouldhaveforsomeonelivinginmainlandChinabutitiswellworthreadingnonetheless.Aslongasthereaderhasalittlepatiencewiththewritingstyle,thatis.FullRandomCommentsreview ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Dec21,2012 Tuck ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: western-rural-with-tractors-horse nantaleseisusuallyastampofexcellence,asignthattheproductyouareholdingisquality,exciting,literatureeven.thiscouldbeanexcitingnoveloffamine,greatleapsforwardandpeople'sabilitytoovercomegreathardships.butitactuallyisapoorstorywrittenratherbadly.seethisinsteadFromWonsoPond:AKoreanNovelorthisTheOrphanMaster'sSonorthisWolfTotemorthistaleseimprintTheGinsengHunter:ANovel nantaleseisusuallyastampofexcellence,asignthattheproductyouareholdingisquality,exciting,literatureeven.thiscouldbeanexcitingnoveloffamine,greatleapsforwardandpeople'sabilitytoovercomegreathardships.butitactuallyisapoorstorywrittenratherbadly.seethisinsteadFromWonsoPond:AKoreanNovelorthisTheOrphanMaster'sSonorthisWolfTotemorthistaleseimprintTheGinsengHunter:ANovel ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Oct21,2021 CatherineMccormick ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition IfigureditwastimeformetostartreadingsomeChineseliterature.Thisisapowerfulcountrywhichisgoingtofigurelargelyinourfutures.Thebookissometimesdescribedas"sci-fi"whichItotallydisagreewith.It'sdystopic(isthataword?)butpaintsaveryrealisticpictureofwhatlittleweknowaboutthesociety.It'sapoliticalnovelandIlikethat.Peopleseemtohavedevelopedamnesiatotheeventsof1989(andotheryears)-whyisthishappening?Buttherearesomepeople IfigureditwastimeformetostartreadingsomeChineseliterature.Thisisapowerfulcountrywhichisgoingtofigurelargelyinourfutures.Thebookissometimesdescribedas"sci-fi"whichItotallydisagreewith.It'sdystopic(isthataword?)butpaintsaveryrealisticpictureofwhatlittleweknowaboutthesociety.It'sapoliticalnovelandIlikethat.Peopleseemtohavedevelopedamnesiatotheeventsof1989(andotheryears)-whyisthishappening?Buttherearesomepeoplewhodorememberthe"lostmonth".ThisbookhasalottosayaboutcontemporaryChinaanddirectsustothinkaboutwhatwedoknowandwhatwedon'tknow. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Jan04,2019 Qiaoyun.Hu ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition 映射中国所谓“敏感”过往为什么会被集体的选择性失忆。

一方面可能是当政者的畏惧与掩饰，另一方面可能是国人在市场经济下忙于生计，活在所谓的“盛世”谎言下自嗨也无暇思考上层建筑的事情了。

书中针对未来盛世的系列描述（六四严打等历史的追忆，极权政体的系列延续），联系现状，无不一语成谶。

书中所言的“28天”，是无法忘却也不能忘记的！在这个时代，我们需要时刻保持清醒。

不得不承认中国这四十年来在经济改革上取得了巨大成就，但政治改革（宪政民主言论自由出版自由结社自由人权问题等）在党本位利益或维稳借口下何时&如何向前走，仍是一个迷思。

人民对于政治动荡的反感与对繁荣经济的向往，才使得有社会主义特色的中国资本主义一党专政成为中国当前最好的选择，也被人民一直默许着…… flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Apr08,2019 SotirisMakrygiannis ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: audio-book, internet Inthewestthepeoplegivetherighttopoliticians,inChinaistheotherwayaround.AgoodbooktounderstandModernChinainnerpoliticaldebateandorganization flag 2likes · Like  · seereview May11,2021 风花 ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition 还是决定要给五颗星。

陈冠中《盛世.中国2013》这是一本2009年写出来的小说，用红色话语来说就是“充满了恶毒的政治隐喻”。

线索一环衔着一环，看到最后你就会豁然开朗。

一个tg制造出来的假天堂，嗨赖赖的世界，是多么的“幸福”。

自来水里的“嗨赖赖”药，使人们忘记苦难，这是白日梦游。

这是中国的一个侧面：人们活着如同睡着，快乐地忘记痛苦，现实中不敢有欲望。

flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Apr16,2020 JudyMonchuk ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Giventheoption,wouldpeoplechoosetoliveinafakeparadiseoragoodhell?That'sattheheartofTheFatYears,anovelofspeculativefictionsetinChinathatbeginswiththemysteryofamissingmonththatcoincidedwiththeglobaleconomiccrashof2008.Inamere28days,thecountryof1.3billiongoesthrougheconomicpanicandviolentupheavalbutemergesreinventedandenroutetoanewrealitywhereitspeoplearehappyandprosperous.By2013,Chinaitselfhasbecometheworld' Giventheoption,wouldpeoplechoosetoliveinafakeparadiseoragoodhell?That'sattheheartofTheFatYears,anovelofspeculativefictionsetinChinathatbeginswiththemysteryofamissingmonththatcoincidedwiththeglobaleconomiccrashof2008.Inamere28days,thecountryof1.3billiongoesthrougheconomicpanicandviolentupheavalbutemergesreinventedandenroutetoanewrealitywhereitspeoplearehappyandprosperous.By2013,Chinaitselfhasbecometheworld'srisingeconomicdynamowhileitspeoplelargelysuffercollectiveamnesiaofanythingbadthathasoccurredindecadesofmodernhistory.Butahandfulofpeoplehaven'tlostalltheirmemoriesandbandtogether.Theyabductahigh-rankingCommunistgovernmentofficialanddemandthatanexplanation.IwassurprisedbyhowmuchIenjoyedTheFatYears.IthastheelementsthatIfoundmostfascinatingfrom1984(thoseincontrolreshapinghistoryandmessage,orinthiscase,reshapingaglobalcrisisfortheirownneeds)andFahrenheit451(peopleoptingforeasycomfortrealities).Italsoincludedlargesectionsthatweremorepoliticalandsocialcritique.ThisbookisatranslationandnotthetypeofwritingthatclickswithNorthAmericanaudiences.Butitwasfascinating.3.5stars. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Apr23,2021 ECH addedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition IthinkthethingthatthebooksaidtomewhichconnectedthemostisWesternersdon'tgetwhythisworldbuildingmonologuesectionissodramaticPeoplewhoareintheculturedoIdon'tthinkIhadenoughcontexttothinkofitasaspeculativebookAndI'veneverreallybeenintothewholeWhatifthisanxietyprovokinghistoricaleventaboutcommunismhadworkedoutdifferentlyWhichseemstobeagenreofscifitomeIhonestlycouldn'ttellmuchaboutwhatwasauthorvshistory.Asthebookpoin IthinkthethingthatthebooksaidtomewhichconnectedthemostisWesternersdon'tgetwhythisworldbuildingmonologuesectionissodramaticPeoplewhoareintheculturedoIdon'tthinkIhadenoughcontexttothinkofitasaspeculativebookAndI'veneverreallybeenintothewholeWhatifthisanxietyprovokinghistoricaleventaboutcommunismhadworkedoutdifferentlyWhichseemstobeagenreofscifitomeIhonestlycouldn'ttellmuchaboutwhatwasauthorvshistory.Asthebookpointsout,that'snotitsfault.Ireallydon'tlikethewholedrugged=complacenttropethoughOtherthingsI'veviewedaboutthisNPR:'TheFatYears':China'sBraveNewWorldYoutubeWaterstones:TheFatYearsbyChanKoonchungIcan'tseemtofindalotonthis...suggestions? ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Jun02,2020 NahuelCampos ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Sintenerdemasiadasexpectativas,leíestasuertededistopíaquedecepcionópoco(dadoelhechodenoesperarnadadeella).UnanovelaqueponedemanifiestociertascontradiccionesdelaChinaactual.Escritaen2009,situadaen2013,empiezaypareceprometerconlapremisadeladesaparicióndeunmes.Amnesiacolectiva,ounguiñoa1984,algoprometía.LuegoseconvierteenunmanifiestocontraelPartidoComunistaChino,quenonecesariamenteesalgonegativo,peroestápésimamenteescrit Sintenerdemasiadasexpectativas,leíestasuertededistopíaquedecepcionópoco(dadoelhechodenoesperarnadadeella).UnanovelaqueponedemanifiestociertascontradiccionesdelaChinaactual.Escritaen2009,situadaen2013,empiezaypareceprometerconlapremisadeladesaparicióndeunmes.Amnesiacolectiva,ounguiñoa1984,algoprometía.LuegoseconvierteenunmanifiestocontraelPartidoComunistaChino,quenonecesariamenteesalgonegativo,peroestápésimamenteescrita,conpersonajesolvidablesyunargumentoquesedesdibujaenposdedejarenclarolaposiciónpolíticadelautor. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Mar12,2019 AbigaleMiller ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisreviewhasbeenhiddenbecauseitcontainsspoilers.Toviewit, clickhere. IexpectedtolikethisbookmorethanIdid.Ikeptreadingeventhoughitdidn'treallygrabme,becauseIwaswaitingforthebigreveal...whathappenedinthemissingmonth?Howdidtheygeteveryonetoforget?Whydosomepeoplerememberit?Ifyou'relikemeandstillreadingbecauseyouwanttoknowtheanswers...justputitawayandmoveontosomethingelse.Thebigendingisreallyboring. IexpectedtolikethisbookmorethanIdid.Ikeptreadingeventhoughitdidn'treallygrabme,becauseIwaswaitingforthebigreveal...whathappenedinthemissingmonth?Howdidtheygeteveryonetoforget?Whydosomepeoplerememberit?Ifyou'relikemeandstillreadingbecauseyouwanttoknowtheanswers...justputitawayandmoveontosomethingelse.Thebigendingisreallyboring. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview May01,2019 〰️Beth〰️ ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 1mycooc, china, banned-book, science-fiction MaybeitwasthetranslationorjusttheculturaldifferencesbutIcouldnotinvestmyselfintothisbook.Icandefinitelyseetheparallelstotodaysincethisdystopianwassetin2013.InthatrespectIamhappytohavegottensomeinformationandunderstandingofthepoliticalandeconomicissuesweseetoday. flag 1like · Like  · seereview Mar17,2020 Warner ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition TheTranslator'sNotedoesadecentjobofgivingthereaderanideaofthisbook'sreceptioninChinaandhowcloselyithewstoactuallyPRCpolicies.It'soddthatit'sbeencategorizedasasciencefictionbook,butIguesssincemostreadersseemtothinkofitasadystopiadespitetheprotestsofthetranslator,thatmakesacertainamountofsense. TheTranslator'sNotedoesadecentjobofgivingthereaderanideaofthisbook'sreceptioninChinaandhowcloselyithewstoactuallyPRCpolicies.It'soddthatit'sbeencategorizedasasciencefictionbook,butIguesssincemostreadersseemtothinkofitasadystopiadespitetheprotestsofthetranslator,thatmakesacertainamountofsense. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    GoodreadsLibrari...: Combineeditions 3 21 Apr06,201803:59PM   GoodreadsLibrari...: Combinationrequest 55 220 Oct31,201110:51PM   Somelinkstolookataboutthistitle 1 4 Jul30,201006:06AM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Fiction 121users Cultural> China 92users ScienceFiction 34users ScienceFiction> Dystopia 25users Cultural> Asia 12users Politics 12users Novels 9users Literature 8users Unfinished 6users Literature> AsianLiterature 6users Seetopshelves… AboutChanKoonchung ChanKoonchung 22 followers ChanKoonchung陳冠中(born1952)isaChinesescience-fictionwriterwhohaspreviouslylivedinHongKong,Taiwan,andtheUnitedStates.HecurrentlylivesinBeijing.HeisthefounderofGreenPower(綠色力量),GreenGardenOrganicFarm(綠田園有機農場)andtheHongKongFilmDirectorsAssociation(香港電影導演會)amongotherorganizations,andiscurrentlyontheinternationalboardofdirectorsofGreenpeace.P ChanKoonchung陳冠中(born1952)isaChinesescience-fictionwriterwhohaspreviouslylivedinHongKong,Taiwan,andtheUnitedStates.HecurrentlylivesinBeijing.HeisthefounderofGreenPower(綠色力量),GreenGardenOrganicFarm(綠田園有機農場)andtheHongKongFilmDirectorsAssociation(香港電影導演會)amongotherorganizations,andiscurrentlyontheinternationalboardofdirectorsofGreenpeace.Previously,heworkedasareporterfortheHongKongtabloid,TheStar.In1976heco-foundedCityMagazine(號外)withQiuShiwenandDengXiaoyuandHuJunyi.Inthe1990sheworkedasanoverseaspublisherforthemainlandliteraryjournalDushu(读书）,publishedbytheChinaPublishingGroup(中国出版集团)andLife,Reading,andInnovationBookstore(生活读书新知三联书店).In1991heplayedtheroleofProfessorLiuYuebaiinYanHaoandXuKe'sadaptationofACheng's1984novel,TheChessMaster.HisdystopiannovelTheFatYears(2009)waspublishedinEnglishbyDoubledayin2011.[1]Inhisrecentbook,TheUnbearableDreamworldofChampatheDriver(2014),theTibetandriverandloverofaChinesebusinesswomanfallsinlovewithherdaughter.ItisasatiricalmetaphoroftheunbalancedrelationsbetweenChinaandTibet. ...more BooksbyChanKoonchung More… News&InterviewsFallBackintoReadingwithThese60RecentAutumnFaves Autumnalreadingisthebestkindofreading.Thecrispfallair.Therustlingleaves.Thecardigansweaters.Youcanevengetthefireplace...Readmore...43likes·18comments Quotesfrom盛世：中國，2013年 “IstillwantedtoprovethatIwasthebestofallthesecond-ratewriters.Irefusedallfurtherrequeststowritejournalismandstartedtoconcentratesolelyonmynovel.Sincethen,Ihavenotwrittenasingleword.” — 2likes “Thisyearistheyearofmyzodiacsign,andalotofstrangethingsareboundtohappen.” — 0likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.