Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 308 - 311 Hugo Award

In Paris, France, the office of the Hugo Award World Science Fiction Prize selection committee.

Many judges had copies of "The Diamond Age," "Deadly Magic," and "Anomalies" published by Random by their sides.

According to the preliminary general membership vote, these three works were welcomed by middle-aged and elderly novel enthusiasts, short story enthusiasts, and young novel enthusiasts, respectively.

Now, the destination of this year’s science fiction literary crown was to be determined by many renowned scholars and university professors.

"I was going to choose this work, but the author suddenly announced his withdrawal," said the head of the literature department at Oxford University, while collecting "The Diamond Age" from the table.

"So, is this year’s Hugo Award going to be given to a short story?" a judge asked.

"Don’t we still have ’Anomalies’?" said a newly appointed young judge, shrugging his shoulders.

"Stop joking, the science fiction part of ’Anomalies’ is brilliant, but what leaves a deeper impression is its interesting dialogue," retorted a professor from the Paris Higher Normal School literature department.

Many readers think it’s more a comedy novel than a science fiction work.

Well, as soon as a novel is labeled as comedy, it’s pretty much goodbye to any major literary prize.

Just like no comedy film has won at the three major film festivals or the Best Picture Oscar, comedy novels are also at the bottom of the literary pecking order.

"I just received a call from Mr. Joseph Keller, who hopes we will grant the Hugo Award to ’Anomalies,’" said this year’s rotating chairman, the head of the literature department at Cambridge University, slowly starting the conversation.

This statement caused a stir among the judges present.

"Mr. Joseph Keller?" a confused judge responded.

This writer, with his lofty reputation, normally shouldn’t interfere with award selection.

Just as the famous writer Haruki Murakami, despite being a runner-up many times, has never tried to privately court relations with Nobel Prize for Literature judges.

For the proud writers, this would absolutely constitute a scandal of epic proportions.

Who is this writer with the typical Chinese name? Why would Mr. Joseph Keller abandon his years of persistence and actively PR for him?

"Ahem," the chairman quieted the room with a cough.

He then took out a stack of photocopied news briefs from his briefcase and had the staff distribute them to everyone present.

Upon receiving the briefings, the judges made even more noise than before.

"The United States government actually passed a proposal to restrict literary genres?"

"What are they trying to do? Control public opinion, rebuild the Third Empire?"

A literature professor from Columbia University let out a wry smile at the scene.

If there’s anything that can overthrow the disdain for artistic creation, it’s combating political oppression.

For this reason, writers’ groups criticizing the government is simply righteous.

And to criticize the most powerful government in the world, the United States, makes it all the more enjoyable in the global literary community.

When Europe received aid from the American "Marshall Plan," they could still make Chaplin an eternally famous "Comedy Master."

And how many people remember Buster Keaton, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Chaplin?

"Alright," the chairman waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Neither Mr. Joseph Keller’s suggestion nor this news briefing should affect everyone’s choice."

"Now, let’s start voting."

A literature professor from Columbia University hesitated for a moment between being an American and a writer.

Then, he firmly wrote the name "Anomalies" on the ballot.

"Damn those dirty politicians in the House of Representatives!"

In the end, "Anomalies" unsurprisingly won the Hugo Award.

As if drawing a parallel to the United States House of Representatives passing the proposal in a single go, all but two votes went to "Anomalies" instead of "Deadly Magic."

This was also the most-voted work since the end of World War II.

The chairman looked at the results and nodded in satisfaction, "The writers remain as united as ever in the face of political interference."

He stood up with the voting results in hand, "I will announce these results to the media."

"The committee will also issue a statement to condemn the United States government."

"Okay, everyone, let’s proceed with a show of hands for this event!"

...

Due to the time difference, Wang Jian was still asleep when the Hugo Award results were announced in Paris.

"Fuck!" Just as he woke up, thinking about the nightmare from the day before, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.

"That Texas Governor’s commercial success was simply astonishing. If it had been any other politician, I wouldn’t be so worried."

Wang Jian sat in the car on his way to Flushing, painfully massaging his forehead.

But as soon as he got off the car, he was startled by a horde of journalists rushing towards him like wolves.

"I’m a reporter from the Washington Post." His microphone was almost poked into Wang Jian’s face.

"Mr. Wang, what do you think about your work, ’Anomalies,’ winning the Hugo Award?"

"The committee has condemned the United States government for interfering with the creativity of writers; do you think it has something to do with you?"

’Anomalies’? The Hugo Award?

Could a novel of the comedy genre actually win a prestigious science fiction literary prize?

What the hell is this!

Wang Jian thought about it and felt it wouldn’t have much of an impact on him.

After all, the Hugo Award is just a ceremonial honor; there’s no substantial prize money.

Its more important function is to sell more novels and high-priced rights with the help of the award’s prestige.

However, the television rights for ’Anomalies’ had already been sold to ABC, and he wasn’t planning to sell the film rights.

Even though, after ’Star Wars,’ the six major studios wouldn’t allow another high-priced IP to slip out of their hands.

But, Wang Jian still wanted to try...

After uttering some cliché phrases like "It’s a great honor," he entered the office building under the escort of security. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

But before Wang Jian could snap out of his astonishment, his phone rang.

He glanced at it and saw it was Larry Elson.

The world’s top ten billionaire and Oracle boss opened with, "Congratulations, Wang, you’ve claimed the crown of science fiction."

"Your book fans are already going crazy over this news!"

"Thanks." Wang Jian smirked, thinking to himself, "Who knows what got into the heads of the Hugo Award judges!"

However, without reconciling with the Vatican first, the more famous he was, the more likely he’d face a backlash from religious extremists.

So, the most important thing now was to wait for the Governor of Texas’s plan to be complete.

"By the way," Elson continued, "I’ve realized that crazy spending no longer catches the attention of shareholders."

"You wouldn’t mind if I leveraged the heat from your book fans, would you? After all, literature isn’t as sensitive as religion or racial issues."

Uh?

Wang Jian was stunned for a moment, instantly thinking of Wozniak.

"How do you plan to leverage it?" He had a bad feeling.

"By spending money, of course, to provide logistical support for your book fans."

Fuck! George Bush... wasn’t ready yet!

Wang Jian hung up the phone and ran towards his office as if mad.

"Damn, the company really should get an elevator."

But when he hurriedly opened his computer, the information he saw made the sweat from running cool instantly.

He saw a tweet on the homepage, coming from an account certified as Elson’s, pinned to the top.

"If you hope to march to Washington, please contact Oracle’s customer service."

"Although Mr. Elson has not established a charitable foundation like Bill Gates did."

"He has never forgotten that a large corporation needs to shoulder social responsibility!"

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel