China Entertainment Mythology 2004

The set of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

During a break in filming, Liu Yifei approached her mother Liu Xiaoli.

"Mom, there is a new novel out in the United States called "the hunger games". Can you buy a copy for me?"

"novel?"

"Well, Jenny recommended it to me and said it was very, very good. I like all the books she recommended. This book sold nearly 500,000 copies in the first month after it was put on the shelves. It is really a bestseller. By the way, this book

The author of the novel is still Chinese."

"I know, I'll ask someone to buy a copy in the next few days."

…

In early January, Li Mu took the time to go to Chengdu. This time, "The Hunger Games" could be published in the United States so smoothly. Science Fiction World Magazine contributed a lot.

Although the magazine itself can also benefit from this publication, after all, Li Mu himself is the biggest beneficiary of this publication, so Li Mu decided to go to the magazine in person and invite the editors and leaders of the magazine.

Let's have a meal and keep in touch.

Of course, the two editors he wanted to thank the most were Yang Feng and Qin Li.

Speaking of which, he is most familiar with Editor Yang Feng, and he usually communicates with Editor Yang Feng when something happens.

In addition, editor Qin Li contributed the most to his work. This time she just flew back from the United States, and then flew to the United States again for his new book. It can be said that she worked hard.

Fortunately, all the efforts were not in vain in the end, and the publication finally had a pretty good result.

When Li Mu's figure appeared in the editorial office of Science Fiction World Magazine, all the editors' eyes fell on Li Mu.

Everyone wanted to see what this man who sold 480,000 books in the United States in just one month looked like, but when they saw it, everyone was shocked.

Turns out he is so young!

Although I had known for a long time that Li Mu was young, hearing about it and seeing it with my own eyes gave me completely different feelings.

Some older editors couldn't help but compare Li Mu with their own children. Several editors' children were older than Li Mu, but looking at Li Mu's achievements...

Why!

There's really no comparison!

However, literary workers all have their own reserve, so although everyone was shocked, they all remained calm on the surface.

The two editors, Yang Feng and Qin Li, are both women in their 40s. After meeting, Li Mu expressed his sincere gratitude to the two editors. Both editors also had a very good impression of Li Mu.

The main reason is that Li Mu's conditions are really good. He is only 20 years old, extremely good-looking, and has also written a best-selling novel in the United States based on his own ability. The novel has great potential and may even hit tens of millions of sales.

If "The Hunger Games" can really hit tens of millions of sales in the United States, what will it be like? The two editors were a little fascinated.

Not to mention that Li Mu is also the screenwriter and assistant director of Cheng Long's new movie, and I heard that he will invest in his own movies in the future - these are things that a young man who is just 20 years old should accomplish?

Isn't he a proud man of heaven?

Of course, the most important thing is that Li Mu has a sweet mouth and respects both editors very much. Naturally, the two editors like Li Mu very much.

If Li Mu relied on his own achievements and regarded others as inferior to him, then the two editors would not appreciate him no matter how high his grades were.

Now that I have arrived at Science Fiction World Magazine, I naturally have to pay a visit to the magazine’s president, Alai.

Li Mu had heard of Alai's name in his previous life. In the winter of 1994, Alai completed his first novel "The Dust Has Settled." In 2000, he won the fifth Mao Dun Literature Award for "The Dust Has Settled."

"The Dust Has Settled" is a story about the silly son of the chieftain's family. This novel was also made into a TV series in 2003. Fan Binbin played the leading role in the play, the wife of the second young master of the chieftain's family.

However, Alai did not attend the banquet.

"You go ahead. If I go, no one will be able to let me go."

In addition, deputy editor Yao Haijun also said that he had something to do and couldn't go. After Li Mu inquired carefully, he found out that Liu Cixin happened to be in Chengdu, and editor Yao Haijun had made an appointment to have dinner with Liu Cixin today.

Li Mu immediately said: "Then I just called Da Liu, and the editors may not know it, right? I wrote a letter to Da Liu a few months ago. At that time, I had not started writing, and I had some doubts about what I could do.

I couldn’t become a writer, and because I liked Da Liu’s novels very much, I wrote a letter to Da Liu and expressed my troubles in the letter.”

"I didn't expect that Liu actually wrote me a reply. In the letter, Liu encouraged me and said that the most difficult thing about writing is always to start writing. Then I wrote the work called "Moon"."

This was the first time for both editors Yang Feng and Qin Li to hear about this. After hearing this, both editors were in awe.

After learning that Li Mu and Liu Cixin actually had such a connection, editor Yang Feng immediately called deputy editor Yao Haijun and formally extended an invitation to Liu Cixin on behalf of Li Mu.

"Isn't it appropriate for me to go?" Liu Cixin was very curious about Li Mu, who suddenly sold 480,000 books a month in the United States. However, Li Mu hosted a banquet for magazine editors, so it seemed a bit unexpected for him to go.

Then Editor Yang Feng smiled and said: "Liu, you must come this time. Without the encouragement from your letter, I don't know how long it would have taken Li Mu to embark on the path of creation."

"Ah?" Liu Cixin was immediately confused.

Yang Feng smiled and said: "Did you really forget, or are you just pretending to be confused with me? Li Mugang was still talking to the editorial office, saying that he had written you a letter a few months ago, and he also said that you encouraged him in his reply.

He had to take the first step bravely, and it was with your encouragement that the films "Moon" and "The Hunger Games" were born."

Liu Cixin's head suddenly exploded.

"Ah...that Li Mu is this Li Mu!"

At this time, Editor Yang Feng handed the phone to Li Mu. Li Mu smiled and invited: "Brother Liu, you must come this time. If we hadn't happened to meet here this time, maybe I would come next month."

I went directly to Xishan Province to find you."

He has long coveted the film and television rights to Liu Cixin's novels.

After knowing that the two had such an intersection, Liu Cixin no longer refused.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

A well-known restaurant in Chengdu.

Li Mu asked for a private room, and there were two tables in the private room.

The banquet officially started. First, Li Mu expressed his gratitude to the editors of the magazine, especially the three editors Yang Feng, Qin Li, and Yao Haijun. Then several editors expressed their appreciation for Li Mu.

Next, Li Mu talked with Liu about the letter from a few months ago, which made Liu Cixin sigh.

Just a few short months ago, Liu, as a senior, was encouraging Li Mu to bravely take the first step in writing. Unexpectedly, just a few months later, Li Mu would write "The Moon"

” and works like “The Hunger Games.”

In particular, the book "The Hunger Games" was on the New York Times bestseller list in just one month, with monthly sales reaching an astonishing 480,000 copies!

Liu Cixin has been writing books for many years, and the best published result so far is less than 40,000 copies. This is the total sales accumulated over the years.

On the other hand, Li Mu actually achieved a monthly sales of 480,000 yuan in just a few months, which is almost incredible!

Liu Cixin himself attaches great importance to the performance of his works. He once said in an interview that he would not write works that no one would read. Because he values ​​performance, he was even more shocked by Li Mu's performance.

After a few glasses of wine, Liu Cixin said: "Li Mu, I have specifically studied your book "The Hunger Games". Based on my understanding of the American market, it is entirely possible for this book to create tens of millions of sales - you are creating

I wrote a super best-selling book!”

Li Mu said: "I have always liked Brother Liu's works very much. I have absolutely reason to believe that Brother Liu will be able to create a set of super best-sellers sooner or later. And judging from the long-term influence, the best-selling books created by Brother Liu

The influence will definitely surpass "The Hunger Games"."

Liu Cixin smiled and shook his head, obviously not agreeing with Li Mu's statement. For him at this time, he was completely satisfied if he could write a book with a sales volume of over 50,000.

It can be seen that no one in the entire private room recognized Li Mu's statement just now, and everyone regarded Li Mu's speech as a modest statement.

Li Mu said seriously at this time: "Brother Liu, don't think I'm joking. Every word I said today is from the bottom of my heart. I really think that sooner or later, Brother Liu will be able to create a work with a sales volume of tens of millions."

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, Li Mu continued: "Why are the sales of domestic science fiction works not high now? In the final analysis, the circle of science fiction is too narrow. The audience is too small, which will inevitably lead to the failure of the works no matter how excellent they are.

It’s also difficult to really sell well, and fame can only spread within a very small range.”

"Actually, Brother Liu's works definitely have the potential to become popular. What they are lacking at the moment is nothing more than breaking out of the circle."

"Before 1995, the monthly sales volume of "Science Fiction World" magazine was only 30,000 to 40,000 copies. In 1995, the monthly sales volume suddenly increased to 150,000 copies. Before 1999, the monthly sales volume of the magazine was still about 200,000 copies. In 2000, the monthly sales volume suddenly increased sharply.

to 400,000 copies per month.”

“Why were there two sales surges in 1995 and 2000?”

"In 1995, it was "Xinwen Lianbo" that advertised, and in 2000, it was the college entrance examination essay incident that made the magazine famous."

"These two are actually typical breaking events. The reason why Brother Liu's work is so far away from becoming a real hit may be because of the lack of one such breaking event."

Liu Cixin finally faced Li Mu's statement seriously.

"But it is not easy to break out of the circle. Whether it is the promotion of "Xinwen Lianbo" or the essay writing for the college entrance examination, it is something that can only happen but cannot be sought."

Li Mu smiled and said: "Of course this kind of breaking of the circle is something that can be encountered but cannot be sought, but some breaking of the circle can be obtained with one's own efforts."

The entire private room was quiet now, everyone wanted to hear what Li Mu had to say next.

Especially Liu Cixin, who is eager for greater results but cannot see the direction of further breakthroughs. Now Li Mu's statement is like a bolt of lightning in the darkness, tearing a gap in the night.

Li Mu laughed at this time and said: "The highest international honor for science fiction novels is the Hugo Award. So far, no Asian has won this award. If Brother Liu's novel can win the Hugo Award, it will be a big deal."

Doesn’t it count as a circle break?”

"Impossible!" Liu Cixin said flatly.

Win a Hugo Award?

At this time, Liu Cixin didn't even dare to dream.

Li Mu said seriously: "Why is it impossible? I have read many Hugo Award-winning works. To be honest, if you look at the level alone, many of them are not as outstanding as Brother Liu's works."

"Since Brother Liu's level is sufficient, what is missing is just an opportunity, and since it is an opportunity, it will definitely come sooner or later."

"In my eyes, in Asia today, there are only two writers who have the greatest hope of winning the Hugo Award."

"Cao Cao said: 'The only heroes in the world are Shi Jun and Cao Er.' I say today: 'The only winners of the Hugo Award are Da Liu and Mu Er.'"

"Why don't Brother Liu and I have a competition to see whose novel wins the Hugo Award first?"