Reading "Science Fiction World" (14) The "Star Child" Facing Destiny: Jiang Bo's "Star Child"

Synopsis

Published in the 8th issue of "Science Fiction World" in 2024.

Diagnosed with autism, Wang Ziqiang struggled to fit in with those around him since childhood and had a difficult time in school. In particular, his exceptional memory made him a target of jealousy from his classmates, and he was sometimes subjected to violence.

One day, his fate took a turn when he encountered an excavator. Ziqiang learned how to use the excavator in an instant and became faster at operating it than anyone else. Although he was suspected of having Asperger's syndrome, Ziqiang became an apprentice to the master who operated the excavator and further honed his skills, eventually surpassing even his senior apprentice.

Time passed, and as an adult, Ziqiang accidentally reunited with Li Yiyan, a former classmate who was the only one to treat him kindly during his childhood. Yiyan came up with the idea of posting videos of Ziqiang working with the excavator to earn money. With his master and senior apprentice taking care of his daily needs, and thanks to Yiyan, Ziqiang achieved financial independence. However, after a certain incident led him to a lunar development site, he began to suffer from severe headaches.

The cause of the headaches was a massive brain tumor that could no longer be removed. Ziqiang made a choice regarding his own terminal condition. Even then, what was on his mind was the excavator, but...

Impressions

Although it is a short work, it left a deep impression on me as a grand-scale story that carefully recounts a person's entire life.

Because the protagonist, who is also the narrator, is set as having Asperger's syndrome, unique physical sensations and movements of the heart are scattered throughout the story. For example, he feels like "he is the machine (excavator) itself," or thinks, "If I were cured of my illness, I would be able to cry with Mom." Throughout the work, there are many instances of narration where he observes himself—intellectual yet devoid of emotion. I do not know how much research the author did into the actual symptoms of patients, but by telling the story as the voice of the person involved rather than explaining general symptoms from the outside, I felt as though I could catch a glimpse of his inner world.

Also, in the story, human operation of excavators is gradually becoming obsolete, and by the time Ziqiang is an adult, unmanned operation using AI has become widespread. Although Ziqiang is slightly slower than the AI, he is exceptionally fast among humans, which allows him to make a living using the excavator. The setting of the story seems to be the near future, but I felt that this aspect was depicted with imagery that is easy for us in the modern day to understand.

And in the end, Ziqiang never left the excavator. But in what way? That is where the ending provides a satisfying, true science fiction twist, giving me the feeling of having watched a movie.

About the Author

I have introduced Jiang Bo several times on this note. "The Bookstore at the End of the Universe" was also reprinted in "Space Tombstone," published by Hayakawa Publishing the other day. Furthermore, I am looking forward to the continued Japanese translation of the "Galaxy Heart" series!"}]]}]}```