Chinese sci-fi, digital cultural IPs shine at Worldcon in California

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese science fiction and digital cultural intellectual properties (IPs) and products from Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, have drawn wide attention at the ongoing 84th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Southern California.

This year's convention, running from Aug. 27 to 31 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Orange County, Southern California, brings together thousands of fans, authors, artists, actors, scientists, and lovers of science fiction and fantasy from around the globe.

A lineup of sci-fi and digital cultural IPs and products from Chengdu is on show at the convention, including KORMO, the mascot of the 2023 Worldcon, Walulu, All Wishes Came True!, Doctor Who merchandise, and PANDA HOMELAND Heaney.

Robert J. Sawyer, a renowned Canadian science fiction writer and Hugo and Nebula Awards winner, depicted the sci-fi and digital cultural IPs from Chengdu as "highlights" of Chinese innovation at the convention.

Having visited China seven times, Sawyer told Xinhua that he has witnessed the rapid growth of China's sci-fi community.

"It's fantastic to see this becoming so popular ... to see young people reading about science, technology, computers, artificial intelligence, exploring the solar system, going beyond the solar system," Sawyer told Xinhua.

On the innovation and writing styles of Chinese science fiction writers, Sawyer said that they are writing exciting scientific breakthroughs in the way Western science fiction writers used to, but with all the technology and science available today, including computing, quantum physics, space travel and biotechnology.

He also highlighted the diversity of China's sci-fi culture, including Chinese artwork, graphic novels, computer-animated videos, films and television productions.

Considering international exchanges important to the development of science fiction, he said that writers and editors from China, Canada, Europe and the United States have been working together on projects that bring different perspectives on the future.

Carolina Gomez Lagerlof, chair of the European Science Fiction Society, told Xinhua that interest in Chinese science fiction has grown considerably in Western Europe in recent years and that an increasing number of Chinese science fiction works are now available in translation.

She said she was also surprised by the scale of interest in science fiction in China after visiting the country and meeting Chinese fans.

Chen Shi, secretary-general of Chengdu Science Fiction Society, said the sci-fi community in Chengdu hopes to showcase the appeal of Chinese sci-fi at the convention, learn from Hollywood's experience in innovation and development in the sci-fi sector, and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the international sci-fi community.

Since its founding in 1939, Worldcon has become the annual gathering of the World Science Fiction Society and one of science fiction's most important cultural events. Its Hugo Award rank among the field's most coveted prizes for science fiction and fantasy.