Interest in Russian science fiction literature is gaining momentum in China

There is a growing interest in Russian science fiction in China, according to Kong Xiangxi, director of the Department of Foreign Literature at the Mir Science Fiction Publishing House and an expert at the II International Symposium "Creating the Future". The most popular topics among readers are contacts with other civilizations, changing society through the development of technology, the price of scientific progress and the preservation of humanity. The ideas and plots of the most widely read works largely echo the agenda of the II International Symposium "Creating the Future", which will be held on October 7-8, 2025 at the Rossiya National Center. Participants from all over the world will discuss positive scenarios for the development of the future and pay special attention to the contribution of science fiction to technological progress.

Russian science fiction is causing active discussions on Chinese social networks, among readers and publishers. This indicates that the works of Russian science fiction writers are in high demand in China.

"The Chinese book market is quite conservative. It mainly consists of original Chinese works, translated literature occupies a relatively small proportion. However, in recent years, the number of Russian science fiction publications in China has been growing. I think this is partly due to the Atomic Heart computer game, which has aroused interest in science fiction and at the same time introduced users to Russian history and culture. As a result, the total sales volume of Russian science fiction novels has grown," said Kong Xiangxi, Director of the Foreign Literature Department at the Mir Science Fiction Publishing House.

The expert emphasizes that in China, the boundaries of the science fiction genre are understood a little more broadly than in Russia. In particular, Mikhail Bulgakov's "Fatal Eggs" and "Heart of a Dog" were promoted in the Chinese market under new names and with genre definitions such as "dystopia" and "satirical science fiction." In general, the list of the most widely read Russian authors includes Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Sergey Lukyanenko, Robert Ibatullin and Viktor Pelevin.

One of the reasons for the popularity of Russian fiction is that in Russia, science fiction writers are often also philosophers. The fascinating plot, interesting characters and serious scientific basis in the works of Russian authors are just the background for discussing the most important questions about the meaning of life, the essence of man and moral choice. It is not for nothing that the works of the Strugatsky brothers, which were created 50-70 years ago, are in such demand, but even today they are considered classics of Russian fiction. Despite the difference in mentalities and cultures, the Strugatsky stories also resonate with Chinese readers.

"Many iconic works by the Strugatsky brothers have been translated and published in China, and new editions are regularly published. The novel "Picnic on the Side of the Road", based on which Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Stalker" was shot, is especially popular among reading Chinese youth and film enthusiasts. Although these works occupy a narrow niche in the mainstream market, they are considered classics in academic circles and among science fiction fans," said Kong Xiangxi.

In Russia, "Picnic on the Sidelines" topped the ranking of the most widely read books in the genre of science fiction, according to a study conducted by the Chitai Gorod bookstore chain. It is obvious that the eternal questions about human nature, contact with the unknown and the consequences of moral choice concern readers all over the world.

Among the most popular Russian science fiction writers among Chinese readers are authors who are particularly convincing in painting pictures of the possible future of humanity. For example, Sergey Lukyanenko first attracted the attention of the Chinese audience with his series of fantasy novels "Night Watch", but later gained credibility as a master of science fiction novels. Lukyanenko's works touch on the theme of the future in one way or another, but at the same time resonate with the problems of the present. So, in the novel "Stars are cold toys", the civilization of earthlings is forced to fight for its place in the Galaxy with stronger and more aggressive representatives of the interstellar community, and in the novel "Genome" the author considers the use of genetic engineering in relation to the human genotype, changes not only in physiology, but also in human psychology.

In Russia, interest in science fiction is steadily growing, and Russian authors enjoy special prestige among readers. If we compare the data for the last three years (from 2022 to 2024), the demand for domestic science fiction has increased almost 1.5 times. So, from July 2024 to July 2025, a total of 180,000 copies of books by Russian science fiction writers were sold.

The relevance of Russian science fiction writers at home is reflected in the top 5 most popular science fiction books. It includes the Strugatsky brothers' novellas "Picnic on the Side of the Road", "It's Hard to be God" and "Monday Starts on Saturday", Alexey Ivanov's novel about an alternative future "Vegetation", and Frank Herbert with the novel "Dune" turned out to be the only representative of foreign fiction in the rating. This is in stark contrast to other genres: for example, the share of foreign authors in the top 50 most popular books of fiction and romantic literature is almost 70%.