Chapter 525: Becoming Famous with One Book

In early August, the eighth issue of Contemporary magazine was officially released for sale. Many loyal readers of Contemporary magazine bought the latest issue of the magazine in bookstores and newsstands as soon as possible.

When I got the publication, the four-word headline on the cover, "The Dust Settles," was extremely eye-catching.

The name that Ale gave to his novel has a transcendental temperament that makes many people feel good about it at first sight.

When they opened the publication, they immediately noticed that this issue was different.

The font of the novel "Dust Settles" on the cover headline is obviously larger than other works, and it was published in one issue. No wonder this issue is so thick and the price was temporarily increased.

With curiosity in their hearts, readers fixed their eyes on the text of this novel that enjoyed special treatment.

"What Dust Settles" is a literary work with a serious theme, but it is not boring to read. On the contrary, when creating it, Alai skillfully combined the advantages of Tibetan oral literature and Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury".

The material of "Dust Settles" is taken from the folk culture of Tibet and draws on the narrative method of folk oral literature. It not only has a certain legendary and popular nature, but also has a high degree of artistry.

The novel combines legendary, popular and artistic qualities, and the plot is full of ups and downs, which makes countless readers feel moved by the fate of the idiot second young master.

Lin Weimin told Alai at the time that it was not an exaggeration to say that "Dust Settles" was worthy of the Yanbing Literature Award.

A week after the eighth issue of the magazine went on sale, the editorial department of Contemporary began to receive letters from readers. As time went on, the number of letters from readers increased.

Half a month later, book reviews about "Dust Settles" began to appear in newspapers, and all of these reviews gave extremely high praise to the novel.

More and more positive feedback made the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine, which had been paying close attention to the response to this issue of the publication, very excited.

Before the publication of "Dust Settles", Alai was an unknown figure in the editorial department of "Contemporary", the domestic literary world and many readers. Looking through his resume, there are only a handful of novels, and the only work published in "Contemporary" is a short story "Agu Dunba".

When editors in the editorial department occasionally talk about Alai, they can't remember his name and refer to him as "the Tibetan author from the southwest."

Now that "Dust Settles" has just been published, it has received so many positive reviews and strong responses, it can truly be said that "one book made him famous."

The editors lamented the rise of Alai and "Dust Settles" in a short period of time, and unconsciously mentioned Lin Weimin, who was urging them to publish this novel in the eighth issue.

In the past few months, there were no heavyweight works published in "Contemporary". It is understandable that Lin Weimin was a little anxious when he saw this situation after just returning to China.

To be able to complete a series of tasks such as revision, proofreading, typesetting, and printing of a novel in just half a month seems a bit too hasty.

Due to time constraints, the manuscript of "Dust Settles" was not circulated within the editorial department. Most colleagues in the editorial department only saw the true face of the novel after it was published.

They are all senior editors who have been in the industry for many years and work in major magazines like Contemporary. After so many years, they have become knowledgeable and experienced, and many classic works have been published through their hands.

But after watching "Dust Settles", everyone gave it positive reviews without hesitation.

When everyone was discussing "Dust Settles", they compared this novel with the many long novels published by "Contemporary" over the years. After careful discussion, everyone felt that even under such harsh comparison conditions, the quality of "Dust Settles" can still be described as extremely excellent.

Everyone is also analyzing what is the biggest reason that allows everyone to reach such a unanimous conclusion.

They are a group of editors whose professionalism is unquestionable and each of them can give some advice that makes sense.

Epic temperament, magical colors, folk legends...

After discussing for a long time, no one could convince anyone else.

At the end of the conversation, Tong Zhonggui went to ask Lin Weimin for advice.

"After all, this novel is a triumph of poetry and philosophy. You have all read the novel. Over the years, can you find a novel with a similar temperament?"

Lin Weimin’s words hit the nail on the head, and everyone lowered their heads in thought.

That’s right, in recent years, domestic literary works are like the water in rivers, with all kinds of mud and sand flowing into them. It seems that the source of all works can be found, and if you don’t label yourself, you are not high-end.

But this is not the case with Allais's "Dust Settles". He is not any kind of literary variant.

It is a legendary story born out of Tibetan culture, but it can attract readers' attention and touch their hearts.

To say that this novel is a national epic with legendary and magical elements is too general.

When we reflect on ourselves, isn’t it the poetry and philosophy that Alai expressed in the novel that moved us the most when we were reading?

The wise yet foolish Second Young Master makes everyone who has read this novel see the Buddha nature in him.

It is precisely because of this Buddha nature that he is always successful and victorious.

"Weimin still sees things clearly!" He Qizhi exclaimed in admiration.

If Lin Weimin had not thoroughly understood the core and excellence of the novel "Dust Settles", he would not have been in a hurry to push this novel to the forefront and treat it so well.

While the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine was discussing the topic of Dust Settles, other editorial offices within Guowen Publishing House were also discussing this novel. What everyone was most impressed with this time was that Contemporary Magazine had discovered another great author.

Many people in the publishing house heard about Lin Weimin's eagerness to produce works with great influence as soon as he returned from abroad. The works published in Contemporary Magazine in the past six months have received mediocre responses, so it is understandable that Lin Weimin wanted to take action as soon as he returned.

But I didn’t expect Lin Weimin to act so quickly. His first issue after returning to China was a work as substantial as “Dust Settles”.

During the discussion, everyone was inevitably curious. How could it be such a coincidence that Lin Weimin had just returned to China and "Contemporary" had a good manuscript.

Someone who has a good relationship with "Contemporary" went to inquire about it, and it was a coincidence that Alai, who wrote "Dust Settles", was also an author that Lin Weimin had been following for several years. It just happened that his novel was sent to the editorial department after Lin Weimin returned to China this time.

Some people think this is a coincidence, but some don't think so.

Without the cultivation and communication in the previous few years, how could "Dust Settles" be born? Even if it was born, would it be the turn of "Contemporary" to publish it?

Looking back on the various adventures in collecting manuscripts during Lin Weimin’s editing career, anyone who knows a bit about the business would not think that this was just luck.

When everyone was asking around, they also heard that Lin Weimin had several other writers that he focused on.

If we look at the effects produced by Alai, then once a new work is produced by the writer that Lin Weimin follows, it will be simply terrifying.

The impact of the publication of "Dust Settles" was still fermenting. That afternoon, Lin Weimin was found in his office by Cheng Zaochun.

"What do you want from me?"

"That "Dust Settles" is very well written. You, Contemporary Magazine, have discovered another good work!"

Cheng Zaochun started by praising him in a friendly manner. Lin Weimin instinctively became alert, thinking that he was up to something again.

After chatting for a while, Cheng Zaochun took out the books of Richard Yates that Lin Weimin had sent to him before.

Lin Weimin asked excitedly: "Have you finished reading it all?"

"Well, several colleagues in the foreign literature editing department each read one copy and spent almost half a month reading it."

"What do you think? Any opinions?" Lin Weimin asked expectantly.

Cheng Zaochun said: "Everyone has given it very good reviews. The standard is quite high, not inferior to the works of those Nobel Prize-winning writers introduced by the publishing house."

Cheng Zaochun's words made Lin Weimin look delighted. "So, it has reached the standard for introduction?"

Cheng Zaochun nodded and said, "We can try to introduce it, but it's hard to contact this writer! The royalties we pay domestically are also relatively low, I don't know if he will agree."

Lin Weimin waved his hand and said, "Leave it to me. The old man can't even live any longer. Now the socialist brothers want to give him some royalties. Does he still have the nerve to refuse?"

Since Lin Weimin took the responsibility, Cheng Zaochun agreed.

During this period, in addition to being busy with editorial affairs, Lin Weimin focused most of his energy on the creation of the English version of "Hunting".

The manuscript had just been completed these two days, and coincidentally, he received Cheng Zaochun's decision to introduce Richard Yates's works, so Lin Weimin immediately called Roger Strauss.

Lin Weimin had just finished talking about the English version of The Hunt when Roger Strauss said excitedly, "That's great. I didn't expect you to finish it so quickly. When can the manuscript be sent out? I will arrange for publication as soon as possible."

"I'll mail it to you tomorrow. Oh, and there's one more thing I need your help with..."

Lin Weimin asked Roger Strauss to contact Richard Yates on the phone.

Roger Strauss was very curious when he heard Lin Weimin say that he planned to introduce Richard Yates's works to China.

"Why would you want to import his works? His works don't sell well in the United States."

"Mr. Strauss, maybe you can come to China when you have time. There are tens of thousands of young people here who love literature. Just because something is unpopular in the United States doesn't mean it will be the same in China.

Richard Yates is an excellent writer, and it is a blessing for Chinese readers to be able to read his works."

Roger Strauss had never been to China, so he naturally did not understand how enthusiastic and numerous the young people who loved literature were. However, in order to win them over, he would not only contact Richard Yates on his behalf, but also send the old man to China right now.

In order to make Roger Strauss's contact with Richard Yates more convincing, Lin Weimin wrote a long and enthusiastic letter in English and sent it out along with the manuscript of the novel.

(End of this chapter)