Acknowledgments
Introduction: Rise of Oppositional Chinese Political Novels
Chinese Political Fiction in the Twentieth Century
Sociopolitical Crisis and Re-politicization of Society in the New Century
Propitious Circumstances for Political Articulation
Scope, Themes, Methodology, and Structure of the Book
1. Destruction of Communist Myths
Them versus Us: Subversion of the Party-People Myth
From Critics to Servants: Changed Role of Chinese Intellectuals after Tiananmen
Nationalism as State Ideology
Ideologization of Morality, Hedonism, and Political Acquiescence
Summary
2. Wolf Totem: Paradoxical Eulogy to a Culture
Wolf Totem and Mongolian Correlative Cosmology
Social Darwinism, Reverse Chauvinism, and Nationalism
A Wolf Destroyed by the “Wolf Logic”
Ideological Hegemony behind a Literary Sensation
Summary
3. Lenin’s Kisses: Absurdity, Dehumanization, and Dilemma of the Chinese Utopia
Revolution as Nightmare
Contemporary Freak Show: Absurdity and Cruelty of the Biopolitics of a Utopia
“With Money, Anything Is Possible”
Arbitrariness of Power, Sustainability of Dictatorship, and Dead-End Future
Summary
4. Such Is This World@sars.come: Dictatorship as a Fatal Disease
“Lockdown” as Social Reality and Political Allegory
The Terrifying “Old Crone” behind the Screen
The Chinese Intelligentsia after Tiananmen: Cynicism and Division
Two Faces of the Party: Ugliness behind a Lovely Mask
Summary
5. The Fat Years: Social Injustice, Forced Amnesia, Distorted Mentality, and Fascism
Fake Paradise: Darkness behind the Chinese “Miracle”
Falsified History and Forced Amnesia
Mental Distortion and Spiritual Agony
“Fascism? We Are Only in Its Early Stages!”
Summary
6. The Seventh Day: Dystopian Wasteland versus Modern Peach Blossom Spring
Bloody Predation and Deceptive Propaganda
Destruction of Sanctified Human Feelings
Banality of Evil: Callous Indifference and Moral Corruption
Peach Blossom Spring: Utopia of Truth, Love, and Happiness
Summary
Epilogue: Limits of Transgression and Mechanisms of Counter-Censorship
Notes
Bibliography
Index
