Among the sci-fi writers to make an appearance at the HKTDC Book Fair 2019 is the multi award-winning author Albert Tam. The writer of Melody of the Night (2008) and Humanoid Software (2010) is particularly looking forward to seeing what his fans are like in the flesh and discovering interesting details about them.

"I am often surprised by the broad spectrum of their backgrounds and professions," he says, adding some of his readers turn out to be more mature than his expectations.

Another reason Tam loves to meet and greet his readers, particularly Hong Kong residents, is because he believes they share his appreciation for the city, its values and its mix of modernity with traditional culture. Since his first novel Cyberkiller (1998), Hong Kong has played a prominent part in all his stories, either as a setting or a key reference point.

What is it about this fast-paced, multicultural city that inspires Tam to weave mysterious cyberpunk tales about techno murder conspiracies and artificial intelligence spinning out of control?

He cites his love of Raymond Chandler and how this pulp fiction trailblazer used the decadence and sleaze of 1940s Los Angeles as a character in its own right in his books.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Tam feels the same way about his hometown.

In his Xingyun (the Chinese Nebula Award) prize-winning novel Humanoid Software, the visceral essence and claustrophobic atmosphere of modern-day Hong Kong seeps through the pages. In this mind-bending mystery, an investigation into the murder of a noodle shop owner leads to greedy property developers. As the plot develops, the frustration, anxiety and stress of living in this bustling, non-stop metropolis is realistically depicted.

Tam recalls a period of continual construction work in his home neighborhood of Sai Ying Pun, which pushed him to near breaking point and by default triggered the genesis of Humanoid Software. The story shows how overdevelopment and other scenarios might affect human society, and planet Earth, both materially and spiritually, in the future.

With a busy schedule at this year's book fair, thoughts of cranes and building sites will probably be quite far away from Tam's mind as he chats with visitors and rubs shoulders with his peers. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre-hosted event will first see him take part in a group discussion on writing mystery and science fiction and then join a panel discussion with the novelists Han Song from the Chinese mainland and Egoyan Zheng from Taiwan. He will also share the stage with Hong Kong mystery writer Chan Ho-kei. Tam fans can look forward to picking up revised editions of his novels Humanoid Software and Melody of the Night, as well as a collection of short stories entitled Free City Anxiety Disorders at the fair.

A growing genre

Sci-fi is enjoying a moment of popularity in China, particularly after the recent box office smash of the Chinese blockbuster The Wandering Earth. Tam, a frequent collaborator on film scripts, calls the film "a giant step (in the field) of China's sci-fi movies" adding, however, that China still has a long way to go to be able to catch up with Hollywood's sci-fi movies.

He is more upbeat on Hong Kong as a creative hub for up and coming sci-fi writers. "More and more Hong Kong writers write science fiction, including young writers like Hon Lai-chu," he says, adding that writers are embracing the genre to express themselves. "Most sci-fi novels since the 2000s are related to the future of Hong Kong," he says.

Tam is optimistic that the themes and human experiences explored by Chinese storytellers hold true international appeal. "As Hong Kong is one spotlight of a global issue, Hong Kong science fiction and Hong Kong literature should be attractive to global readers."

(HK Edition 07/19/2019 page10)