The Chinese government has championed the need for innovation and science in the country's development process, which has placed science fiction under a more favourable light.

"Sci-Fi writing is now supported by Chinese government as it is considered to be a genre that can inspire the whole nation's ability to think imaginatively and popularizes science nationwide, " Yao Haijun, the editor of Science Fiction World magazine, said.

Others argue that a show of true support by the government would be to allow the book to be published in its entirety in the public domain.

Taking advantage of its growing popularity, 150 science-fiction writers from around the world will gather in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, in August for an international conference on science fiction.

Although he has achieved fame in the Sci-Fi world, Liu is adamant that reality is very different. No one in his family or the factory shows any interest in parallel universes.

"My life has no adventure and I'm a small potato in the factory. The only thing I can do is to sit myself at my desk after working hours and create a world in my own mind," he said.

"My daily life and my Sci-Fi world are like two parallel cosmoses which can never converge."

Source: Xinhua