Shuang Xuetao (Chinese: 双雪涛; born September 8, 1983, in Shenyang), is a contemporary Chinese novelist. He graduated from the Jilin University School of Law.
In 2010, Shuang happened to see that the newly established China Times International Chinese-language Film and Fiction Award was seeking submissions. An employee of the Liaoning branch of the China Development Bank at the time, he wrote his first novel, Gargoyle in just 20 days, winning the award. In 2012, Shuang was shortlisted for the 14th Taipei Literature Awards, winning a cash-prize of 200,000 NTD, becoming the first mainland Chinese author to win the prize. That same year, Shuang quit his job to devote himself to writing full-time. In 2015, he left Shenyang to attend further studies in creative writing at Renmin University in Beijing.
Since 2016, Shuang has published the novels Tianwu's Account, Era of the Deaf and Dumb and the short story collections The Aviator, The Hunter, among other works. The short story "Assassinate the Novelist", included in the collection The Aviator, has been adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Ning Hao.
His short story collection Moses on the Plain was translated into English as Rouge Street: Three Novellas by Jeremy Tiang, and published by the Metropolitan Books imprint of Henry Holt and Company in April 2022. The book is credited with initiating the Dongbei renaissance in Chinese literature.
"平原上的摩西" is a compelling collection of short stories that delve into the lives and experiences of individuals in northeastern China, offering a mix of humor, tragedy, and historical reflection. Authored by a writer deeply rooted in this region, the book presents a unique perspective on the complexities of life affected by the sweeping changes of history.
I was drawn to this book after being captivated by the television adaptation of its leading story. While the TV series provided an engaging narrative, it understandably simplified the historical nuances. However, the book itself offers a richer, more nuanced exploration of the author's true message, particularly highlighting how historical events have profoundly impacted the people from his hometown.
Among the collection, the titular story "平原上的摩西" (Moses on Plains) struck me with its emotional depth, beautifully portraying the struggles and resilience of its characters. Equally memorable, "My Friend Andre" brought a refreshing change of pace with its humorous yet insightful depiction of 1990s middle school life in China. This story, in particular, resonated with me, providing both laughter and a sense of nostalgia for the era it represents. Together, these stories make Moses on Plains a remarkable read that balances the gravity of history with the light-hearted moments of daily life.
【2024BOOK04】"Moses on the Plain" by Shuang Xuetao. One of the most memorable lines in the book is "As long as your beliefs are true, as long as your beliefs are sincere, the mountains and seas will make way for you. Those who drive you away, those who are harsh on you, will be punished. When you grow up, when you grow old, you need to remember this." This book is my favorite among the contemporary Chinese short novel collections I've read in recent years. Every story in it is quite interesting, unlike some other collections where the qualities of different pieces in the same book are capricious. This book portrays the lives of normal people caught in the tsunami of layoffs in Northeast China at the turn of the century, documenting their confusion, struggle, endurance, and rebellion after being abandoned by the rapidly changing times, full of indelible vitality in the gray background.