The authors and creators of donghua
The master of Lovecraftian steampunkYuan Ye, known as Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, is the author of Lord of Mysteries, a steampunk, Lovecraftian novel that has become a cult hit in China and abroad.
Career
A "platinum" Qidian author, Cuttlefish first published fantasy and martial arts novels, including Mie Yun Tu Lu (灭运图录), Yi Shi Zhi Zun (一世之尊), Wu Dao Zong Shi (武道宗师) and Throne of Magical Arcana (奥术神座).
In 2018 he launched Lord of Mysteries (诡秘之主), which moves cultivation to a city inspired by Victorian England, among secret societies and ancient gods. The novel became one of Qidian's greatest hits. He continued it with Circle of Inevitability (宿命之环), after Chang Ye Yu Huo (长夜余火).
In 2017 he received the China Literature Foundation's young talent award for online literature. In July 2019 he was elected president of the Sichuan Online Writers Association.
Style and themes
Cuttlefish builds very rigorous power systems, like the 22 pathways and their "sequences" in Lord of Mysteries, and blends them with mystery, cosmic horror and investigation. He likes cautious heroes who survive through intelligence rather than strength.
Their works on Donghua Fan
The donghua adapted from Cuttlefish That Loves Diving's novels, with their guides, characters and watch orders.
Other works
- Throne of Magical Arcana (奥术神座)
- Yi Shi Zhi Zun (一世之尊)
- Chang Ye Yu Huo (长夜余火)
- Circle of Inevitability (宿命之环), sequel to Lord of Mysteries
Trivia
- His pen name means "the cuttlefish that loves diving".
- Lord of Mysteries fans have produced countless theories about the novel's pathways, sequences and deities.
- He has chaired the Sichuan Online Writers Association since 2019.
Donghua Fan's take
Cuttlefish proved Chinese web fiction could break its own codes. Lord of Mysteries is one of the most inventive novels I have read, and its adaptation was eagerly awaited.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan