The authors and creators of donghua
The chemist turned star novelistBorn in 1977 in Anhui and a chemistry graduate of Peking University, Yang Zhi, known as Jiang Nan, is the author of Dragon Raja and one of the most popular novelists among Chinese youth.
Career
After studying chemistry at Peking University, Yang Zhi went to study in the United States. He made his name in 2002 with Ci Jian De Shao Nian (此间的少年), a novel that transplants the heroes of Jin Yong's novels onto a university campus.
He is one of the founders of Novoland (九州), a fantasy universe shared by several writers, for which he wrote Novoland: The Eagle Flag (九州·缥缈录). He also took part in creating the magazine Novoland Fantasy (九州幻想).
In 2010 he began Dragon Raja (龙族), mixing high school, dragons and a secret society. Its success was such that in 2013 he topped the ranking of China's best-paid writers.
Style and themes
Jiang Nan writes for teenagers and young adults: his novels speak of loneliness, friendship and first love against a backdrop of epic adventure. His style is lyrical, full of pop-culture references, and his heroes are often outsiders who discover a destiny.
Their works on Donghua Fan
The donghua adapted from Jiang Nan's novels, with their guides, characters and watch orders.
Other works
- Ci Jian De Shao Nian (此间的少年, 2002)
- Novoland: The Eagle Flag (九州·缥缈录)
- The later volumes of Dragon Raja
Trivia
- Ci Jian De Shao Nian was adapted into a film in 2010.
- Novoland: The Eagle Flag was adapted into a TV series in 2019.
- Dragon Raja readers often wait years between volumes, which has become a running joke.
Donghua Fan's take
Jiang Nan has a real gift for speaking to the young. Dragon Raja has its longueurs and legendary delays, but you can see why so many Chinese readers grew up with Lu Mingfei.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan