The Drifting Chronicles
案渡卷河
Overview
In a narrative where the boundaries between history and imagination blur, the main characters embarks on a journey through centuries along a river, only to discover that reality is not what it seems.
In this unique narrative, elementary school teacher Roa and her ever-evolving AI assistant Riv embark on a fascinating journey through time, tracing the course of the Tamsui River from 1582 to 1983. Using ancient texts and archival materials, they reconstruct pivotal events along the riverbanks. However, as their journey unfolds, they uncover that history is not merely a record of truths but a complex tapestry woven with inconsistencies, interpretations, and imagination. This raises a profound question: what is the true meaning of documenting and studying history?
With the river serving as the geographical thread and time as the chronological axis, this book delves into the intricate interplay of time, space, and humanity in the making of history. It also challenges readers to reconsider how we define and interpret "truth."
By the story’s end, readers learn that Roa is actually a young boy in a post-1983 world who has chosen this avatar while navigating a virtual reality. This twist challenges our perception of truth and reality, and raises questions about the future of historical record-keeping and learning in an AI-driven era.
Size: 17 x 23 cm
Volumes: 1 (end)
Author(s)
Zhou Jian-xin has recently established himself as one of Taiwan’s upand-coming illustrators. His first illustrated title, The Maroon Oriole, won the 2014 Taiwan Golden Butterfly Award for Best Book Designnd honorable mention from the International Design Awards. His collaborative works with Kuo Nai-wen have also been very well received: their title Missing Cat Posters also won Honorable Mention in the Hsin-Yi Children’s Literature Award in 2012, and Puppy and I won first prize for an Illustrated Publication at the 2016 Hsin-Yi Children’s Literature Award, a position that has remained empty for eight years. He is the featured artist of Taiwan Pavilion at the 2017 Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), for the launch of the Spanish edition of Missing Cat Posters.