I could make a strong case for a government ban on zombie/vampire fiction in the USA, but only as an April Fools joke (well, sorta).
Not so for our friends in the Chinese General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television, which just decreed that no more time travel dramas can be made or aired.
(Suddenly, the overused self-help mantra “stay in the present” becomes helpful legal advice.)
Writers must have it tough in China.
Sure, you’re dealing with the world’s single biggest market and all, but you’re also dealing with one of the world’s alltime baddest bureaucracies, who may simply decide one day to ban the use of adverbs or a specific letter perceived as being unfavorable to the government or something.
I’d probably support the Chinese government if they tried to enforce a worldwide ban on reality TV, paranormal YA fiction and stories/photographs of Lindsay Lohan, but science fiction?
Keep your stinking paws off my sci-fi, you damn dirty censor.
Keep writing (in the present), Tom Chandler.
WHAT??!!! The Children of the Glorious Revolution ban Dr.Who??!!!! And about 3/4 of all of the Star Trek Franchise episodes And H.G. Welles???(well,he already put paid to them) Dirty Commies….uh, I mean Western Loan Holders…..JP2
I think they’re more concerned with the historical dramas being produced within China which might suggest that China’s history isn’t perfect.
Still, they buy our loans, they should take our sci-fi too…