Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2018

Explorer in a Fantasy World: On the Genre and Anti-Genre of Yang Peng’s Children’s Fantasy Literature

(Abstract)

Cui Xinping

Yang Peng is highly recognizable among the majority of realistic writings in the field of children’s literature. He calls for “defending imagination,” and devotes himself to the development of fantasy worlds. His creations show different features, such as “lifestyle fantasy,” “science fantasy” and “carnival fantasy.” His books are sold cumulatively tens of millions of copies and have won more than 20 national awards. His opinions on industrialization and genres of children’s literature, makes him relatively distant from the circle  of children’s literature. He is well versed in various genres of literary creation. His works not only are reader friendly but also bear criticism toward reality through the means of exaggeration and parody. The consideration on childlike innocence coexist with the amplification of fantasy. There is also a potential of antigenre, critically reflective, and literary quality in his works, which has granted his works profound meaning and unfettered form.