{"product_id":"the-explosion-chronicles-9780802127259","title":"The Explosion Chronicles","description":"Yan Lianke is one of the most acclaimed writers of contemporary China--twice a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, as well as the winner of the prestigious Franz Kafka Prize--and he has been lauded for his imaginative satire and perceptive cultural critique. \u003ci\u003eThe Explosion Chronicles\u003c\/i\u003e tells the unforgettable tale of rival families competing in a greed-fueled race to convert their sleepy, rural community into a thriving super metropolis. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith the Yi River on one side and the Balou Mountains on the other, the remote village of Explosion was founded more than a millennium ago by refugees fleeing a seismic volcanic eruption. But in the post-Mao era, the name takes on surprising significance as the villagers aspire to transform their poor province into a bustling city of millions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBehind this explosive expansion are the four Kong brothers, whose loyalty is tested when they set out to fulfill their individual destinies; Zhu Ying, a wealthy businesswoman and the daughter of the former village chief; and Cheng Qing, a secretary climbing the ranks to become an influential political figure. Linked together by a web of lies, vice, and ambition, they are the driving force behind their hometown's transformation. And when Explosion's progress begins to take a lethal toll, they are forced to confront the sacrifices they have made for power and money. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Brimming with absurdity, intelligence, and wit, \u003ci\u003eThe Explosion Chronicles\u003c\/i\u003e is a riotous exploration of the high stakes of unbridled authority, the consequences of corruption, the polarizing dynamics of love and hate, and the seemingly unstoppable excesses of capitalist culture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eYan Lianke\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of numerous short story collections and novels, including \u003ci\u003eThe Four Books, Lenin's Kisses, Serve the People!\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDream of Ding Village\u003c\/i\u003e. Among many honors, he was awarded the Franz Kafka Prize as well as two of China's most prestigious literary honors, the Lu Xun prize and the Lao She award.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Grove Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50845294035218,"sku":"9780802127259","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b22a3aed-2d29-4fce-acab-a4fdbe0c65fc.jpg?v=1737347036","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-explosion-chronicles-9780802127259","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}