Why an open-source sci-fi novel by China’s tech geeks is going strong after 20 years

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Sylvie ZhuangFebruary 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

"The Morning Star of Linggao" is a collaboratively written, open-source science fiction novel in China that began nearly two decades ago. Thousands of contributors, primarily tech professionals, have collectively written millions of words across almost 3,000 chapters. The story begins with a modern-day salesman discovering a wormhole that transports him and others to 1642, during the late Ming dynasty, in Linggao, Hainan. The time travelers aim to use modern knowledge and technology to spark an industrial revolution, build infrastructure, and strengthen China against Western influence. The novel's setting was chosen to address China's historical vulnerability and prevent its backwardness during the Industrial Revolution.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

West 40% Europe 50% Hainan 60% Linggao 70% DeepSeek 70% Ming dynasty ×270% The Morning Star of Linggao 80% China ×490%

Keywords

open-source novel 90% china 80% tech geeks 70% sci-fi 70% industrial revolution 70% time travel 60% ming dynasty 60% historical backwardness 50% collaborative writing 50% openness ethos 40%