Liu Cixin (1963) is a Chinese science fiction writer who has received numerous awards and has an established body of work. On this occasion, he tells how the Earth is exposed to intense radiation following the explosion of a star. This causes the slow death of all adults; only those under the age of 13 are capable of regenerating their chromosomes. As a result, a great replacement takes place, since within a few months children must be prepared to take on all the challenges of existence independently.
Thus begins an era without adults, in which everything revolves around play, but which is not necessarily any less violent than the bygone era of adults. Those who have read Lord of the Flies will find a common underlying theme. In reality, it is a fable about humanity.