Running Red
Original Chinese title：奔跑的红
Digital consciousness · Virtual worlds · A young heroine · Identity
In a digital town where human consciousness can be awakened, a virus transforms patrol officer Zhu Ying into a red envelope in an online Lunar New Year gift game. To avoid being claimed or erased, she must keep running through a torrent of red. Her race through this digital crisis brings together a young woman’s search for identity, the ethics of technology and the connections between people.
English titles are descriptive translations for this website and do not indicate English-language editions. Publication details refer to the Chinese originals unless another language is stated.
- Date
- First published in July 2018
- Length
- 8,680 Chinese characters
Translations & anthologies
In April 2022, a Japanese translation of the short story appeared in Hashiru Aka: An Anthology of Chinese Women Science Fiction Writers, published by Chuokoron-Shinsha. In June 2024, it was included in Volume 1 of Supernova Universe: An Anthology of New Star Award Winners of the Chinese Science Fiction Xingyun Awards.
Japanese anthology：走る赤：中国女性SF作家アンソロジー
Japanese story title：走る赤 · はしるあか · Hashiru Aka
Recognition
Nominated for Best Translated Short Story at the 54th Seiun Awards for its Japanese translation