Only three decades ago, when Liu Cixin was in college, China's science fiction suffered a blow as it was seen as "spiritual pollution" from the West that should be cleaned up.

Liu never imagined that one day his sci-fi novel would reach the West.

Science fiction writer Han Song believes the trilogy will win Liu the Hugo Award from the World Science Fiction Society. Liu, though hopeful, expects nothing.

"I wish to win, but it's not easy," said Liu in an earlier telephone interview with Xinhua.

The trilogy won him a national children's literature prize last September. In China's government-backed literature awards, science fiction is grouped with children's literature.

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