2012年,英国作家大卫·米切尔的《云图》被沃卓斯基姐弟改编成了电影,一下子在中国成了畅销书。米切尔到了中国,徐则臣先生与他对话,话题很慎重,叫长篇小说的困局与可能性。“困局”与“可能性”是什么呢?中外作家对谈总沦为萍水相逢的过招,对彼此的作品没有概念也缺乏兴趣。米切尔显然遇到了热闹的搭档和对手。徐则臣那时恰好在写长篇《耶路撒冷》,也是《云图》一般的大部头,50万字,500页长,6章节叙述在11个大章节中也是1-2-3-4-5- In 2012, the British writer David Mitchell’s “Cloud Image” was adapted into a movie by Wachowski’s siblings and suddenly became a bestseller in China. When Mitchell arrived in China, Mr. Xu Zechen spoke to him and the topic was very cautious, calling the dilemma and possibility of the novel. What is “dilemma” and “possibility”? Chinese and foreign writers always degenerate into punctual encounters and lack interest in each other’s works without concepts. Mitchell apparently encountered lively partner and opponent. At that time, Xu Zechen was writing the long chapter of “Jerusalem”, which is also the most common part of the “Cloud Figure.” 500,000 words, 500 pages long, and the 6 chapters are also 1-2-3-4-5-