小说当然有常道。谢有顺的《小说的常道》是对当下小说创作及言说的回应与批判。假设小说是一道菜,菜是得讲营养和口味的。猪肉和白菜各有各的营养和口味,这是不必说的题材决定论。但是,无论猪肉或白菜,如果烹饪不得法,就会弄死营养,令色香味俱损,让食者厌弃或食之不化。《小说的常道》谈论的是小说的烹饪艺术,关乎小说家的看家手艺,旨在捍卫小说的营养和味道。 Of course, there are often novels. Xie Youshun's “novel often” is the response and criticism of the present novel writing and speech. Suppose the novel is a dish, the food is about nutrition and taste. Pork and cabbage have their own nutrition and taste, it is needless to say the theme of determinism. However, whether pork or cabbage, if cooking is illegal, it will kill the nutrition, so that all the color and flavor loss, so that eaters are discouraged or not food. “Stories of the novel” talk about the culinary art of novels, about the novelist's expert skill, and aim to defend the nutrition and taste of the novel.