文学是时代的产物,又是一个时代文化成果的重要标志。在诸多文学品种中,长篇小说的水平代表着这个时代的文学水平。所以人们历来重视长篇小说创作的成果,关心长篇小说创作的状况。最近第四届茅盾文学奖评奖揭晓,把文学界的目光再一次引导到对长篇小说的关注和议论之中。去年夏天,我在天津参加了一次全国性的长篇小说评奖活动,比较集中地阅读了一批“八五”期 Literature is a product of the times and an important symbol of the cultural achievements of an era. Among many literary varieties, the level of novels represents the literary level of this era. Therefore, people have always attached importance to the achievements of novels and are interested in the creation of novels. Recently the fourth Mao Dun Literature Award was announced, the literary world’s attention once again led to the attention and discussion of novels. Last summer, I took part in a nationwide novel awarding ceremony in Tianjin, where I read a number of “Eight Five” periods