“A People is Missing”: Dystopia in Lost on a Red Mini-Bus to Tai Po (2013)

Shun Man Emily Chow-Quesada*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper studies disappearance in the dystopian Hong Kong depicted in the novel Lost on a Red Mini-Bus to Tai Po (2013). The plot revolves around seventeen passengers boarding a red mini-bus, only to discover the disappearance of all people and vehicles in the city. The dystopian setting reflects Hongkongers’ fears, including nuclear leaks, totalitarian governance, and the revival of Japanese Fascism. However, the true horror lies in the idea of “missing” within an evacuated Hong Kong, echoing the concept of “minor literature” of Deleuze and Guattari (1985). Deleuze and Guattari argue that it is with the concept of “minor literature” that “a missing people,” a people whose consciousness do not exist in society yet, can emerge and invent themselves. This is a creative act of becoming and cognitive changes. This paper suggests that the novel calls for awareness towards evolving identity by having the characters tracing the missing people and unveiling transnational conspiracies. However, despite its dystopian nature, the novel harbors a sense of hope rooted in an emerging consciousness. By exploring the novel’s portrayal of an emptied Hong Kong and its connection to the concept of Deleuze and Guattari, this paper argues that the novel yearns for changes in both collective and individual consciousness of the people and serves as a catalyst for transformation, offering hope amidst the dystopia.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHong Kong Dystopia
    EditorsChris Song
    PublisherBrill
    Publication statusAccepted/In press - 20 Jun 2024

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