Shen Linzhao (USA)
Nomination Award
Author’s Bio:
Real name Shen Linzhao, writer and art critic.
Vice President of the American Muse Foundation; member of the American Chinese Writers Association; member of the UAE Artists Association; and Distinguished Professor at the Chinese Culinary Arts Research Institute.
His short story “Ancient City Maple Forest” won the Bronze Award in the 2023 Confucian Academy Literary Journal (Issue 2). His classical poem received the Gold Prize at the first nationwide Chinese Cup Literary Creation Competition; his modern poem “The Fading River” won the Second Prize in the Most Beautiful Chinese New Year National Literary Contest; and his children’s play “The Trial of Misty Valley” received the Finalist Award at the Global Micro Drama Screenwriting Competition hosted by the US–China Writers Association Cup.
He has published a poetry collection titled Selected Poems and Lyrics by Chang Zhao (常照诗词选) and has written nearly ten short stories, over ten art reviews, and about a hundred essays and poems.
Awarded Work: The Trial of Misty Valley — Children’s Stage Play (60 Episodes)
Story Synopsis:
At the distant edge of a forest, a human boy named Xiaoyong stumbles upon an ancient, yellowed parchment map marked with a mysterious valley shrouded in fog — Misty Valley. Legend says it holds a sacred trial that can transform life itself, and only those who pass the three tests of courage, wisdom, and unity can uncover its ultimate secret.
Xiaoyong gathers five very different companions — a colorful beetle, a small bird, a hedgehog, a voracious cricket, and a mantis named Xiaolie — to form an expedition team destined for a life-changing journey.
After passing through a wall of thorns, they face their first trial — a circle of giant stones carved with insect totems. The stone glows with an inscription: “True strength begins with accepting your weakness.” As they argue, the bird notices that the totem’s cracks match the scars on the beetle’s shell. Trembling, the beetle presses its damaged back against the stone — light bursts forth, opening a passage. For the first time, it realizes that flaws can be keys.
Next, a toxic mist-filled chasm blocks their path. Xiaolie cuts vines with its sickle-like arms, and they weave them into a rope bridge to swing across. But during their return, the rescue nearly fractures their fragile unity.
To escape a storm, they fall into an underground cavern where the cricket accidentally triggers a trap, releasing glowing blue crystals. Ancient murals on the walls show explorers who perished in conflict, turning to stone, while only those who held hands walked into the light. The beetle shares the crystals, only to find they dim once carried outside. Xiaoyong presses one to his chest — it burns brighter, symbolizing that the light of the heart is the truest source of illumination.
In a labyrinth of shifting stone walls, hunger and exhaustion fuel tension. Xiaolie’s impatience triggers a rockfall that seals the path. When they finally find the exit, they leave behind not scars of argument, but a tunnel strengthened by teamwork.
Then comes a mirror-inlaid stone gate reflecting each one’s deepest regret:
Xiaoyong sees his injured sister, hurt by his recklessness; the beetle relives being mocked by its kind; the bird faces its guilt for failing to save a fallen nestmate. A voice tempts them: “To rewrite your past, one must stay behind.” They lay their hands together on the gate — the mirror now reflects their joined image: “Who we are now is the best answer.”
Beyond the gate, the fog itself transforms into manifested fears.
“So the monsters we feared were only our imagination,” the bird laughs, lifting the beetle through the storm’s eye as its wings paint a rainbow across the sky.
At the final abyss, the old bridge lies broken. The beetle suggests heating vines with the glowing stones to tighten them into a suspension bridge. Xiaoyong risks his life crossing first to anchor the rope, only to be struck by falling rocks. Xiaolie steps up: “My blades will cut down whatever pursues you.” As the others crawl across the creaking bridge, their heartbeats echo louder than the wind below.
At last, they reach the altar of the valley, engraved with the words: “Offer your most precious possession.” The cricket lays down its hidden food; the hedgehog removes a spine; Xiaoyong offers the map itself — yet the altar remains silent. A deep, ancient voice resounds: “The most precious gift is the willingness to sacrifice for one another.”
As the six place their hands upon the altar, the stone gate bursts open.
Behind it, there is no treasure — only a rock wall covered with handprints and names of those who had passed the trial before them. Above all, a new inscription appears:
“The mist will fade, but the warmth of companions endures forever.”
As dawn pierces the fog, their laughter echoes through the valley — six silhouettes overlapping, stepping forward into a new adventure.
Professional Commentary:
Built upon a framework of fantasy adventure, this play weaves together elements of growth, allegory, and psychological trial, shaping a journey from fear and conflict to acceptance and transformation. Each character’s weakness becomes both their obstacle and their key to survival. Set pieces like the “Illusory Abyss” and “Altar of Choice” brim with visual and emotional tension, symbolizing the balance between strength and love. The narrative’s rhythm is well-paced, and the story holds rich potential for animation or screen adaptation.
