The posthuman comedy: a partial translation of Dung Kai-cheung’s 後人間喜劇

This partial translation of Dung Kai-cheung’s 2020 novel 《後人間喜劇》The Posthuman Comedy draws from the first of the novel’s three sections. In these excerpts, a professor of cybernetics travels to Singapore, where he gets swept up in a political plot to manufacture artificially conscious beings. While the novel takes heavy inspiration from Kantian and Daoist philosophies, its rich intellectualism is propelled forward by strong characterization, witty humor, and fast-paced narrative rhythm. An accompanying essay expounds on the literary context and theoretical underpinnings of The Posthuman Comedy, as well as some joys and challenges of translation.