Desert Hunters is an Eastern fable-like novel set in a small oasis called Pig’s Belly Well, in the very heart of the desert. It follows the story of an old hunter, Meng Baye, and a young herdsman, Mengzi, as they track down poachers. Through the perspectives of both humans and wolves, the novel exposes the destruction of the natural environment caused by human actions, driving readers to reflect on their ecological responsibilities. It portrays the struggle for survival between humans and wildlife, explores the conflicts among people themselves, and, more importantly, serves as a kind warning about human greed and its potentially tragic consequences.
The English edition was co-translated by Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-Chun Lin, acclaimed translators of Nobel Prize-winning authors.
The German edition was translated by Hans-Peter Kolb, a student of the famed sinologist Wolfgang Kubin.
The Spanish edition was translated by Liljana Arsovska.