ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews socio-cultural change in the Republic of China on Taiwan as expressed in short fiction published between 1979 and 1989. During the 1980s, Taiwan's fast economic growth, though offset by worsened social order and quality of life, greatly animated socio-political development and reform. Since the lifting of the Emergency Decree and the relaxation of military and political restrictions, democratization in Taiwan has progressed at an even more frantic pace than economic development. Short stories contributed to Taiwan's newspapers and magazines by authors from or in mainland China mainly dealt with their bitter experiences in the Cultural Revolution. Emotional reunions of long-parted family members were a favorite subject for local writers in Taiwan. Special attention should be given to the fact that the creators of the distressing scenes are all young writers who seem to feel profound sympathy with their unromantic heroes.
