The 2026 Shanghai Book Fair opened on Aug 12, promoting the joy of reading in Lin-gang Special Area with a host of literary events and big names. 

Alexander MacLeod, son of acclaimed Canadian short story writer Alistair MacLeod and a celebrated short story writer in his own right, is set to join youth scholar Zhu Jiawen at the Dishui Lake branch of Duoyun Bookstore on the night of Aug 13 to discuss his father's literary legacy and enduring influence. 

Scan the QR code to sign up for the sharing session led by Alexander MacLeod, son of acclaimed Canadian short story writer Alistair MacLeod. [Photo/Hi Lin-gang]

Through excerpts from the documentary Reading Alistair MacLeod and selections from various literary works, Alexander will invite readers to discover Cape Breton, an island off Nova Scotia representing the landscape and cultural world that shaped his father's writing.

Scan the QR code to sign up for the sharing session led by Singapore Literature Prize winner Wong Koi Tet. [Photo/Hi Lin-gang]

Wong Koi Tet, a Singapore Literature Prize winner, will sit down with Li Xin, chief host of Radio Shanghai, at Duoyun Bookstore on the evening of Aug 14. They will talk about Wong's signature works such as Black Panther and Little Things, and explore how his experience as a social news reporter transformed sharp observations of reality into stories that are both grounded in real life and tinged with the absurd.