History and virtual space intertwine in this highly original work by a celebrated Taiwanese artist. Roa, an elementary school teacher, and Riv, an AI assistant whose appearance is constantly changing, travel along the Tamsui River from 1582 to 1983. What unfolds is a century-spanning journey through time.
Through ancient texts and archival materials, the pair reconstruct five significant historical events that took place along the riverbanks. Gradually, they discover that history does not merely record facts, but is a complex puzzle woven from contradictions, personal interpretations, and imagination. Using the river as weft and time as warp, the book invites readers to reconsider the nature of truth and history.
At the end of the story, readers learn that Roa is actually a teenager living in a future world who has chosen this virtual reality avatar to interact with them. This twist deepens the story’s exploration of how we preserve knowledge—and how we learn—in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.