When the telegram from Britain arrived, Li Yu was about to finish his observations at the Harvard Observatory.
The telegram was first sent to Liang Cheng and then forwarded to Harvard University.
"This is amazing!" Sierra took the telegram to the observatory and found Li Yu.
"A telegram from England?" Li Yu guessed it when he saw the telegram in her hand.
"That's right," Sierra said, "It's really unexpected that you can become a foreign academician of the Royal Society."
The Royal Society generally elects up to 40 academicians each year. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the number was far less than the number in most years. There can only be a maximum of four foreign academicians. Today, the British status is still very transcendent, so it is difficult to obtain qualifications.
Very big.
Li Yu took the telegram, and it was indeed signed by the Royal Society. This was just a notice, and the formal letter would be signed by recommenders such as President Huggins and Lord Kelvin.
"By the way, why don't you go to class?" Li Yu suddenly asked.
"Me? I've graduated." Sierra said.
"There's still something else to do, let's do it tomorrow."
"Good guy!" Sierra was stunned. "You look quite... energetic now. You look like a person from the new era!"
Li Yu had no choice but to take out the manuscript of "Star Wars" and said, "It's already written."
"Are you going too?" Sierra asked.
Li Yu smiled and said: "Yes."
"I'm going to HarperCollins Publishing House. Since I'm here, let's go together." Sierra said.
The technology of reinforced concrete can indeed be promoted early and vigorously in China. After all, the materials are not difficult to obtain. The only problem that needs to be solved may be steel bars. As for cement, it is already available in China, but it is called "cement" at this time. For example, Zhan Tianyou
Anyone who has studied civil engineering abroad will be familiar with this.
In this day and age, the price of suits is still relatively high, and suits are also very popular in the upper class.
Li Yu smiled and said: "Yes, science fiction."
Li Yu knew that they must have different intentions, but as a time traveler, Li Yu didn't need to worry about these.
Li Yu also didn't expect that the family behind Sierra was so powerful. Sure enough, in the United States, money is king.
"By the way," Sierra asked again, "did you come up with anything extraordinary during the past few days at the observatory? Sister LeWitt wrote to me privately and said that she was always beaming with joy. She said that it depends on the direction of your observation.
It shouldn’t be like this. So there must be something that others don’t know.”
So even in the capital, he didn't have to worry about his hair style at all.
Sierra said: "I asked them yesterday...well, my family, and they said they could also ask Mr. Pulitzer to help with publicity."
After a brief introduction, Sierra said: "We have already read this science fiction novel, and it has great potential."
In fact, at this time, European and American students basically wore suits, but the fabrics were slightly different.
"Are you...Li Yu?!" Sierra said in shock.
This royalty rate is not low anymore, Mark Twain had almost the same rate.
James immediately took out the contract template and said, "I will sign a contract with you now."
Sierra said: "Not really, but you are indeed too calm..."
"Of course!" Sierra said, "Are you going to publish these results in the UK?"
But when it comes to the more established early publishing groups, HarperCollins is definitely an "American time-honored brand" with a century-old heritage. Just to name a few of the world's famous names it publishes, you will know its influence: Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, Robert Downey Jr.
The Lunt sisters, Dickens, Martin Luther King, and JFK.
In astronomical papers at this time, data is very critical, otherwise others cannot observe according to your method, and no one will believe it.
But one thing that is different from later generations is that except for three-piece suits, most of today's suits and trousers have suspenders.
Pulitzer not only made "The World" a major newspaper, but he also made a lot of money. The new Pulitzer Building completed in 1890 became the tallest building in New York City. This building is 20 stories high.
, it was not until almost ten years later that the title of the tallest building in New York was taken away.
"It's brilliant!" James couldn't help but admire. "The subsequent development has completely inherited the grand beginning, and unfolded the magical world of the Milky Way so perfectly. The plot is fascinating and the story is compact. It is really a rare and excellent work.
!I’m sure it will be a big seller!”
Sierra said: "Then I'll wait for you at the train station tomorrow."
The iconic Statue of Liberty already stands at the entrance to New York Harbor, on Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.
Li Yu thought for a while: "New York? I happen to want to go there too."
"The issue of distribution is easy to discuss," Li Yu said. "There is no problem in publishing the two books together."
"You want to self-publish? No need!" Sierra said, "If you self-publish, it will cost a lot of money and it will be too troublesome."
When the barber trimmed the hair, Li Yu felt so happy that he finally looked like a modern person.
It's just that it has unique natural conditions and is close to Mexico. Once Edison in New York wins the patent lawsuit, they can quickly hide in Mexico.
Li Yu said: "Want to place an advertisement in Le Monde?"
Li Yu said: "Don't be in a hurry."
Those who have watched the movie "The Great Gatsby" must remember that DiCaprio often wore suits with a rather upper-class flavor.
After all, it is my own work, so I should give it a try, and maybe I can make a lot of money from it.
James didn't know Li Yu's specific idea, but since the author himself proposed it, he certainly couldn't refuse, and they were indeed not involved in the film and theater industries, so he said, "No problem."
James was stunned for a moment. Movies had just appeared in New York in the past few years, but they were mainly short films, usually only ten minutes or so. How could a movie handle such a large-scale work?
"Hey!" Li Yu said in surprise, "You are really well informed."
With his status, he was already much better than ordinary international students. A letter of appointment from the Royal Society could shut up all the royal family and nobles in the capital.
"I mean, our Carnegie family." Sierra explained.
Needless to say, I have restored my short hair and put on a suit. At least the number of heads turning when walking on the road is much lower than before with braids.
"No, since I borrowed the observatory of Harvard University, I am going to publish it here." Li Yu said.
In addition to Le Monde, the New York Times also has an amazing circulation.
Sierra blinked hard: "Science fiction... novel!"
After getting his hair cut, Li Yu bought a suit.
In today's New York, I'm afraid even if Spider-Man comes, he won't be able to live happily.
It seems that Lu Bicheng's polishing and De Ling's translation are indeed online.
Moreover, construction technology is also developing rapidly, and various design concepts have been improved, making the reinforced concrete urban forests of later generations too spectacular.
In fact, in the construction of skyscrapers, in addition to the well-known rise of reinforced concrete technology, the more critical factor must be the emergence of elevators. Otherwise, who can climb up and down such high buildings every day?
As a professional editor, James still needs to take a closer look first.
Today, New York has surpassed Philadelphia and Boston has become a super metropolis in the United States. High-rise buildings with more than ten floors are not uncommon.
"Leave it to me," Sierra stood up. "As long as you really send the paper to the United States, I will go to New York to help you get it done."
Science fiction novels are no stranger to today’s readers. After all, great writers such as Verne have been writing them for decades, and their audience is also huge.
The famous "Time" and "Newsweek" in later generations had not yet been born at this time, and the largest newspaper in New York was Pulitzer's "World".
James has naturally read many science fiction works, so he completely saw the value of this book and directly offered a price: "Our publisher can provide you with a 15% royalty on the publication of this book!"
Li Yu said: "Yes, I happen to have something to do."
"Who is so talented and can write such excellent works?" James asked.
Soon James handed over the contract: "Sir, please take a look."
"Are you kidding me?" Sierra obviously couldn't believe it.
Sierra said: "Okay, so that's what you meant."
Sierra was shocked: "Is it really possible!?"
Li Yu said: "Your publishing house can only obtain the right to distribute books, and the rights to adapt any subsequent movies or dramas are not included."
"Not really." Li Yu said.
Harvard is not far from New York, just a short train ride away.
After only reading a few pages, James felt that it was indeed unusual. The story was so new that he had never read it before. Moreover, the setting was very grand from the beginning. If you can handle it, it is really a rare and good book.
, can definitely become a best-selling work.
When Li Yu came to the train station "radiant", Sierra didn't recognize him at all, but Li Yu went over and said hello: "It's still early for you."
After doing these things, Li Yu felt that he could relax his head.
Most of the popular suits in the early 20th century were designed without shoulder pads. Li Yu is 1.8 meters tall, so the upper body effect will be better after wearing them.
Of course, at this point in time, reaching more than twenty floors is already an incredible achievement.
"Li Yu?" James, as a publisher, had obviously heard of this name. "The great scientist who wrote "Fractals and Chaos"?"
Edison never dreamed that this town would become synonymous with movies in the future, because its name is Hollywood.
"No," Li Yu said, "I also have a novel about science fiction, and I want to find a publisher to publish it."
Li Yu nodded: "Okay."
James couldn't tell about Li Yu's scientific achievements, but his name is indeed very famous now, "It turned out to be Mr. Li Yu. We had contacted Sweden earlier to try to win the release of "Fractals and Chaos" in the United States.
Copyright, I didn’t expect you to come in person.”
Li Yu picked up the contract and said, "I want to add one more clause."
Li Yu laughed and said: "What, do I want to behave like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden?"
Li Yu said: "Well, I do know HarperCollins Publishing House, and it would be best if it could be published by them."
Of course, if customized, the price will increase several times.
Considering that he would meet the President of the United States in the future, Li Yu did not have time to customize it, so he had to buy the best ready-made suit in the store, plus a pair of leather shoes and a leather bag. The price was as high as 130 US dollars, which was more than 60 taels of silver.
Li Yu said: "This is just the beginning."
Li Yu said: "You don't think long braids are traditional?"
Li Yu needs to sort out the papers and data.
As the saying goes, a person is judged by his clothes. When you put on such an upright suit, you will immediately have a bit of "original" style.
Sierra pointed at Li Yu: "That's him, the scientific giant, Li Yu."
This is the truth. Although Li Yu has seen New York occupied by bad guys countless times and saved by heroes in various American TV series and movies, he is very familiar with New York, but he has never been there.
Mathematics books have a limited circulation anyway, but Li Yu is very optimistic about "Star Wars" because with his scientific insights and scientific knowledge that transcends more than 100 years, the science fiction works he writes are quite hard-core.
And now Edison is working on various film patents in New York, which will force a lot of independent producers to a small town far away from New York and Chicago within six or seven years.
The first draft of the paper at hand has almost been written, but with so much data, it really needs to be checked again. Fortunately, Li Yu has a computer, so it won't take long, and there will be no mistakes.
Although New York was one of the first cities in the world to start building skyscrapers, the tallest ones today are only about 20 stories, which is incomparable with later generations. By Li Yu's previous life, residential buildings with more than 30 stories were common.
China has martial arts, and for Europe and the United States, the most representative ones are fantasy and science fiction.
After getting Li Yu's authorization, James breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Sir, don't worry, if the work sells well, we can discuss the royalties for the sequel."
Li Yu nodded: "But it's not that simple. I just want to ask you, are you familiar with American publishing houses?"
"Of course," said Sierra, "the circulation of Le Monde now is unrivaled in New York."
Sierra took it over and read the beginning and found it very interesting, "I thought those who were engaged in science were all dull people, but I didn't expect you to have so many ideas in your mind. However, it is not easy for a Chinese to publish books in the United States.
But I can definitely help with this. We have a great relationship with HarperCollins and can talk to their president."
Li Yu shook hands with him: "I hope so."
After being the editor-in-chief for so many years, James read books very quickly, and it didn't take long for him to read the last page.
Li Yu had already guessed that he would say this, but since he had found a large publishing house, there was nothing wrong with doing so, "I accept it."
This kind of complete suit is not cheap, but fortunately it is suitable for many occasions, whether it is weekends, parties, dinners or formal occasions, it can be suitable for it.
Of course Li Yu agreed: "Okay."
"You?" Li Yu asked in surprise.
During this period of time, he deliberately kept his hair in the front, and finally felt free to cut it off.
Sierra said: "It's not like I don't understand Chinese history, so what kind of tradition is that?"
"That's right," Li Yu said with a smile, "You can't recognize me now?"
Well, Americans are really efficient at doing things now.
"Then when will you leave?"
The suits sold in suit shops are generally three-piece suits, which means there is a vest inside the top.
Moreover, this building is Pulitzer's own private property, with an investment of more than 2 million US dollars.
"In the United States?" Sierra asked.
There are many big names in New York now, such as Edison at the height of his fame.
The two went directly to James, an editor-in-chief of the publishing house.
Something like this, which costs hundreds of dollars, is naturally different.
"Have you been to New York before?" Sierra asked suddenly.
Okay, Pulitzer.
"It's really leisurely when you have money." Li Yu said with emotion.
Although the publishing industry in the United States is not as brilliant as it was twenty years ago, when Americans had money and other entertainment activities had not yet emerged on a large scale, there were still many people buying and reading books.
The United States would usher in a golden age of publishing industry twenty years later, and the Gottlieb and Silverman Publishing Group, which would later become prominent, would develop and grow at that time.
James was also very interested in this: "Great! Wait a moment, sir, I have to read this science fiction work again before I can make a follow-up evaluation."
Rich people in the United States generally prefer light-colored suits, such as white, just to show off their status. But Li Yu definitely chose the more common black, and the fabric is also the more common woolen.
"Then why don't you seem surprised by the prosperity of New York?" Sierra looked at Li Yu's calm face, which was completely different from the reaction of ordinary people. Even people from other cities in the United States were filled with exclamations of amazement when they came to New York.
"However," James changed the topic, "It can be seen that there will be a sequel to this book, and we need to obtain the distribution rights for the sequel at the same time."
James asked: "What terms?"
James quickly wrote down the new terms, and Li Yu signed it.
Now the Carnegie family is really extremely rich.
Leaving HarperCollins Publishing House, Sierra pointed to the new Pulitzer Building ahead, "Let's take you up to the second tallest building in New York to see it!"
Li Yu smiled bitterly.
Sierra didn’t forget to add: “Don’t be afraid of heights! It’s 20 floors!”
Li Yu looked at the building. It was really scary. It was 20 stories tall. It was even more exciting than riding a 18 km/h car in London at that time...