Name: The Three-Body Problem
ISBN: 9780765377067

Ken Liu

Liu Cixin

Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project's signal is received by an alien civilization on the brink of destruction, which plans to invade Earth; meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion.

The Three-Body Problem

Amira BEN

"Should philosophy guide experiments, or should experiments guide philosophy?

It was impossible to expect a moral awakening from humankind itself, just like it was impossible to expect humans to lift off the earth by pulling up on their own hair. To achieve moral awakening required a force outside the human race

I agree, we actually have seen it with the Cosmological constant set by Einstein and some of Stephen Hawking's work.

"Theory is the foundation of application. Isn't discovering fundamental laws the biggest contribution to our time ?"

Yang hesitated and finally revealed his real concern: "It's easy to make ideological mistakes in theory" 

Edward Steel

Sven Schmidt

Civilization can only develop in the mild climate of Stable Eras. Most of the time, humankind must collectively dehydrate and be stored. When a long Stable Era arrives, they collectively revive through rehydration. Then they proceed to build and produce.

Jasper

In the spot where it once stood, the weight of the fallen tree being dragged left a deep channel in the layers of decomposing leaves that had accumulated over the years. Water quickly filled the ditch. The rotting leaves made the water appear crimson, like blood.

Tem Nugmanov

It was impossible to expect a moral awakening fromn humankind itself just like it was impossible to expect humans to lift off the earth by pulling up on their own hair. To achieve moral awakening required a force outside the human race.

I love this book for so many reasons -- how passionate and knowledgeable the author is about physics and how it's seamlessly incorporated into this story (genuinely forgot what was real physics and what was sci fi.... it was so so epic). the plot is so good, the characters are well thought out (women in stem wins), and the three body game is literally so cool I was geeking out the whole time. READ THIS!

vindhya

Simply lovely. The last chapter is mind-blowing, the comparison with locusts is brilliant and so relevant in today's world with AGI research ongoing

Ricky

Luke Daniels

Justice for Wang Miao’s unnamed (medical doctor!!) wife and son. Gone and entirely forgotten as he fucks off in pretentious VR and what seems like irl version of the most annoying discord server you’ve ever heard of

Caroline

nuha ✨️

Perfect reading slump fix. Intense and exciting, which is a crazy accomplishment given that so much of the story is just about slowly figuring out what’s going on/explaining some fictional scientific research or breakthrough instead of like actual action. 

Ella

at its core, a treatise on technological progress and its promise.

its treatment of the cultural revolution is consistent with the contemporary cpc's – wrong, misguided, violent.

liu also makes a strong case for communitarianism and prioritisation of The Community, and provides an empathetic origin story for a carcinogenic communitarianism by way of the survival story of the Trisolarians.

his portrayal of intra-species interaction, to me, is a critique of realism in international relations, and how vicious cycles of bad-faith often lead to disaster. merely an allusion in this book, his dark forest theory of life, is what i believe would be expanded on in the  sequel

overall it is imaginative conceptually, and broad thematically: creative depiction of extraterrestrial intelligence, thoughtful discourses on epistemological boundaries, nothingness, scientism as ideology, misanthropy, critique of technocracy, and more

i have to say i am underwhelmed, obama hyped it up too much for me. taira said in response not to trust obama. touché

Ghee

at its core, a treatise on technological progress and its promise.

its treatment of the cultural revolution is consistent with the contemporary cpc's – wrong, misguided, violent.

liu also makes a strong case for communitarianism and prioritisation of The Community, and provides an empathetic origin story for a carcinogenic communitarianism by way of the survival story of the Trisolarians.

his portrayal of intra-species interaction, to me, is a critique of realism in international relations, and how vicious cycles of bad-faith often lead to disaster. merely an allusion in this book, his dark forest theory of life, is what i believe would be expanded on in the  sequel

overall it is imaginative conceptually, and broad thematically: creative depiction of extraterrestrial intelligence, thoughtful discourses on epistemological boundaries, nothingness, scientism as ideology, misanthropy, critique of technocracy, and more

i have to say i am underwhelmed, obama hyped it up too much for me. taira said in response not to trust obama. touché

The kind of science fiction that takes place right on Earth. You can tell the author has an appreciation for the sciences in the many references to technology, present and future. I have to thank my undergraduate studies in allowing me to understand some of the concepts too. Now I want to watch a visual adaptation of this book.

Throckmorton

Trisurya - The Three-Body Problem

It’s been such an interesting journey reading this, seriously! It’s so excitinh but at the same time, so depressing. I can’t even explain how I feel—like I’m thrilled, but also totally overwhelmed by how heavy it is. There’s a lot of scientific terms that can be a bit confusing, but I genuinely enjoyed the whole story. You really feel the chaos and destruction of humanity on Earth—people who just never learn to be grateful, LOL. 😄😄 But it’s all explained scientifically, which makes it even more fascinating.  What’s really cool is how there seem to be three worlds here: the world on Earth, the one in the game, and then this other perspective that can see both worlds at the same time. And the fun part? The game world is actually connected to reality!  As I read further, it just got more and more messed up, and now I’m even more curious about what’s going to happen next. It’s such a wild ride! 🥹🤍👍

div. ☆

O Problema dos Três Corpos

Muito bom. Tem conceitos científicos que as vezes são um pouco difíceis de entender para quem não tem familiaridade com o assunto, mas nada que impeça a compreensão da história.

Já sabia um pouco da história antes de iniciar a leitura, mas ainda assim fui surpreendida em alguns momentos pela trama. 

Só não dei 5 estrelas pois achei a maioria dos personagens rasos, inclusive o protagonista. Ainda assim, é um excelente livro de ficção científica que deve ser lido por todos que gostam do gênero. Estou muito ansiosa para ler os próximo livros da trilogia.

Muito bom. Tem conceitos científicos que as vezes são um pouco difíceis de entender para quem não tem familiaridade com o assunto, mas nada que impeça a compreensão da história.

Já sabia um pouco da história antes de iniciar a leitura, mas ainda assim fui surpreendida em alguns momentos pela trama. 

Só não dei 5 estrelas pois achei a maioria dos personagens rasos, inclusive o protagonista. Ainda assim, é um excelente livro de ficção científica que deve ser lido por todos que gostam do gênero. Estou muito ansiosa para ler os próximo livros da trilogia.

the first 2/3 of this book took me three months to read, then the last 1/3 took me one week, because it took a while for my interest in the story to really pick up. i persisted through the dense + technical first 2/3 despite having no idea what was happening, because i was curious enough to keep reading when i remembered to. then, when everything finally started adding up in my pea brain, i actually felt drawn in + compelled to see what would happen next.

however, i don’t consider that a flaw of the book at all—i think that’s just my struggle, being an average-minded person, which was worth seeing through. the deep exploration of scientific concepts really makes this story unique. i’ve never read anything like this, and it makes me appreciate how there are some stories that only one person on earth can tell.

loved the author’s note and translator’s note a well

julia

the first 2/3 of this book took me three months to read, then the last 1/3 took me one week, because it took a while for my interest in the story to really pick up. i persisted through the dense + technical first 2/3 despite having no idea what was happening, because i was curious enough to keep reading when i remembered to. then, when everything finally started adding up in my pea brain, i actually felt drawn in + compelled to see what would happen next.

however, i don’t consider that a flaw of the book at all—i think that’s just my struggle, being an average-minded person, which was worth seeing through. the deep exploration of scientific concepts really makes this story unique. i’ve never read anything like this, and it makes me appreciate how there are some stories that only one person on earth can tell.

loved the author’s note and translator’s note a well

My standards for sci-fi have officially been skyrocketed by this book. 

Reading progress started off slow during the first third of the book, before I got hooked on and picked up speed the further I got into it. Operation Gu Zheng was fantastic and if I do watch the Netflix series, I hope they pull off that scene well. 

Absolutely love Officer Da Shi and hope we get to see more of him in the rest of the trilogy!!

Overall, this book made the discomfort of being insignificant in the bigger picture of the entire universe so much realer, yet more easy to come to terms with. 

Personally, some fundamental understanding of astrophysics and quantum mechanics would help with understanding the science behind the set up and final twist at the end.

veralyn

My standards for sci-fi have officially been skyrocketed by this book. 

Reading progress started off slow during the first third of the book, before I got hooked on and picked up speed the further I got into it. Operation Gu Zheng was fantastic and if I do watch the Netflix series, I hope they pull off that scene well. 

Absolutely love Officer Da Shi and hope we get to see more of him in the rest of the trilogy!!

Overall, this book made the discomfort of being insignificant in the bigger picture of the entire universe so much realer, yet more easy to come to terms with. 

Personally, some fundamental understanding of astrophysics and quantum mechanics would help with understanding the science behind the set up and final twist at the end.



First chapters was preparation to what is to come, it was a little all over the place. But afterwards, last 150 pages was goes by like a wind! Author questions and looks into philosophical concepts as well. A good summer sci-fi read. Looking forward to read next books. 

Umit Bulut

First chapters was preparation to what is to come, it was a little all over the place. But afterwards, last 150 pages was goes by like a wind! Author questions and looks into philosophical concepts as well. A good summer sci-fi read. Looking forward to read next books. 

If you liked Contact or Arrival movies, you can read this or vice versa. 

The Three-Body Problem is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience this multiple award winning phenomenon from China's most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin.Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.

Chris Dailey

High sci-fi with a focus on quantum mechanics, philosophy and politics. Flashing backwards and forwards over the course of 50 years in China, the novel starts during the Cultural Revolution and evolves from a singular narrative into a fast-paced page turner. Incorporating VR, suicidal scientists, collaborating heads of state and extraterrestrials, the story is mainly about isolation, cynicism, the individual vs. the state, the power of science and adaptation. The translation holds up well, but certainly loses some power of prose. This is a narrative forward book focused on (outer)world-building and delivers thought-provoking concepts with a few "ohhh" moments.

Princess Doe 

I haven’t had this kind of experience reading a book in a long time. Actually one of the best science fiction books I have ever read

Sebastian Leck

Bizarre, intense, funny, moving, fascinating. It reminds me a little of Kurt Vonnegut, if he wrote about China's Cultural Revolution and philosophized about planetary movements and sub-atomic particles. I read it in two sittings and it's definitely one of my favourite books I've read this year.

Be warned, though, that there are some gory descriptions of violence that could be disturbing.

"The Three-Body Problem" by Liu Cixin is a fascinating and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores complex themes of science, politics, and human nature. The story begins with a mysterious and intriguing premise involving a secret military project during China's Cultural Revolution. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to a virtual reality game that simulates an alien world with unpredictable environmental conditions, hinting at the larger cosmic mystery at play.

Liu Cixin masterfully combines hard science fiction elements with an engaging plot, creating a compelling narrative that challenges readers to think deeply about the nature of the universe and humanity's place within it. The characters, while sometimes feeling secondary to the grand ideas and scientific concepts, serve to drive the story forward and add emotional depth to the overarching plot.

Overall, "The Three-Body Problem" is a remarkable entry into the science fiction genre, offering a unique blend of scientific rigor and imaginative storytelling. It's a must-read for fans of hard science fiction and those looking for a novel that stimulates both the intellect and the imagination.

Erwin Lemuel Oliva

"The Three-Body Problem" by Liu Cixin is a fascinating and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores complex themes of science, politics, and human nature. The story begins with a mysterious and intriguing premise involving a secret military project during China's Cultural Revolution. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to a virtual reality game that simulates an alien world with unpredictable environmental conditions, hinting at the larger cosmic mystery at play.

Liu Cixin masterfully combines hard science fiction elements with an engaging plot, creating a compelling narrative that challenges readers to think deeply about the nature of the universe and humanity's place within it. The characters, while sometimes feeling secondary to the grand ideas and scientific concepts, serve to drive the story forward and add emotional depth to the overarching plot.

Overall, "The Three-Body Problem" is a remarkable entry into the science fiction genre, offering a unique blend of scientific rigor and imaginative storytelling. It's a must-read for fans of hard science fiction and those looking for a novel that stimulates both the intellect and the imagination.

Sanjay Krishna 

went into this blind and the way the book drew me into such complex ideas with beautiful imagery and prose was absolutely amazing. 

Wingyan Chan

lala

I read this book in English, but the following review is in Indonesian. 

Mantap sih. Jujur. Awalnya agak kurang termotivasi atau gimana karena gak paham sama Revolusi Kebudayaan Cina yang jadi sebagian latar cerita novel ini. Tapi karena udah suka sama tulisan Cixin Liu setelah baca The Wandering Earth, bela belain ngabisin waktu untuk baca baca dan nonton YouTube soal Revolusi Kebudayaan dulu supaya ngerti maksudnya apa. Menurut gue ngerti eksten dari dampak Revolusi Kebudayaan kepada orang-orang yang mengalami jaman itu penting buat paham keputusan-keputusan yang diambil sama karakter di buku ini. 

Yang gue suka dari buku ini salah satunya adalah penjelasan ilmiah yang mudah dimengerti, dan sesuai dengan jalur cerita jadi bacanya nggak “hah?”, penjelasannya juga gak kompleks dan ngejlimet. Padahal bisa dibilang banyak konsep fisika yang dibahas di novel ini, tapi gak ada yang bikin bingung. Mungkin ada beberapa yang pakai istilah teknis tapi gak muter-muter penjelasannya. Kadang bahkan serasa lagi baca buku sains populer pas penjelasan ilmiahnya. Logika alur ceritanya masuk akal, kesinambungan antara satu kejadian ke kejadian lain terjalin dengan baik. Di tengah agak terasa ada bumbu-bumbu misterius dan/atau konspirasi yang bikin bukunya susah banget buat berenti dibaca!! Tapi jujur, salah satu karakter utamanya, Wang Miao kurang menarik untuk diikuti, lebih menarik ngikutin jalur pikirnya Ye Wenjie, salah satu karakter penting berporsi banyak di novel ini. 

3/4 dari baca novel ini masih ada beberapa pertanyaan yang belom kejawab, terus langsung diborong terjawab di bab-bab akhir, agak aneh sih pacingnya tapi tetep masuk akal?? Semua pertanyaan besar terkait plot ceritanya terjawab dengan baik di akhir buku dan pembaca ditinggalkan dengan rasa penasaran dengan harapan tinggi untuk karakter-karakter di dalam bukunya. Puas banget habis baca buku ini, dan agak sedikit sedih dan hampa juga karena nyelesainnya terlalu cepet hahaha.. tapi gak sabar banget buat baca lanjutannya!! ❤️❤️✨✨

I liked this most when it felt like what it wasn't (historical fiction) and least when it felt like what it definitely is (hard sci fi). I appreciated the questions it explored and I'm glad to have read it. I'm also glad to be done with it.

elizabeth

Luke Harkness

Fascinating but comes with a warning

I'll get the warning right of of the way: this book heavily revolves around theoretical science. This means there are many terms, many explanations and a whole load of times you may be confused. However I don't want this to dissuade people as it is a fascinating insight into how earth could really communicate with extraterrestrial life. This is not an easy read with a smooth flowing story, but as stated: it is a fascinating one!!

Lindy

In order to enjoy The Three-Body Problem you must have some level of appreciation for Asimov and Clarke and their outdated/wrong ideas about civilization, science, and "progress." If Foundation or Childhood's End make you bang your head on a table, so will this.

Pedro Figueiredo

I loved the story, but It would have benefited from a better translation - hence the 3 stars. The sequel, which I started on straight after, seems to have fixed this.

vanessa

this was conceptually very interesting but i’m not sure the prose really lured me in.