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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Bit of a slog, and then went way over my head, but an interesting story ... I think?
Set against the backdrop of modern China and Cultural Revolution, a decade-long sociopolitical struggle in China, The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu looks into humanity’s choices and their far-reaching consequences. As mentioned by Liu in the afterword, our compassion and kindness should be directed inward—towards humanity—rather than outward towards the stars or extraterrestrial life. Even though humanity often appears hopeless and irredeemable, as exemplified by one character’s profound resentment stemming from the violence and betrayal of the Cultural Revolution, these narratives urges us to confront these flaws.
Liu’s engineering background as well as his fascination with stars and light-years craft a captivating story with an impressive blend of hard science, history, philosophy, and boundless imagination. Cixin Liu highlights humanity’s use of science as both a tool for advancement and a weapon for dominance. Liu reframes humanity’s place in the universe through the lens of our own ingenuity by compellingly illustrates how extraterrestrial life fears our scientific progress, recognizing science's potential to challenge even the mightiest threats. That being said, he emphasizes that science is not only pivotal for innovation but also serve as a critical tool for defense and offense.
Liu’s masterful use of the "bugs" metaphor—how human beings are mere bugs to aliens is a nod to how we might seem insignificant to greater forces. But bugs are never truly defeated, are they? How Liu drops the analogy at the end is jaw-dropping and left me in awe. It makes me eagerly anticipate the sequels to uncover how Liu continues to explore the theme of human resilience.
While the scientific and philosophical layers are undeniably engaging, the narrative occasionally demands patience. It can feel dense, but perseverance is rewarded with moments of awe and intellectual stimulation. The moral ambiguity and the questions Liu pose about humanity’s survival make this an unforgettable read. I look forward to exploring the rest of the trilogy.
Liu’s engineering background as well as his fascination with stars and light-years craft a captivating story with an impressive blend of hard science, history, philosophy, and boundless imagination. Cixin Liu highlights humanity’s use of science as both a tool for advancement and a weapon for dominance. Liu reframes humanity’s place in the universe through the lens of our own ingenuity by compellingly illustrates how extraterrestrial life fears our scientific progress, recognizing science's potential to challenge even the mightiest threats. That being said, he emphasizes that science is not only pivotal for innovation but also serve as a critical tool for defense and offense.
Liu’s masterful use of the "bugs" metaphor—how human beings are mere bugs to aliens is a nod to how we might seem insignificant to greater forces. But bugs are never truly defeated, are they? How Liu drops the analogy at the end is jaw-dropping and left me in awe. It makes me eagerly anticipate the sequels to uncover how Liu continues to explore the theme of human resilience.
While the scientific and philosophical layers are undeniably engaging, the narrative occasionally demands patience. It can feel dense, but perseverance is rewarded with moments of awe and intellectual stimulation. The moral ambiguity and the questions Liu pose about humanity’s survival make this an unforgettable read. I look forward to exploring the rest of the trilogy.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
I just... I don't understand anything that's going on.
Content warning: physics!
Content warning: physics!
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a really interesting book, but I struggled to understand the intricacies as the book progressed. The beginning chapters on the Cultural Revolution were sobering.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very engaging. It pushed the bounds of my imagination in ways I didn’t expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
An idea book, with some intense and poignant images and moments thrown in. It evokes classic science fiction, with all of it's flaws (characterization, believability, plot holes, etc.) and benefits (profound willingness to break paradigms, fun idea gymnastics!).
By many measures, this is not a very good book. By other measures, it is profound and wonderful.
Recommended with caveats.
By many measures, this is not a very good book. By other measures, it is profound and wonderful.
Recommended with caveats.