Reviews

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

evermatt's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.75

mrfocusreads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

erwinlemueloliva's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"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.

smelliek's review against another edition

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

julesreed's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Interesting concept but slow moving in my opinion. If you love astrophysics, this is definitely the book for you 

jaysolomon2's review against another edition

I was excited to read this book after watching the first season Three Body Problem on Netflix and subsequently reading several articles about the book. I was excited to be challenged by its hard science and vast scope as laid out in the articles that universally praised its brilliance. My problem with the book, however, is quite mundane, and may say more about me than it does about the book itself. It is the first book of Chinese origin that I have ever attempted to read, and I was put off by its style of prose. I don't know whether it is a common Chinese style that my American taste is not used to, or something I don't like about the translation, or just something about the author. But whatever it was, I found reading it to be a bit of a slog, and I just couldn't imagine continuing for the 1500 pages it would take to get through the trilogy. So I stopped before I got in very deep. 

helly07's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

hughkimb's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

kookytsuyuki's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

lqueijo's review against another edition

3.0

Ainda que tenha ganho o Hugo Award e tenha uma classificação e reviews, bastante bons este livro é, no mínimo, estranho. Não sei se foi opção do tradutor optar pelo tratamento directo (tu), entre os personagens, ou se no original é mesmo assim (o que duvido, pelo que conheço dos chineses) mas resulta muito mal para aquilo a que estou habituado.
Por outro lado, há que exaltar a imaginação de Liu Cixin bem como a sua bagagem científica. Há capítulos que não lembrariam a ninguém (pela imaginação) e outros que, a serem verdadeiros (tive preguiça de mais para ir confirmar), me deixaram com uma sensação de completo ignorante.
Por último, vai ser giro ver a adaptação, ao écran, da série...
Ainda que ache que está sobrevalorizado e que Liu Cixin estende em demasia os relatos, lê-se. Seguiremos para o próximo (a seu devido tempo).