A review by inquiry_from_an_anti_library
Remembrance of Earth's Past: The Three-Body Trilogy by Cixin Liu, Cixin Liu, Ken Liu

adventurous dark hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Review for The Three-Body Problem, Book 1 

Is This An Overview? 

The world of science is being threatened.  During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, science became antagonistic to political favor.  Ye Wenjie is a scientist who survived the persecution by being politically cautious.  But events conspire to make Ye Wenjie a target of the politicians, only to find sanctuary in an isolated political radio base.  A base which was claimed to be used for military applications.  As scientists were in short supply, Ye Wenjie had the required skills that were needed to maintain, operate, and develop the technology.  

Decades later, with persecution of scientists through the Cultural Revolution a harsh but distant memory, science has advanced tremendously.  But science seems again to be under threat, as scientists are dying with an increase in crime against academia and research institutions.  There does not seem to be a political motivation for the acts.  What defines science is also under threat, for the methods of science are failing.  Science depends on replication, that the results of an event will be repeated given the same conditions.  But even with advanced technology of participle colliders, different results occur with the same conditions. 

Wang Miao is a scientist who is asked to participate in a group from which many of the dead scientists have been associated with.  Through the investigation, Wang Miao comes across a game that the scientists play, called 3 Body.  The game is extremely immersive, with the goal of predicting events.  Within the game, civilizations develop during Stable Eras and fall during Chaotic Eras.  The eras can change quickly, with the world undergoing seemingly random and extreme changes.  How are the events of the Cultural Revolution, the death of scientists decades later, and the 3 Body game related? 

Caveats? 

There is a plethora of science terminology in the book.  Written in a way that blends the science and science fiction which makes it difficult to separate when the science ends and the science fiction begins.  There are sections filled with science terminology, ideas, and people involved.  If a reader has a background in various science fields, the science references can add depth to understanding the situations being presented.  Without the science background, the sections can be difficult and confusing to read. 

Review for The Dark Forest, Book 2 

Is This An Overview? 

The Trisolarans are heading to Earth, with ill intent towards humankind.  Trisolaran technology is far advanced compared to what humans have, but during the time it would take the Trisolarans to reach Earth, humans have the potential to develop more advanced technology compared to what Trisolarans have.  A potential nullified by Trisolaran sophon technology, that is used to prevent humans from understanding physics, from gaining more knowledge about how reality works.  This limits human technology to developments using knowledge already possessed.  Sophons have another function, to inform the Trisolarans of everything that humans are doing and saying.  The threat posed by the Trisolarans changes human society.  Governments and economies change their priorities, people suffer from psychological turmoil.  Various methods are proposed to handle the threats.  

A limit to the sophons, is their inability to know what someone is thinking.  Humans create the Wallfacer Project to take advantage of the secrets people carry in their thoughts.  The Wallfacers are four individuals chosen to think of a plan without explaining to others what the plan is.  Nobody can know what the Wallfacers are actually thinking.  With minor limitations, whatever the Wallfacers want, others have to find a way to obtain what they want.  The Wallfacers come from different backgrounds and begin to think of methods to overcome the Trisolaran threat.  The Wallfacers are treated as saviors of humankind.  

While there are those wanting humans to overcome the Trisolaran threat, leading to support for the Wallfacer methods.  There are humans who have allied themselves to the Trisolarans, and want the Trisolarans to succeed.  The Trisolaran human allies find a Wallbreaker for each Wallfacer.  The Wallbreakers’ task is to expose the plan that the Wallfacers have in their thoughts.  Can the Wallfacers find a method to save humanity or will the Wallbreakers succeed in reading the Wallfacers thoughts? 

Caveats? 

This book not only requires readers to have some familiarity with science, but the reader also has to become an investigator.  The reader has to become a Wallbreaker, to continuously try to figure out the Wallfacers plan.  This book is filled with events that appear to have insignificant consequences, obvious consequences, or random behavior, which can have drastic consequences for the future of humanity, and have different reasons and outcomes than expected.  The variety of events can make it difficult to understand how they coalesce, and the variety of perspectives can be difficult to keep track of. 

Review for Death's End, Book 3 

Is This An Overview? 

The Dark Forest deterrence has changed human and Trisolaran societies.  Humans think that Trisolarans are no longer a threat.  Trisolaran eagerness to share knowledge, leads to a cultural exchange.  Humans learn to advance technologically from Trisolaran culture.  Trisolarans learn to be creative and organize their society based on human culture.  Each species shows respect to each other.  People are speaking of a universe of peace.  The Dark Forest deterrence is still needed as the Trisolarans are acknowledged to still be technologically superior.  Dark Forest deterrence depends on a single person, a Swordholder, to activate the system once defection has been detected.  Can deterrence last?  What makes for an effective Swordholder?  What do the Trisolarans want from Earth? 

Caveats? 

This book is still based on science, but is more science fiction.  The science fiction becomes increasingly more abstract.  Part of the science is the potential interaction with alien life, which shares how the universe, can be a tragic place.