A review by imaginary_space
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I will have to eye-read this again to form a final opinion, so take this with a grain of salt. I had to rush through the book because I could only lend it for 7 days, not my usual reading speed. But I definitely liked it enough to want to read it again, more slowly, to let all the concepts sink in and mull them over in my head.

What I liked:
  • It started very strong, the Revolutionary Struggle Session really got to me.
  • All those sweet Cosmic Horror elements and moments.
  • I was very engaged in the ideas presented. They are interesting, out there and yet believable. Great combination.
  • I wanted to know how the story would progress. 
  • Loved how the Three-Body-Problem and its eventual revelation was incorporated into the story.
  • The computer chapter.
  • The Adventists. I get them.

What I didn't like:
  • The pacing constantly switched between fast and slow, which made for a somewhat incoherent experience.
  • It had its lengths.
  • There was so much exposition, which is not completely unavoidable in a book like this, I guess. But as the book progressed, it got more and more and towards the end there was just so much of it I couldn't sit through another chapter of somebody explaining something to somebody else.
  • The aliens
    are very similar to humans
    , not very believable. But maybe it will be explained in one of the next books.

I am definitely going to read the 2nd book in the series.
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