Should we be scared of interactions with aliens from outside of our solar system? This science fiction book series (trilogy+1) is built around realistic interpretations of today’s understanding of the science and physics of our Universe. Should we be sending probes and radio signals out into the universe advertising our existence here?
The series (now released on Netflix, produced by the creators of Game of Thrones) is built around earth receiving a nasty message from an alien civilization who will be arriving to take over earth in 400 years. This is because that is how much time it will take them to travel through space to get here. It is really mind warping to try and consider how we would defend ourselves 400 years into the future, based on our current track record of continuous technology development.
The books are LONG, but it is necessary to endure and go through them each in sequence to fully appreciate the big picture story woven out of intricate details, into a love story that lasts into infinity and beyond… I listen to them as audio books, which was over 60 hours long.
You don’t need to be a space nerd to understand the series. But it would be good to be familiar with some of the concepts of light-speed, nuclear fusion engines, gravity, quantum physics, black holes, 2,3 and 4 dimensions etc. I broadened my understanding somewhat by reading the book.
I just learned there is a fourth book added to the trilogy, by a new author, I read the first three so far.
- The first one (Three-body problem) deals with the problems associated with an alien civilization which has challenging effects of a planet surrounded by THREE suns, and sets the stage for the response to the message from earth. (13 hrs)
- Second one (The Dark Forest) deals with the reality that the Universe is VERY BIG and dangerous, space travel even at light speed takes a long time, but there are ways to do it. (22 hrs)
- Third one (Deaths end) relates to the aftermath of the invasion and how one can live on for ever. (28 hrs)
For me its a bit like the Star Wars series in the sense that the story spans multiple generations of the characters over centuries of time, and all the overlapping relationships and consequences. Although originally written in Chinese, the translated version shows no real obvious signs of that.
Amazon’s description:
Soon to be a Netflix Original Series!
“The War of the Worlds for the 21st century… packed with a sense of wonder.” – Wall Street Journal
The New York Times bestselling conclusion to a tour de force near-future adventure trilogy from China’s bestselling and beloved science fiction writer.
With The Three-Body Problem, English-speaking readers got their first chance to read China’s most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu. The Three-Body Problem was released to great acclaim including coverage in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and reading list picks by Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg. It was also won the Hugo and Nebula Awards, making it the first translated novel to win a major SF award.
Now this epic trilogy concludes with Death’s End. Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge. With human science advancing daily and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations will soon be able to co-exist peacefully as equals without the terrible threat of mutually assured annihilation. But the peace has also made humanity complacent.
Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the early twenty-first century, awakens from hibernation in this new age. She brings with her knowledge of a long-forgotten program dating from the beginning of the Trisolar Crisis, and her very presence may upset the delicate balance between two worlds. Will humanity reach for the stars or die in its cradle?
Other links
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/the-three-body-problem-netflix#
