The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Liu's scifi series follows earth's first encounter with an alien civilization. It leans heavily on the science, but is a fascinating read nonetheless.
I sometimes get excited about a book after seeing a trailer for the movie adaptation. The Three-Body Problem was recently released as a ten episode Netflix series and the trailer looked absolutely wild. I’ve noticed The Three-Body Problem mentioned in various discussions as one of the best sci-fi stories of the 21st century so, with a quick flick of my thumb, I bought it on my Kindle. Sometimes, I still can’t believe how easy it is to buy books in the post-Kindle world. I remember jumping through hoops (and paying exorbitant delivery fees) to buy a hard cover on Amazon UK.
The Three-Body Problem is enthralling, especially early on. It’s a wonderful mix of hard-core science fiction, detective thriller and Chinese history lesson. The story is incredibly unique. Much of the pleasure of reading comes from having no idea what will happen next. So stop reading this post if you want to experience it yourself.
Famous scientists around the world are dying and no one seems to know why. Wang Miao, a nanotechnology professor, is approached by a wily police officer to help investigate the deaths. As part of the investigation, Wang is asked to participate in a mysterious virtual reality game that mimics life on an alien planet. In that game, a civilization attempts to survive a harsh and unpredictable cycle of extreme hot and cold. The two story threads merge to reveal a global conspiracy and a threat to human civilization.
The Three-Body Problem goes heavy on the science. Liu’s world is as realistic as possible, at least in the sense that most of the phenomena he describes are tied to real world physics. For example, Earth’s closest star is about 4 lightyears away. That means that any message sent between us and that star will take at least 8 years to receive a response; 4 years there and 4 years back. For a starship, traveling that distance will take even longer. Even if you’re able to travel at close to the speed of light, let’s say 0.2c or 20% of the speed of light, it will take a really long time to accelerate to that speed. And you would need to start decelerating well in advance to make sure you stop near your target destination. In total, the journey would take decades. Liu takes all of this into account in his story.
At times, especially towards the end, the science boils over and interferes with the narrative. Some chapters are more like scientific physics formulas that try to hold up the action. Imagine a James Bond film that unexpectedly starts to focus on the minutiae of chemical reactions in explosives. Liu includes cutting edge research in his vision of interplanetery travel. But some of those ideas distract you from the emotional struggle at the center of the story. I felt the same way about Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, another great sci-fi story that turns off casual readers. The Three-Body Problem’s story is at its best when the science clashes with ordinary people.
The Three-Body Problem is the first book in a three novel series and the ending clearly leaves much to be explored. But I doubt I’ll read the sequels. I enjoy science fiction only to the extent it gives stories a new context to explore. The science is almost an afterthought in my favorite scifi. For example, Autofac by Philip K. Dick is incredibly memorable because it tells a human story, not because it accurately anticipates a dystopia ruled by automated factories and robots. But I still recommend The Three-Body Problem, if only to broaden your perspective of what it might be like to come into contact with an alien civilization.
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