The Three Body Problem [2008]
By Cixin Liu
Winner of Hugo Award 2008
399 PAGES (Kindle Digital Edition)
Rating 5/5👍
GENRES: Fiction, Hard core, Aliens, Dystopian.
Not the usual kind of scifi novel. There are plenty of different elements thrown into the mix. I am at a loss of words on what and how to describe what I just read. Aliens are invited to invade planet Earth by a notable scientist who thinks their invasion would solve the crisises humans have been unable to solve for themselves. There cannot be a more naive assumption. As it is proved in the book, the intentions of the aliens for invasion turn out to be purely malignant and selfish in nature. Anyways, as mentioned, though that is the crux of the plot, it is also just one aspect of it.
The Three Body game which introduces the world of aliens called the Trisolaris is just amazing. . .no other words. Though it is a game that is played wearing a V suit and head helmet to experience the world and its climatic effects, the chill and excessive heat are also felt by the reader. I just loved reading the game and couldn't hold to see how it progressed and developed.
Ye Wenjie is an astrophysicist who witnessed the killing of her father by rebels for holding staunchly to his beliefs in laws of physics. Later on, she gets framed by a friend wrongly as an author of a letter with anarchic content. To escape the persecution, she takes on a role of a scientist at a Red Coast Base where her role is to study the stars and continue the experiments of SETI. She makes a major breakthrough and coupling Sun's energy to a radio transmission, sends a message successfully to the nearest alien civilization on Alpha Centauri. What happens after that is no longer in her control although she along with an organization of highly skilled scientists await the aliens to approach Earth and save it from presumed self destruction.
There is plenty of science compressed into fiction to make some explanations plausible. Like...how the Trisolarians manage to stop scientific and technological progress on earth during the 450 years of their travel from their planet. Like...how they manage to monitor the situations and everything on earth in real time from their planet and spaceships. Its too much science and too much of it is unbelievable..but still very fantastic ofcourse!
This science fiction novel from China is awarded the Hugo Award. I admit that it is an unusual winner but the book is very addictive. Especially the game and the secret societies with secret plans like the Illuminati. Just plain addictive.
Awesome review!
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