What do you think?
Rate this book
乡村教师
在愚昧和迷信笼罩的大山深处，执着的他用尽一生在孩子们的心中燃起科学和文明的火苗。在生命的最后一刻，他依然在用他最后的气力传授着知识……距地球五万光年的太空深处，一场延续了两万年的星际战争接近尾声，获胜者为了拯救银河系更多的文明，开始了牺牲并摧毁低级生命的旅程，当他们到达地球并向地球发起文明测试时，大山里的十八个孩子用老师在生命尽头教给他们的知识燃起了高级文明的希望之光……
104 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 21, 2021
"Our planet is like a grain of sand in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is yet another grain of sand in the universe. Other life has to exist somewhere out there."
I loved this one much more than the story which is based upon. The drawings are alive, they complement the narration perfectly.
The original story can be read in Liu Cixin's To Hold Up the Sky collection. I am now thinking that maybe the translation in english wasn't the best, because here the aliens' part is so well integrated into the story.
Overall, both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story, an ode to teachers and knowledge.
I loved this one much more than the story which is based upon. The drawings are alive, they complement the narration perfectly.
The original story can be read in Liu Cixin's To Hold Up the Sky collection. I am now thinking that maybe the translation in english wasn't the best, because here the aliens' part is so well integrated into the story.
Overall, both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story, an ode to teachers and knowledge.
May 22, 2022
"Some say that teachers are candles. They set themselves on fire so that others may see..."
December 31, 2021
"Some say that teachers are candles. They set themselves on fire so that others may see."
This is the second graphic novel adaptation of a Cixin Liu short story I've read and I have two more on loan from the library. I found this one quite violent and graphic (there's a pretty horrible scene in which ) and it didn't fill me with the greatest confidence in the Chinese education system. Having taught English to Chinese young adults, I can attest that they are indeed marvellous at memorisation and rote learning, and those powers are pretty much what save Earth from destruction here, which feels a bit underwhelming. Where's the understanding?
This is the second graphic novel adaptation of a Cixin Liu short story I've read and I have two more on loan from the library. I found this one quite violent and graphic (there's a pretty horrible scene in which ) and it didn't fill me with the greatest confidence in the Chinese education system. Having taught English to Chinese young adults, I can attest that they are indeed marvellous at memorisation and rote learning, and those powers are pretty much what save Earth from destruction here, which feels a bit underwhelming. Where's the understanding?
December 22, 2022
A scifi story that underscores the importance of teachers. While the plot feels a little cliched and didactic, I still felt moved by the art work.
And that is perhaps a graphic novel’s unique ability - to bring out an old wine’s flavour in new flasks.
And that is perhaps a graphic novel’s unique ability - to bring out an old wine’s flavour in new flasks.
December 19, 2021
Story: 1A, Illustrations: 1A :)
January 25, 2024
This is the graphic novel adaptation of the short story collected in To Hold Up the Sky. Unlike in the short story this comic has a beautiful prologue where we learn the Silicon Empire from beyond has launched an all out attack on the Carbon wealth, a war that lasts over 20,000 years. And now they are approaching Earth.
We segue to our protagonist, the Village Teacher, a thankless task in a rural village that is so poor, their population has terrible decision making skills. Every effort by charities or the government to lift the village from poverty is sabotaged by the villagers directly or indirectly, continuing the cycle of poverty.
The teacher has had a hard life, and yet, when it comes to something that might save his life, he forgoes medical treatment in favor of using the funds to continue educating his students, believing that education is the only chance some of these village children will have to break the cycle of poverty.
To be fair, some of the village children really seem to love him. Their parents, not so much. They'd rather the kids work at the farm. The teacher's life is difficult, and even as his life is ebbing away he still does his best to teach the children something about Newton's Laws, that lesson will end up having far reaching consequences when Aliens come across Earth.
This was a very sad story that highlights why teaching is a PROFESSION. It isn't one of the ones that are glamorous or pay well. In fact in countries like the USA kids don't respect their teachers who frequently have to dip into their own savings to pay for things some of the students can't afford. It's not glamorous, nor high paying, but it is a very, very rewarding as teachers are one of the few professions that can shape and change a person's life.
This book is a stellar example of that. It made me tear up.
We segue to our protagonist, the Village Teacher, a thankless task in a rural village that is so poor, their population has terrible decision making skills. Every effort by charities or the government to lift the village from poverty is sabotaged by the villagers directly or indirectly, continuing the cycle of poverty.
The teacher has had a hard life, and yet, when it comes to something that might save his life, he forgoes medical treatment in favor of using the funds to continue educating his students, believing that education is the only chance some of these village children will have to break the cycle of poverty.
To be fair, some of the village children really seem to love him. Their parents, not so much. They'd rather the kids work at the farm. The teacher's life is difficult, and even as his life is ebbing away he still does his best to teach the children something about Newton's Laws, that lesson will end up having far reaching consequences when Aliens come across Earth.
This was a very sad story that highlights why teaching is a PROFESSION. It isn't one of the ones that are glamorous or pay well. In fact in countries like the USA kids don't respect their teachers who frequently have to dip into their own savings to pay for things some of the students can't afford. It's not glamorous, nor high paying, but it is a very, very rewarding as teachers are one of the few professions that can shape and change a person's life.
This book is a stellar example of that. It made me tear up.
August 25, 2021
I’ve been so excited for the release of these graphic novels! Never before have I read one, but being able to see the insanely fascinating ideas of Liu Cixin in a visual way was an opportunity I wasn’t going to pass on!
“The Village Teacher” is the first story in the short story collection “Hold Up The Sky”, a strange tale with two very different parts coming together in an interesting way by the end. I loved the artwork, and though a few details of the story were either changed or omitted, I still loved reading it again.
I’m now super excited to read the other graphic novels based on stories by Liu Cixin that are planned for release!
“The Village Teacher” is the first story in the short story collection “Hold Up The Sky”, a strange tale with two very different parts coming together in an interesting way by the end. I loved the artwork, and though a few details of the story were either changed or omitted, I still loved reading it again.
I’m now super excited to read the other graphic novels based on stories by Liu Cixin that are planned for release!
May 20, 2023
“The Village Teacher: Cixin Liu Graphic Novels #3”
Beautiful redemptive sci-fi tale grounded in the gritty determination of vision and empathy in extreme poverty. Wow, loved it, deeply moving. ****
“Newton was a famous scientist from a place once known as England.”
"Our planet is like a grain of sand in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is yet another grain of sand in the universe. Other life has to exist somewhere out there."
"Some say that teachers are candles. They set themselves on fire so that others may see."
“They were called – teachers.”
Beautiful redemptive sci-fi tale grounded in the gritty determination of vision and empathy in extreme poverty. Wow, loved it, deeply moving. ****
“Newton was a famous scientist from a place once known as England.”
"Our planet is like a grain of sand in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is yet another grain of sand in the universe. Other life has to exist somewhere out there."
"Some say that teachers are candles. They set themselves on fire so that others may see."
“They were called – teachers.”
March 27, 2026
A heartfelt story that touches many topics that are dear to the author's heart, mainly the importance of knowledge and the impact of teaching. Of course, being the subject what it is, it was bound to move me.
The drawings of space sceneries and of the alien civilisations are absolutely beautiful. Sometimes I cringed at people's expressions, particularly the children, but a very enjoyable issue nonetheless.
I haven't read the original short story yet, it's in the collection "Hold up the Sky" in my to-read bucket, so I can't speak to the differences with the original.
The drawings of space sceneries and of the alien civilisations are absolutely beautiful. Sometimes I cringed at people's expressions, particularly the children, but a very enjoyable issue nonetheless.
I haven't read the original short story yet, it's in the collection "Hold up the Sky" in my to-read bucket, so I can't speak to the differences with the original.
September 18, 2022
Some say that teachers are candles. They set themselves on fire so that others may see.
3.5 stars, rounded up. Far more plaintive than its two predecessors, the human elements of The Village Teacher are heavy with hope and heartbreak.
Honestly, on its own, without the extraterrestrial subplot, this would have been just as moving (maybe more so), but it packs more of a punch than the previous two graphic novel adaptations nonetheless.
November 12, 2022
The artwork was the most impressive in this one so far with the dark and red pallette, and shrouded but heavy and almost metallic "highly intelligent" ET figures that make humans seem like dimpulps in comparison. They looked like the Baron from Dune 1 in my imagination. This was a much simpler story and one that has common themes. It tries extra hard to hit you in the feels at times which seems clichéd. The dialogue is also much like regular manga.
February 13, 2024
Bit of a weird tale this one, somewhat brief (Would have preferred a bit more to it) but certainly has an impact nonetheless. Quite bleak in parts, while in others carries a more optimistic tone to it than the Three Body series does.
Some of the scenes were quite hard hitting, and otherwise I think nicely shows how much impact one person can have, and at same time worry about what future may portend for some characters.
A good, powerful short read.
Some of the scenes were quite hard hitting, and otherwise I think nicely shows how much impact one person can have, and at same time worry about what future may portend for some characters.
A good, powerful short read.
May 12, 2025
It is always a pleasure to read short stories by Liu Cixin.
The story highlights the important and thankless role that teaching has in our society. It is the lifeblood of the modern world, and woefully under funded and under appreciated in the village that we find ourselves in. Despite this, the teacher continually goes above and beyond for his students in the hopes that they can one day escape the cycle of poverty.
The story highlights the important and thankless role that teaching has in our society. It is the lifeblood of the modern world, and woefully under funded and under appreciated in the village that we find ourselves in. Despite this, the teacher continually goes above and beyond for his students in the hopes that they can one day escape the cycle of poverty.
July 27, 2022
刘慈欣 Liú Cíxīn has done it again! This time, he has highlighted something common and, in many ways, underappreciated like teachers and depicted their long-suffering and fervent dedication. Teachers understand their solemn role to educate the future leaders and protectors of this world. This book warns the possibility that the world would crumble without passionate and caring teachers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
Aún no estoy convencida con la historia... Siento que es bastante compleja, al menos la parte "alienigena" y la parte "humana" no me hizo sentir tanta empatia como hubiera querido. Pero como un primer acercamiento es aceptable.
3.5 estrellas
3.5 estrellas
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2021
The Village Teacher is based on a story (乡村教师 / Xiāngcūn jiàoshī / lit. “The rural teacher”) published in the Chinese monthly magazine Science Fiction World in 2001. In order to defend themselves against an invasion of silicon-based creature, the carbon-based lifeforms of the Milky Way decide to create an isolation zone five hundred light years wide in the middle of spiral arm one by destroying almost all stars and therefore preventing the enemy from using them to leapfrog from a stellar system to another. They’ll be confined to the outer reaches of the galaxy and never be a threat again. However, they must quickly test each planet before destroying their sun to safeguard all star system with level 3C civilizations. Meanwhile on Earth, in a very rural region of China, a dying country teacher is doing his best to spread knowledge despite the opposition of some of the villagers. Will his students know enough to save Earth? This story emphasize the importance of a good education… A nice story with a moral. This time the artist, Zhang Xiaoyu, is Chinese and, if the art is not totally to my taste, its realism has some charms.
Read my complete comment on http://clodjee-blog.com/2021/12/06/ci...
Read my complete comment on http://clodjee-blog.com/2021/12/06/ci...
August 14, 2024
I listened to this, so I didn't know it was a graphic novel until I looked it up on GoodReads. Anyways, it was beautiful. Not certain what Liu was going for aside from embracing education. :)
Let me know if you want to chat about it. Cheers, Larson
Let me know if you want to chat about it. Cheers, Larson
September 1, 2025
albeit a simpler stoey than those Cixin Liu tends to regale us with (not the best of mediums for his big ideas), it's a very wholesome and emotional journey, surprisingly human and touching against the backdrop of a 10.000 year long galactic war. and just gorgeous artwork.
8.5/10
8.5/10
September 18, 2021
Super quick read, but a very good story
November 15, 2021
The story was good but emotionally manipulative in the idea of a teacher.
The art though was great, imaginative and clear and importantly easy to follow.
The art though was great, imaginative and clear and importantly easy to follow.
December 10, 2021
A masterpiece
January 8, 2022
Amazingly beautiful story.
November 14, 2022
Beautiful
February 12, 2023
What a beautiful book in visual and verbal artistry. An Armageddon story with physics, kindnesses and nerdiness being our only possible salvation!
February 14, 2023
2023/18 宏大与微小在一点上交集碰撞出的火花。 大刘文笔真的捉襟见肘😂
February 27, 2023
两条故事线之间的连接略微生硬，但读起来还是让人动容。读完以后最大的启发是，人类文明是如此脆弱的文明，是随时可以倒退甚至回到原点的文明，人们真的该珍惜和感谢目前拥有的文明成果。
May 31, 2023
A fairly predictable story. Nicely enough done
December 26, 2023
A simple but moving story
February 21, 2024
悲情童话故事，有点儿自我感动的味道了……
March 11, 2024
based on the theory that humanity advanced so fast because of teachers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews