The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #1)

by Liu Cixin

It was impossible to expect a moral awakening from humankind itself, just like it was impossible to expect humans to lift off the earth by pulling up on their own hair. To achieve moral awakening required a force outside the human race.

She felt the world around her closing in like a sack being drawn shut, and everything pressing in on her.

She did not dare to believe in this kindness, which almost resembled a luxury.

She felt that the entire universe was a huge block of ice, and she was the only spark of life within it. She was the little girl about to freeze to death, and she didn’t even have a handful of matches, only illusions.… The block of ice holding her gradually became transparent. In front of her she could see a tall building. At the top, a young girl waved a bright red banner. Her slender figure contrasted vividly with the breadth of the flag: It was her sister, Wenxue. Ever since her little sister had made a clean break

Which is more real? The world inside or outside these walls? General Chang

Without money, the secrets of the universe are worth shit.

Wang suddenly felt the universe shrink until it was so small that only he was imprisoned in it.

Or maybe it signals the end of the whole world. In this perverse world, that would be a relief.

Wang Miao once again felt that the universe had shrunk until it was the size of an empty church.

He felt a giant, invisible hand caressing his trembling heart, and he was once again a helpless babe. Something deep in his mind that had once held him up softened like wax and collapsed. He covered his eyes and began to cry.