When I learned that The Three-Body Problem, which was in my "to-be-read" was being adapted to a Netflix production, I quickly read it before beginning to watch the series. This novel is the first in the Rememberance of Earth's Past trilogy. The novel begins against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution and extends to the near future. Readers should be warned that the first novel ends on a cliff hanger.
At its core, the book revolves around the titular three-body problem, a perplexing mathematical enigma that serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability and chaos inherent in the universe and a virtual reality videograme which introduces the users to a mysterious alien civilization. Globally, many global physicists have played this game with several commiting suicide. One Chinese physicist, a specialist in nanotechnology has been asked to investigate the series of deaths.
The novel blends science-fiction, politics, and philosophy. Themes include the ethics of scientific discovery and the existential implications of encountering extraterrestial intelligence. One of the novel's strengths was the detail captured in the world-building of an alien culture.
The novel was not without its flaws for me. I have a rudimentary understanding of physics, mostly gleaned from "hard" science fiction. Occasionally, this book introduced advanced physics concepts, especially quantum physics, which I glossed over. Understanding terms from Chinese history was aided through footnotes.
Overall, I found the novel intellectually stimulating and look forward to finishing the trilogy.
At its core, the book revolves around the titular three-body problem, a perplexing mathematical enigma that serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability and chaos inherent in the universe and a virtual reality videograme which introduces the users to a mysterious alien civilization. Globally, many global physicists have played this game with several commiting suicide. One Chinese physicist, a specialist in nanotechnology has been asked to investigate the series of deaths.
The novel blends science-fiction, politics, and philosophy. Themes include the ethics of scientific discovery and the existential implications of encountering extraterrestial intelligence. One of the novel's strengths was the detail captured in the world-building of an alien culture.
The novel was not without its flaws for me. I have a rudimentary understanding of physics, mostly gleaned from "hard" science fiction. Occasionally, this book introduced advanced physics concepts, especially quantum physics, which I glossed over. Understanding terms from Chinese history was aided through footnotes.
Overall, I found the novel intellectually stimulating and look forward to finishing the trilogy.