The purpose of this post is less as a review and more like a receptacle I can word-vomit into for posterity sake. So, sorry if this isn’t super coherent or even enjoyable to read. And also, fuck you. I can do what I want.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. This is my first ever sci-fi book. I had just read The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, and after being in that post-book stupor, I decided that I needed to read something a bit more exciting. After reading some reviews, with positive reviews saying that it is the best book they’ve read and negative reviews saying that the book is misogynistic, I dived into the book and read it over the course of 2-3 weeks. Since this book is sorta a slow burn, I was skeptical at first. The first couple pages of world building felt hard to piece together, but as the story progressed and characters were developed, I was hooked.
If I had to sum up what I liked about this book in one word I would say that the book was engaging. After the set up in the first 70 or so pages, the mysteries and theories just keep you on the hook for the rest of the book. And the pay off at the end of the book! I’m so glad that I don’t study physics or computer science, because I feel like science fiction was right in that perfect space where it didn’t break my suspension of disbelief too often. Speaking of, the sci-fi aspects of the book feel very grounded. It doesn’t get star-wars/star trek levels of sci-fi until very close to the end of the book. This makes the book even more engaging because the sci-fi feels so close to us. The setting of the earthly science in the book is basically our current level of tech except slightly more advanced.
I think that all the characters ranged from great to inoffensive. Shi Qiang, he’s the goat and I love him and his asshole detective down-to-earth energy. Everyone else, they’re alright.
The story really picks up and just keeps on running. I really like how the reveal of aliens being behind all the shenaniganery isn’t shown until almost 2/3rds through the book. It really does the book a disservice reading reviews because I think the alien reveal is awesome and doesn’t feel at all forced. The plot thread about Ye Weinje receiving and sending messages to aliens, I think that I actually audibly gasped. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Some of the negative reviews of this book said that it felt like there were plot threads that didn’t lead anywhere. I honestly felt like this book was pretty solid through and through, but I did feel like the parts related to the books namesake, The Three Body game, kind of dragged on. They felt a bit pretentious as they played the game with the names of a bunch of old philosophers/astronomers. I think it’s hilarious that Wang would log on and choose “Copernicus” as his gamer tag. I kinda kept thinking, “how is this a game? This doesn’t play like a game at all.” Like I know that the point is to find like minded people to indoctrinate them, but it took me out a bit. Kinda sucks that the “worst” parts of the book were what the book was named after.
Other negative reviews said that the book was misogynistic? If the book was, I certainly didn’t pick up on it. I remember reading that it was because many of the female characters were described as “slim.” I’m sure I’m misrepresenting their arguments a bit, but I felt like that the main female characters in the book were explored with a good amount of depth.
Overall, good book. It leaves you excited for the next one, which I will probably be reading next.
by on-reddit-for-pewds