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8/10

Cixin Liu‘s award winning SF novel (the first in a trilogy) rises above dull characterisation and inconsistencies in plotting in part due to excellent translation by Ken Liu (who provides some context via footnotes), but also by the way the story uses both the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and the three-body problem from orbital mechanics to ground the rest of the plot. It held my attention but I don‘t know if I would automatically read on.

This book does an excellent job of being exactly what it is, which is an incredible story told through hard science. It doesn‘t have much literary merit but that‘s okay because that‘s not goal. Science geeks will love it but people like me will appreciate it more on the screen than on the page. Either way, it‘s an impressive story. 🚀

This was unlikely anything I have read lately and it was very good! A really fresh, new take on sci-fi that left me looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.

A few years ago, a fellow wedding guest raved about this series & now thanks to the #ReadAroundTheWorld challenge, I finally started listening to this science fiction book set in #China! While the audio performance is smooth, I have to admit this story relies on a lot of telling- and some sections made my eyes downright glaze over… I had a hard time connecting with the characters, but there are some tantalizing ideas in this alien invasion story!

Intense and extremely clever hard sci-fi.

Some good twists and the connection to Chinese history - in particular the cultural revolution - is fascinating.

Character development was a bit lacking.

Of course, before I listened to part two of this, I “re-listened” to this first part and was left very puzzled because I felt there were things in it I didn‘t hear when I listened to it the first time – about two years ago. And it turned out, this impression was true, I first listened to the audio play and not to this unabridged version.

In a way, I liked this even more than the audio play because you learn more about the Trisolarians.

Interesting hard sci-fi concepts from China. For the full review, please visit http://benjamin-m-weilert.com/index.php/2021/11/17/book-the-three-body-problem-2...

This was so good, and got me to actually read non stop for 2 days. The plot was super intriguing and I kind of enjoyed that it was more about the concept and story than the characters in it. The first half was my personal favourite bit, but although the latter half feels like a lot of exposition in one go, it did help to set the stakes and frame of the trilogy. I would recommend this to friends.

Recommended to me by my aunt. This was a really interesting book! Science fiction translated from Chinese. The book starts out during the Cultural Revolution and includes several helpful footnotes for context. The story is very compelling, even though I didn't really understand what was going on or what the overall plot was going to be until about halfway through the book. Definitely looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!

Truly outstanding book. From the first pages I was hooked. Three-Body Problem is filled with wonderful and believable characters and outstanding storytelling. I‘d finish one chapter and I drive right into the next one because I had to know what happens next. This book is highly entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommend 👍

After seeing this recommended over and over and over, I was excited to read it. I went into it with no knowledge whatsoever. I wasn't expecting the history lesson that is the first half of the book. It is slooooow and the character building seems to take second stage to making sure you understand the politics. That said, it also ends abruptly.

This book was every bit as good as everyone says and absolutely nothing like what I expected. The premise itself is mind-boggling and led me to hit Wikipedia for some physics refreshers, but also the way the novel is structured was really unusual and gave me a lot to think about on a craft level. [this is a belated post; finished May 6, 2021.] Art by Mateusz Ambrożewicz.

For sci-if fans, I‘ve heard lots of good things about this one. #99ponkindle #kindledailydeals

This book is a SLOG, but it has many fascinating themes and ideas and I really wish I had a book club to chat all about it. The authors notes at the end was really interesting and I think perhaps an example of self delusion. 3/5 stars, a lot of description, but interesting to read. Scientists are killing themselves, one goes undercover and discovers we aren‘t alone in the universe and the aliens are coming towards earth.

Struggling to get into this. The translation makes it read like an instruction manual half the time. Also, I‘ve had to read way more Wikipedia than I like. Just kidding, mostly.

One of the most interesting and thought provoking series I‘ve read.

Amazing read that I could not put down. Narratively it jumped around quite a bit, but conceptually it was truly gripping. It was also refreshing to read some sci-fi from a non-Western author, though I relied heavily on the translator‘s notes for context. Can‘t wait to see how they adapt it for Netflix.

My beautiful #audiowalk this morning 💕🌅

Happy Lunar New Year, Litsy family! ❤🎊🎐🎋❤

Here are a few of my favorite fantasy/sci-fi books written by Chinese authors!

#dragonsoflitsy

🎧 I enjoyed the science/tech/aliens. I felt the characters were there to be like Doctor Who companions ... a means for the Doctor (author in this instance) to convey his immense knowledge to the reader. Lame. No character depth.

The first 60% was very dry material. Then poorly written characters but that could be the translation.

VR game was ok but this was written 15 years ago (better by Stephenson) & doesn‘t drive the plot so .... ⭐️⭐️3/4

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My second book for #ReadingAsia2021 representing #China and I loved it! I will now need to take a detour and read the other 2 in the trilogy 😁

It‘s good length with lots of buildout so if you like your books quick & fast-paced, this may not be your jam.

Takes place in China with the main idea revolving around the discovery of an alien race, their intentions and ours. Lots of science, fiction, history & much more...

12/25/2020

Starting on my second #ReadingAsia2021 book - this one is from a celebrated Chinese science-fiction author.

With the scope of dune and the rousing action of Independence Day. #thethreebodyproblem #cixinliu

https://amzn.to/2HkrXSl
#CommissionsEarned
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Soon to be a Netflix Original series!

“War of the Worlds for the 21st century.” (Wall Street Journal)

#audible #audiblebooks #books #audiobooks
#booklovers #usa #netflix #netflixseries

WTF did I just read?! There were so many interesting facts, ideas and characters, but I have to confess a lot got over my head. There were so many physics curiosities, philosphical ponderings and social meditations that i think i might need a second read to find time to comprehend them all - especially since i am versed in neither scientific knowledge nor chinese culture. Still: what i did get was very inspiring!

#scifiseptember

3.5⭐️

I gave a few too many thoughts on this book so check out my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2618995080

Even though I didn‘t love it, I‘m happy that #bbbbc got me to finally read it 👾👽👾

Folks, this one here is stretching my mind all which-a-ways. But I am sticking with it and I think I am about to hit the exciting part!!! #spaceoperaseptember

Still trying to play catch up on my #bbbbc book! I‘m following along physically while listening to the audiobook. Sadly my loan at the library is due today so I‘m going to have to read like there‘s no tomorrow 😂

Thanks again to @OrangeMooseReads for the bookmark. It seems very appropriate for a first contact with aliens book!

I really wanted to like this one more than I did, but alas. I loved what it attempted to do by looking more into the state of the world and how that reflects itself in the people. I just think the pacing of the story was really inconsistent and many of the characters were just a vehicle for the ideas the story needed to move forward.

I do own the entire trilogy so I may give The Dark Forest a shot in the future

#BBBBC

#BBBBC

For those who interested in the Three Body Problem it looks like we maybe getting an adaptation at some point in the future!

https://www.tor.com/2020/09/01/liu-cixin-three-body-problem-netflix-game-of-thro...

😮🤯😍

This is amazing news!!! Incredible lineup to bring this very important work of science fiction to the small screen. I will most definitely be watching!

(Yay Twitter with some good news today!)

If you took Asimov‘s Foundation, blended it with Cline‘s Armada, added a bit of Abbott‘s Flatland, and set it within the history and culture of China, you‘d get something maybe like The Three-Body Problem. But this isn‘t light science fiction, this is science fiction steeped in science, astronomy, physics, and history...which for me makes it all the more unique and interesting. Take your time with this one, it‘s worth the read.

#BBBBC

#BBBBC, here is the first set of questions!
As always feel free to comment your answers below or in a new post tagging #BBBBC!

Make sure to mark any spoilers!

Hey #BBBBC it's that time again! The Three Body Problem discussion has officially begun!

#scififantasybookclub

The plan today was to listen to the audio and get some cleaning done...but this book easily gets drowned out with my own thoughts, so the plan has changed to reading a long and taking notes for #BBBBC

I am honestly struggling with it. Its has wonderful ideas, its just...long winded.

I‘m not a big SF reader, but I AM fascinated by other cultures and the likelihood of life on other planets. This gave me both. What if China was where that first contact happened? And it was during the Cultural Revolution? Science, great characters and philosophical, too.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #bbbbc #readwithmrbook #tohavepeoplestayaway (because if having 3 bodies doesn‘t do that, I don‘t know what will!)

I read this for #bbbbc so I don't want to say too much in case some other Littens have not read it yet. I should have loved it, but unfortunately it was just too slow. I read 100 pages which is 1/4 into the book. The characters and/or the plot should have drawn me in long before this. Not much in the way of character development and I kept wondering when I some sort of plot would appear. Terribly disappointed.

This was good, but I‘m not sure I‘ll continue with the series. I prefer fantasy to science fiction and this is pretty heavily in the sci-fi direction, but we‘ll see how I feel in a few months. 😉

I‘ve wanted to read this for ages, and I‘m hoping I am not too busy with work so I can actually follow along. I tend to find it difficult to do audiobook versions of Sci-Fi/fantasy novels but I‘m going to try.

Finally synced up to the #BBBBC group read schedule. Now I just have to manage to finish this by the end of August. So far, it‘s pretty fascinating!

#funfact: I had a neurosurgeon with the same name as this book‘s translator, but I‘m fairly certain they aren‘t the same guy.

I've decided to join the fun for #Top20Series
These are in no ranking whatsoever. I had to leave a few series out, so the books I will be including were rated as 4 or 5 stars. As is normal with series certain books within the series were stronger.
Day 1: According to Goodreads I read book 1 of Liu's trilogy nearly 3 years ago, & for someone who struggles to remember details of a book I read only last week, I still recall the details of each👇

I finally got to read this very famous book. It was different, as it mostly is with Asian literature, which to me is a huge plus. Even though the book did not thrill me as much as I would've hoped, it is still a very interesting setting and idea. I wonder now how the story will continue.

Happy July everyone! A new month means its tome for #BBBBC next pick! For the months of July and August we will be reading The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu! The discussion will take place at the end of August. Please feel free to join in (let me know if you want to be added to the notification list or discord!). Use the tag #BBBBC and feel free to tag me in your updates!

In June I read 30 books. 4 were audio books. 2 DNFs, reducing my TBR shelf to 23 (or something like that 😅). Now let's see what July brings!

Hey #BBBBC crew! The July/August read is currently on sale on Amazon (US) for $2.99!