
The Three-Body Problem
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Narrated by:
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Luke Daniels
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By:
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Cixin Liu
Soon to be a Netflix Original series!
“War of the Worlds for the 21st century.” (Wall Street Journal)
The Three-Body Problem is the first chance for English-speaking listeners to experience the Hugo Award-winning phenomenon from China's most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin.
Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.
The Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy:
The Three-Body Problem
The Dark Forest
Death's End
Other books:
Ball Lightning Supernova Era
To Hold Up The Sky (forthcoming)
©2006 Liu Cixin (P)2014 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















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![El problema de los tres cuerpos [The Three-Body Problem] Audiobook By Cixin Liu cover art](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ee38SxfAL._SL240_.jpg)




Fortunately, it was really interesting. I am a fan of translated fiction. I loved learning more about China's Cultural Revolution. The way the author looks at things, constructs subplots and interpersonal conflicts is different from the American run of the mill.
The central issues of the book are completely fascinating. There were twists that were really interesting. The explanation for the pool game was completely, totally unexpected. Some talk about dimensionality that was almost thrilling in its imaginativeness.
Sufficiently interesting to rise above problems
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The Three Body Problem is the first part of a trilogy in which an alien planet, Trisolaris, intercepts a radio transmission from China. Trisolaris orbits 3 stars and due to the gravitational tug of war between those 3 stars, is subject to a violently unpredictable climate. Discovering Earth, Trisolaris plans to invade and claim the mild unchanging climate for themselves.
It took me at least an hour and a half of listening before I felt that that the story had actually begun as it goes through some back story that is only just relevant and could have been covered in a much shorter time.
When the book just gets on with the action its a great listen and has an interesting plot. The main problem with this book is that it is far better when its written as a sci-fi thriller than as the hard sci-fi it often bogs down in.
It can be a frustrating book to listen to due to some flaws that occasionally hobble the story. Large sections of the story are set in a computer game, which explains the history of Trisolaris and asks players to try to solve the riddle of predicting the varying climate of the planet. However these sections are long, mind numbingly tedious and repetitive.
There are also some problems with the internal logic of the story. The most obvious is why a group of traitors on Earth (a group of people who have grown disillusioned with the human race) conspire with the aliens to help them invade. They do this without even knowing one single detail about the alien race except for the fact that they exist. They also do this despite the fact that the very first message they get from the aliens is from a pacifist who tells them starkly and ominously not to answer any further communications as it would risk annihalation to humanity.
The last section of the book is also rather tedious and written in a dreamy style which stalls the momentum of the story. This part details the aliens plan to invade Earth (which due to the huge distance will be 450 years from now) and how they plan to disrupt human science so humanity won't have the technology to defend itself. This is also the part of the book where the hard sci-fi element is most prevalent as it describes the scientific principles and experiments they do. Just tell us what the gizmo is and what it does and get on with the story!!!! This is another part of the book that could have been written far more economically and with better characterisation.
One other point pertinent to the Audiobook version is the difficulty Westerners may have familiarising themselves with various characters in the first half of the book. Because the Chinese names are so unfamiliar it can be a little difficult to get a handle on who is who early on - but this does get easier as the story settles and the cast of characters solidifies.
As I said, this first book is first in a trilogy and I will go onto the next book as the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged, I'm hoping though that the second installment has a better editor.
3 Stars for a tale about 3 stars
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Cixin Liu's novel contains some interesting sci-fi concepts and has a moderately engaging plot, but the narrative tends to dawdle and falter from time to time and is anti-climatic in some places. Luke Daniels does a mostly passable job; in some parts is narration is too dull, but there's a section in the middle where you can tell he got really into the performance and that part is the most fun to listen to.
I would still recommend this novel if it were not for the fact that the next entry is narrated by a lifeless robot instead of Mr. Daniels.
Don't bother (see full review)
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Unique story with hard science and history
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Definitive, Original, Expansive
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A new source of sci fi
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One of the best SF I have listened to!
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Then they started bringing in police officers and military personnel with the worst voice over dialogue ever.
The translation became a total distraction and was a bit laughable. We're talking, "your...dragon.STYLE...is.no..................MATCH.4.ME". Sadly had to return.
Translation reads like a dubbed Kung Fu movie
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An excellent work of science fiction
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the best hard scifi nerd porn epic hints of azim
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