"The Three-Body Problem"
A full-length science fiction novel by Liu Cixin of the People's Republic of China. It was serialized in the Chinese science fiction magazine ‘Science Fiction World’ from May to December 2006, and published in book form by Chongqing Press in January 2008. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)
First of all, it's huge in scale. In terms of Japanese works, Komatsu Sakyo's "The Day of Resurrection" and "Japan Sinks" come to mind, but "The Three-Body Problem" is on a grander scale than the classic giants of science fiction around the world, such as H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke. What's more, the author originally studied science and engineering, and his imagination is backed by scientific knowledge, making it persuasive, which I think is a major part of its appeal. Tezuka Osamu's "Black Jack" is a typical example, but authors with a deep knowledge of both science and humanities are capable of such amazing feats.
I started reading it without much prior knowledge, thinking it was a space opera, but it suddenly went from a profound historical depiction to a hard sci-fi, detailed and realistic description of science... and even though it's a blockbuster with a ton of complicated theories, it never got boring. The love scenes aren't overly dramatic, and the family ties aren't tear-jerking, and the story is grand in scale but told in a matter-of-fact manner... and yet, it's a smooth read with no lulls in the middle. What an incredible author.
This work is divided into three parts, with the first part, "The Three-Body Problem," followed by "The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest" and "The Three-Body Problem III: Death's End." Since the timeline is long, there is not just one protagonist. Times change, and the characters change constantly.
Many interesting characters appear throughout the story, but the protagonists of the first part could be said to be Ye Wenjie and Wang Miao. The story actually begins with China's Cultural Revolution. I was surprised at how the timeline suddenly expanded from the very beginning. Ye Wenjie's parents were researchers, and were killed by Red Guards in a protest against the Cultural Revolution. Wenjie, also a researcher, was sent down to the countryside to do manual labor in a rural village, but as a brilliant scientist, she gradually began to be entrusted with work for the central government. Even after finishing the book, it still gives me chills to think about how her psychology and thoughts around this time are the starting point of this long and intense story.
Time passes, and the story moves to modern times. Due to a decision Wenjie made during the Cultural Revolution, strange things are happening to many scientists, including Wang Miao. To solve the mystery, Wang Miao challenges himself to the "Three-Body Problem" game. Around this point, the mysteries of the Three-Body Problem and Trisolaman gradually emerge, conspiracies swirl, and mystery elements are added, drawing me deeper and deeper into the story.
The protagonist of Part 2 is Luo Ji. In this volume, the story's theme, "Dark Forest Theory," is clearly stated, revealing that the story is a battle against aliens that threatens the survival of humanity. Luo Ji becomes a central figure in the system devised by humanity as a countermeasure. However, Luo Ji himself is portrayed as a romantic and light-hearted character, and it's interesting that he doesn't have the kind of heroic personality that saves humanity. One person we mustn't forget here is his partner, Shi Qiang. He's a former detective who has appeared since Part 1, but from Part 2 onwards, his down-to-earth appearance and cheerful, reliable personality make him an indispensable character. Honestly, the Three-Body Problem series would be unthinkable without him.
The protagonists of the third installment are Cheng Xin and Yun Tianming. The story begins on Earth in the near future and expands beyond time and space. Dimensions unfold, nebulae sparkle, and the momentum is so intense it makes even "Star Trek" and "Space Battleship Yamato" seem tame. However, the story unexpectedly develops around the romance between Cheng Xin and Yun Tianming. Was this plot twist planned from the beginning? The story of these two characters is strangely beautiful and touching. It's a fateful love affair that travels through the glittering universe and time. Liu Cixin tries to cram everything into this work, from history and science to horror, suspense, and romance... he's truly an ambitious writer. Normally, this would make a story tedious, but this work beautifully integrates all of these elements into a cohesive whole, leaving nothing to be desired.
In addition to the characters mentioned above, there are many other fascinating characters, such as Ai AA and Thomas Wade, and although it is said to be hard science fiction, there are many grand, magnificent, and fantastical scenes, such as depictions of other worlds, so I think even people who are not good at science fiction will be able to enjoy it.
Finally, in my personal view, I believe that in China, as seen in historical novels like ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ and Jin Yong's wuxia novels, there is a tendency to favor somewhat exaggerated expressions. This tradition lives on in this work, and it is precisely this that enables such a compelling narrative.
