Three Words: Dense, Intriguing, Sprawling
The worlds of physics, extraterrestrial invasion and virtual reality conjoin in this epic of modern Chinese SF. While overall the story was very engaging, I’m not gonna lie, guys: this book was tricky to get through at points. The science behind the potential extraterrestrial use of nanotechnology on this planet is painstakingly explored. Intriguing! But technical.
The main plot centers around a woman, Ye, who flees from the deadly Chinese Cultural Revolution and takes refuge in a research base devoted to contacting aliens. Meanwhile, in the present, a man named Wang enters a virtual reality game called Three Body and explores the mysterious culture presented there. I found these passages to be most fascinating. The seemingly mythical civilization of Three-Body hibernates during “Chaotic Eras” when the sun does not predictably rise or set, and revives during “Stable Eras” during which their civilization can advance. Figuring out what it all adds up to was a fun puzzle for this reader to put together.
One of the benefits of reading non-Western works in translation is seeing how authors of various backgrounds approach the form and format of storytelling. While this book may have been tough at times for my American sensibilities, I am planning on reading the next two books in this series. I was definitely drawn into the world of Three Body and am eager to return and see what happens with the Trisolarians we have contacted.
Luke Stephens 