Author Gush: The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Ah, good science fiction. It’s so hard to come by these days!

Many is the garden variety Sci-Fi consisting of laser guns and energy swords that all possess the narrative weight of idle doodles made in a highschool Chemistry book.

Thankfully, The Three Body Problem transcends that trope and becomes something truly special.

Cixin Liu has a special talent for presenting real, complicated mathematic ideas in a way that is easy to visualize (and therefore grasp) before the story goes completely buttfuck nuts (in the best of ways) and I’m not too proud to admit I was inspired to go down many a science related rabbit hole upon finishing.

I cherish my sleep, dear reader.

Sleep is good. Sleep understands.

So, when I tell you I stayed up so late reading The Three Body Problem that I was able to greet the paper boy at the door before going back for more, that ought to tell you this isn’t your average “sci-fi slop.”

There’s historical tidbits feathered in, contemporary commentary aplenty, intrigue, mystery, and, most importantly, a solid scientific base for proceedings that is just plausible enough to make you uncomfortable (again in the best of ways).

A bit of forewarning for those of you looking to pick this one up: this is a translated work. That is not a mark against it mind you!

Books translated from other languages should be cherished and Ken Liu does an amazing job. I only bring this up as if you’ve never read a work translated from another language before you will likely experience a certain writing style that isn’t quite what you’re used to reading. There may be a couple of paragraphs focused on politics or history you didn’t see coming and which seem initially out of place when compared to the broader “narrative sequence” if you will but I assure you this is both regular and (in the case of The Three Body Problem) not nearly as jarring as some others I’ve seen.

Am I still salty over a friend taking issue with Sapkowski’s The Last Wish for exactly that reason?

Maybe. Who can say?

Regardless, The Three Body Problem has the mark of something great and it has been a hot minute since I read a science fiction novel that scratched that particular itch.

Any book that not only stimulates an urge to learn but to discuss said learning with ones friends is a good one dear reader.

As the youth say: this one’s a banger.