The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin
This Chinese sci-fi book is a near favorite for me, but I have good news: I've got a few tips to help you make it a complete favorite. You'll see.
Summary
You know what? I'm not going to give you a summary. The stupid back cover revealed all the punch to me, so I rebel, okay? Anyway, I find book summaries boring as hell. Just know this:
- This is serious science fiction. You'll come across a lot of scientific concepts that are clearly well researched and sometimes a little advanced, but the footnotes will be there to keep you from getting lost.
- Ça se passe pendant la Révolution culturelle en Chine, et vous allez adorer en apprendre plus sur cette période fascinante et dégoûtante. D’ailleurs, si vous n’avez pas eu votre dose d’horreur aujourd’hui, je vous invite à consulter this Wikipedia page. You'll find everything you need to disgust your friends at the next dinner party, while looking cultured.
- A large part of the novel takes place in a video game, and honestly, it's great. For me, it's the best part.
Impressions
This novel came very close to joining my list of favorites. But in the end, it narrowly missed out on this great honor.
Why? Firstly, because I've just started the second volume, and it's not nearly as good as the first. It's getting a bit corny, the literary level has dropped dramatically, and the story is much less gripping. It's a shame to be so excited about a story, only to realize immediately afterwards that it won't be well handled and that you're bound to end up disappointed.
My first tip: don't even try, and stick with this first volume.
Secondly, because the characters simply aren't engaging. There are one or two characters who stand out from the crowd, but apart from them, I have to admit I had a hard time telling them apart. They could all have died, and I wouldn't have cared.
Second tip: don't use character charisma as a criterion.
Finally, and I'm sorry dear author, I know it's not your fault, but the back cover of this book is THE worst I've ever come across. Not only does it reveal a punch that, in the text, isn't revealed until the last quarter of the book, but it features one of the most meaningless comments I've ever read in my life:
"If you love computers, this novel should be on your must-read list."
Courtesy of Gizmodo
Besides the fact that the theme of this book is NOT "computers", what does this comment imply? That if you "like computers", then you'll like anything that talks about science in general? Thank you, Gizmodo, for reducing me and all the other readers of this book to this big, stupid, imaginary category.
Third tip: tear off the back cover, taking care not to read it, and hide it at the bottom of a drawer. When you've finished the novel, read it and laugh.
So this book isn't a favorite, but it came very close. It baffled me from start to finish. I never expected the twists and turns, I loved trying to figure out the mystery ( right up to being spoiled by the famous back cover), I found it well written, highly entertaining and intelligent. I feel a little wiser after reading it, and that's a pretty good feeling.
So keep my three tips in mind, and have a great time.
