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The Three-Body Problem
The Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
The Three-Body Problem is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience this multiple 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.
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Nessavamusic
Bailedbailed

A little too hard sci-fi for me. I‘m a bit bored and lost. I still look forward to the Netflix series though as the concepts are interesting.

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mija333
Bailedbailed

Nope.

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batsy
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Pickpick

This is from the author's afterword, which I don't agree with but provides a glimpse into the impetus behind the series. I appreciate his grand, romantic view of science & the wonder it inspires. The novel itself is frustrating & flawed because the writing ranges from the beautiful to the almost prosaic level of a Wikipedia entry. But I am fascinated about the themes that come up & am keen to read the rest before the Netflix series comes out!

AnnR I'm guessing the author isn't a fan of literature. 6mo
batsy @AnnR It appears so! But an interesting claim for him to make, because inevitably he produces literature to convey the magic and wonder of science in his novels 🙂 6mo
AnnR @batsy Good point! 🙂 6mo
63 likes3 comments
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quietlycuriouskate
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Pickpick

A pick with caveats. It's good, just not the book I wanted it to be.
Wow does he put the science in sci-fi! There are intriguing ideas here but there's a tonne of "telling" and Wenjie is the only real character: the others are little more than pegs to hang ideas on. I zipped through its 400 pages but I'm not sure there's enough *story* to make me want to read the subsequent volumes. If I don't actually care what happens, what's the point, right?

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underground_bks
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Pickpick

Ambitious, mysterious, challenging, and unsettling describe this landmark sci-fi soon to be adapted by Netflix. This unique take on first contact explores science & technology, the development of civilizations, and, most of all, what happens when people give up on humanity. Character is somewhat sacrificed to high concepts here, and I found myself thinking of Sophie‘s World but with video games and physics instead of postcards and philosophy.

KCofKaysville @underground_bks I almost started to read it. Will try again sometime! Thanks. 9mo
iread2much This book was fascinating, and one of the most interesting commentaries on the effects of the Cultural Revolution I‘ve ever read. 9mo
underground_bks @iread2much I was so ignorant of how violent the Cultural Revolution was! 9mo
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iread2much @underground_bks it is pretty intense to learn about. 9mo
underground_bks @iread2much have you read The Dark Forest? I‘m struggling 😅 9mo
iread2much @underground_bks no, I barely made it through this one 😅 but I wish you luck! 9mo
33 likes1 stack add6 comments
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brushlo
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
Pickpick

this series is amazing. much more than science fiction and really about the human conditon.

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ShaaM
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Pickpick

What an imagination of the author ! I was not into sci-fi books but when I started to read it I couldn't stop myself and finished it in 3 days.

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mamareading
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Pickpick

Can I get some applause and cheering? I read a book outside of my comfort genres!! 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽

This was a birthday Audiobook gift from my brother in law and I mostly understood what was going on most of the time! 🤣

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ChaoticMissAdventures
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Mehso-so

I think audio is the wrong way to go with this book. The narrator 's voice was robotic and emotionless which made the story extremely hard to pay attention to.
I am interested to see how Netflix turns these storylines into a comprehensive show. The core of the story is very interesting, and the end of this book wove the storylines together expertly.
The overall book is probably a pick but this audio didn't do it justice.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#20in4 #Readathon @Andrew65
We are having another snow weekend. I am so ready for summer. Going to hibernate with my books and join the weekend readathon.
Hoping to make a dent in the Women's Prize long list (WP)

Goal is 4 books
Finish-
3-Body Problem (#doublespin)
Homesick (WP)
Read-
Gender Queer (#transRightReadathon)
Cursed Bread (WP)
Start-
Pod (WP)

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😁 12mo
16 likes1 comment
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mindduckbooks
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Pickpick

A very unusual and memorable sci-fi book. Really thought-provoking, couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time after having read it.

Check out our podcast about it: https://bit.ly/3fJU3o7

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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

This is true, hardcore, badass sci-fi. Someone in my IRL book club loaned it to me and I'm so glad she did.

It's the beginning of a trilogy that centers on what happens when humans make contact with life from another planet. The political background added so much angst to the story, and there's so much actual science used that it made my nerd heart happy.

I can't wait to start book 2. # SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

TheSpineView Great job!💙📖 12mo
Andrew65 This looks great 👏👏👏 12mo
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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JacintaMCarter
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Mehso-so

#2023Book28
I‘m definitely not the target audience for this kind of book. I‘ve never been big on space-based science fiction, and this one has too many characters and plot lines to follow. The writing is good and enjoyed some of the plots, but overall it just wasn‘t for me.

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wen4blu
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Feels like the perfect weather to stay home and read.

#currentlyreading

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cookbranden11
Pickpick

8/10

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IReadThereforeIBlog
Pickpick

Cixin Liu‘s award winning SF novel (the first in a trilogy) rises above dull characterisation and inconsistencies in plotting in part due to excellent translation by Ken Liu (who provides some context via footnotes), but also by the way the story uses both the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and the three-body problem from orbital mechanics to ground the rest of the plot. It held my attention but I don‘t know if I would automatically read on.

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Becker
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Pickpick

This book does an excellent job of being exactly what it is, which is an incredible story told through hard science. It doesn‘t have much literary merit but that‘s okay because that‘s not goal. Science geeks will love it but people like me will appreciate it more on the screen than on the page. Either way, it‘s an impressive story. 🚀

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Jaimelire
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Pickpick

This was unlikely anything I have read lately and it was very good! A really fresh, new take on sci-fi that left me looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.

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TorieStorieS
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Mehso-so

A few years ago, a fellow wedding guest raved about this series & now thanks to the #ReadAroundTheWorld challenge, I finally started listening to this science fiction book set in #China! While the audio performance is smooth, I have to admit this story relies on a lot of telling- and some sections made my eyes downright glaze over… I had a hard time connecting with the characters, but there are some tantalizing ideas in this alien invasion story!

Cinfhen Cool drawing 🙌🏻✨♥️ 2y
TorieStorieS @Cinfhen Thank you!! 🥰☺️🥰 2y
Currey #china and alien invasion…what more could you ask for ❤️ 2y
TorieStorieS @Currey I think the rest of the series may have more action than this one… it‘s an interesting concept though and would be a good discussion starter so I see why the person who recommended it was so anxious to discuss it! 🤣 2y
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Marialou
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Mehso-so

Intense and extremely clever hard sci-fi.

Some good twists and the connection to Chinese history - in particular the cultural revolution - is fascinating.

Character development was a bit lacking.

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Buechersuechtling
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Pickpick

Of course, before I listened to part two of this, I “re-listened” to this first part and was left very puzzled because I felt there were things in it I didn‘t hear when I listened to it the first time – about two years ago. And it turned out, this impression was true, I first listened to the audio play and not to this unabridged version.

In a way, I liked this even more than the audio play because you learn more about the Trisolarians.

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BMWtheAuthor
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Pickpick

Interesting hard sci-fi concepts from China. For the full review, please visit http://benjamin-m-weilert.com/index.php/2021/11/17/book-the-three-body-problem-2...

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CyaneFillion
Pickpick

This was so good, and got me to actually read non stop for 2 days. The plot was super intriguing and I kind of enjoyed that it was more about the concept and story than the characters in it. The first half was my personal favourite bit, but although the latter half feels like a lot of exposition in one go, it did help to set the stakes and frame of the trilogy. I would recommend this to friends.

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dysprosium2
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Pickpick

Recommended to me by my aunt. This was a really interesting book! Science fiction translated from Chinese. The book starts out during the Cultural Revolution and includes several helpful footnotes for context. The story is very compelling, even though I didn't really understand what was going on or what the overall plot was going to be until about halfway through the book. Definitely looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!

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Petelord
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
Pickpick

Truly outstanding book. From the first pages I was hooked. Three-Body Problem is filled with wonderful and believable characters and outstanding storytelling. I‘d finish one chapter and I drive right into the next one because I had to know what happens next. This book is highly entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommend 👍

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MaddestMax
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After seeing this recommended over and over and over, I was excited to read it. I went into it with no knowledge whatsoever. I wasn't expecting the history lesson that is the first half of the book. It is slooooow and the character building seems to take second stage to making sure you understand the politics. That said, it also ends abruptly.

MaddestMax ...The last 20 pages or so are fairly interesting and then it's just over. I believe in it's original publishing it was one book separated into 3 volumes, so I won't hold that against it. I'll read the next just to see how it plays out. It has potential. 3y
8 likes1 comment
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eve
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Pickpick

This book was every bit as good as everyone says and absolutely nothing like what I expected. The premise itself is mind-boggling and led me to hit Wikipedia for some physics refreshers, but also the way the novel is structured was really unusual and gave me a lot to think about on a craft level. [this is a belated post; finished May 6, 2021.] Art by Mateusz Ambrożewicz.

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Caroline2
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For sci-if fans, I‘ve heard lots of good things about this one. #99ponkindle #kindledailydeals

rockpools Best Seller in Alien Invasion? Amazon categories are something else! (And apologies if you got a weird message there - can‘t operate a phone before my second coffee!) (edited) 3y
Caroline2 @rockpools I know!! Who does these Amazon categories for crying out loud?? They seem to get them way off a lot of the time!!! 🤦‍♀️ 3y
65 likes2 comments
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iread2much
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Pickpick

This book is a SLOG, but it has many fascinating themes and ideas and I really wish I had a book club to chat all about it. The authors notes at the end was really interesting and I think perhaps an example of self delusion. 3/5 stars, a lot of description, but interesting to read. Scientists are killing themselves, one goes undercover and discovers we aren‘t alone in the universe and the aliens are coming towards earth.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds good!! Start a book club ❤️📚❤️ 3y
Laughterhp This was a pick last year for the #BBBBC Litsy book club. You can see if the posts are still there and if anyone chatted about it. Just an idea. I couldn‘t get into this one 😬 3y
iread2much @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks it‘s on my list! Once things get calmer at work 😄 3y
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iread2much @Laughterhp I had a hard time with it too! Thanks for the suggestion 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @iread2much yay!! 📚❤️📚 3y
26 likes1 stack add6 comments
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MaddestMax
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Struggling to get into this. The translation makes it read like an instruction manual half the time. Also, I‘ve had to read way more Wikipedia than I like. Just kidding, mostly.

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Jonl
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
Pickpick

One of the most interesting and thought provoking series I‘ve read.

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Phobos_Deimos
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Pickpick

Amazing read that I could not put down. Narratively it jumped around quite a bit, but conceptually it was truly gripping. It was also refreshing to read some sci-fi from a non-Western author, though I relied heavily on the translator‘s notes for context. Can‘t wait to see how they adapt it for Netflix.

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CoffeeK8
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My beautiful #audiowalk this morning 💕🌅

Tattooedteacher Stunning! 3y
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Read4life Beautiful 💙 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Beautiful colors! 🤩 3y
rather_be_reading wow 🤩 3y
59 likes6 comments
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Branwen
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Happy Lunar New Year, Litsy family! ❤🎊🎐🎋❤

Here are a few of my favorite fantasy/sci-fi books written by Chinese authors!

#dragonsoflitsy

Meaw_catlady Happy lunar new year!!!!! 🌝 🧧 🐮 3y
48 likes1 comment
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Twainy
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Mehso-so

🎧 I enjoyed the science/tech/aliens. I felt the characters were there to be like Doctor Who companions ... a means for the Doctor (author in this instance) to convey his immense knowledge to the reader. Lame. No character depth.

The first 60% was very dry material. Then poorly written characters but that could be the translation.

VR game was ok but this was written 15 years ago (better by Stephenson) & doesn‘t drive the plot so .... ⭐️⭐️3/4

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Juzupis
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With the scope of dune and the rousing action of Independence Day. #thethreebodyproblem #cixinliu

10 likes1 stack add
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Luulit
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https://amzn.to/2HkrXSl
#CommissionsEarned
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Soon to be a Netflix Original series!

“War of the Worlds for the 21st century.” (Wall Street Journal)

#audible #audiblebooks #books #audiobooks
#booklovers #usa #netflix #netflixseries

25 likes1 stack add
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Heideschrampf
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Pickpick

WTF did I just read?! There were so many interesting facts, ideas and characters, but I have to confess a lot got over my head. There were so many physics curiosities, philosphical ponderings and social meditations that i think i might need a second read to find time to comprehend them all - especially since i am versed in neither scientific knowledge nor chinese culture. Still: what i did get was very inspiring!

rwmg Prepare to have your head spin even faster in the rest of the trilogy 3y
Buechersuechtling @Heideschrampf I remember this feeling so well since I absolutely loved this book, too. Sadly @rwmg I am absolutely not the mental form to continue with the series at the moment. Which is so sad because I really loved volume one. Your comment sounds like it‘s really worthwhile and now I pity it even more. – But … I might be a little afraid of continuing with the books because I „read“ the first volume as an audiobook, which was excellent, too. 3y
Heideschrampf @rwmg @Buechersuechtling same! I‘m not sure I can handle the next part directly after. I need something mellow first. @rwmg would you recommend reading the whole trilogy or would the first work as a stand-alone too? 3y
rwmg @Buechersuechtling @Heideschrampf I don't think you need to remember book 1 in great detail. I had to wait between books 1 and 2 for books 2 and 3 to be translated. If you can rest content knowing Earth has been invaded, yes, you could stop at this point, thoigh you will miss out on some fascinating ideas. 3y
51 likes4 comments
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TheBookStacker
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48 likes1 stack add
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Schnoebs
Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu
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Mehso-so

3.5⭐️

I gave a few too many thoughts on this book so check out my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2618995080

Even though I didn‘t love it, I‘m happy that #bbbbc got me to finally read it 👾👽👾

48 likes2 stack adds
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SaraFair
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Folks, this one here is stretching my mind all which-a-ways. But I am sticking with it and I think I am about to hit the exciting part!!! #spaceoperaseptember

Heideschrampf There will be a film adaptation soon. I plan to read it before that 🙈 4y
SpaceCowboyBooks It gets better and better as it goes on. 4y
SaraFair @Heideschrampf -and its coming to Netflix! That‘s why I dusted it off to start this month! 4y
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Schnoebs
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Still trying to play catch up on my #bbbbc book! I‘m following along physically while listening to the audiobook. Sadly my loan at the library is due today so I‘m going to have to read like there‘s no tomorrow 😂

Thanks again to @OrangeMooseReads for the bookmark. It seems very appropriate for a first contact with aliens book!

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InLibrisVeritas
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Mehso-so

I really wanted to like this one more than I did, but alas. I loved what it attempted to do by looking more into the state of the world and how that reflects itself in the people. I just think the pacing of the story was really inconsistent and many of the characters were just a vehicle for the ideas the story needed to move forward.

I do own the entire trilogy so I may give The Dark Forest a shot in the future

#BBBBC

ctboeheim I agree. I remember thinking many times that characters reacted in a way that was inconsistent with their motivation. In the end, I didn't much care for it 4y
29 likes1 comment
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InLibrisVeritas
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#BBBBC

For those who interested in the Three Body Problem it looks like we maybe getting an adaptation at some point in the future!

https://www.tor.com/2020/09/01/liu-cixin-three-body-problem-netflix-game-of-thro...

BarbaraTheBibliophage Just saw this! I‘m really curious about how they‘ll pull this off. 4y
InLibrisVeritas @BarbaraTheBibliophage Me too! Its not something that I thought would adapt well/easily, but the idea of it has me really intrigued. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m sure we‘ll watch. My sweetie loves stories like this! 4y
29 likes3 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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😮🤯😍

This is amazing news!!! Incredible lineup to bring this very important work of science fiction to the small screen. I will most definitely be watching!

(Yay Twitter with some good news today!)

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

If you took Asimov‘s Foundation, blended it with Cline‘s Armada, added a bit of Abbott‘s Flatland, and set it within the history and culture of China, you‘d get something maybe like The Three-Body Problem. But this isn‘t light science fiction, this is science fiction steeped in science, astronomy, physics, and history...which for me makes it all the more unique and interesting. Take your time with this one, it‘s worth the read.

#BBBBC

BarbaraTheBibliophage Great review—even though I haven‘t read those other books. 😎 Good call for that prompt too! I‘ll tag my cohosts too! @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft 4y
SaraFair Whew! Just started this weekend and it is bewildering me right now. But I am attempting tough sci fi for Space Opera September! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @SaraFair It‘s very bewildering, and the pieces don‘t start coming in closer together until later on.... but stick with it. I also think it feels odd reading because it is written from a different cultural perspective then we are used too, more reserved characters, saving face, etc... 4y
51 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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InLibrisVeritas
This post contains spoilers
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The last set of questions for #BBBBC!

Thank you to everyone who joins in each month and for those who voted for this one!

BarbaraTheBibliophage 7. This is exactly how I felt when these terms came up in the story. I‘d listen to the book and then see a news story. Then I‘d say to myself, “it‘s a Chaotic Era!” Of course, our world doesn‘t include all the aspects of Trisolaris. But I suspect we‘d all like some ability to predict when the next “Stable Era” will arrive. 4y
See All 17 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage 9. Yes, I put the next book on hold at the library. Hoping it comes in before I forget all the details of this one! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa 7. I hadn‘t thought of that before, but I can see it now...we progress for awhile in times like the Enlightenment, and then we fall into times like the Dark Ages. So we progress and regress in stops and starts, losing things we had gained. For instance, @BarbaraTheBibliophage and I just read about a Cleopatra‘s life, where they had vast knowledge in the library of Alexandra and knew things like the world was round already... most of which ⤵️ (edited) 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...was “lost” until rediscovered later. There are sadly many examples of that through history...and we are still trying to reconstruct how ancient civilizations built some things because their knowledge was lost. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa 8. I want to know more there. I read a lot into the game, which wasn‘t really made by them...so most of their culture we get in those few lost transmissions recovered at the end. I saw some human parallels there, so I‘m curious where he‘ll go with that. (edited) 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa 9. I‘m with @BarbaraTheBibliophage here. I didn‘t need another series to read (I have so many books to read!!!), but I want to know where he‘ll go with this and I don‘t want to wait too long and lose the details. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I agree about #8. The game itself is a human construct. So it has to be incomplete. I‘m curious too. (edited) 4y
Gezemice 7. I did not think of it at the time but yes, we do have large upheavals and stable eras... and I agree with @Riveted_Reader_Melissa and @BarbaraTheBibliophage , we lost so much ancient knowledge in the Dark Ages. 8. I don‘t think I learned enough of their society, so 9. yes, I am continuing, even though I don‘t need a new series to read, either! 4y
Schnoebs Man I did not think about the our societal link to stable and chaotic eras 🤯 That‘s going to keep me up tonight trying to relate that. As for Trisolaris, I loved the extremist reaction to problem solving. It makes you valuing human society a bit more even if it gives you headaches at times..... 4y
Schnoebs ... My favorite part about them though was their fear of human society‘s development and advancements. Seeing what they‘d do to avoid it at all costs was astounding. That fear really made me value the role science plays in life. As for continuing, I‘m not sure. I think I will read the sequel but probably not any time soon. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage @gezemice Book 2 is on sale on kindle today for 2.99 in the US if you are interested. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thanks! I saw that. Of course, I bought it last week. 🤪😰 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage If you bought it last week, you might be able to return it in your Amazon account yet and then get it at the lower price. I‘ve done that before when it‘s only a few days later. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I'm 99% sure that I bought it during the “spend $25, get $6 promo.“ So I'm not going to worry. 😎 4y
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thanks! My husband has already bought and read them, so I am set :) 4y
10 likes17 comments