The original Three-Body Problem was written by Chinese author Liu Cixin and first published in 2008. It is the first book in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, which has become one of the most celebrated works of modern science fiction.
The novel begins during China's Cultural Revolution, where a scientist named Ye Wenjie, traumatised by the political turmoil and the loss of her father, becomes disillusioned with humanity. She secretly participates in a project that sends radio signals into space in an attempt to contact extraterrestrial life. Against all odds, a response comes from a distant star system called Trisolaris, which is home to an alien civilisation struggling to survive due to the unstable orbit of their three suns (a "three-body problem" in physics).
The Trisolarans, desperate to escape their dying world, plan an invasion of Earth. However, their message contains a dire warning: humanity should not respond further, as doing so will reveal Earth's location to hostile alien forces. Ye Wenjie, embittered by her experiences with humanity, ignores the warning and invites the Trisolarans to intervene in Earth's affairs, setting off a chain of events that spans decades.
The story follows multiple characters, including Wang Miao, a scientist who discovers strange phenomena linked to the impending alien contact, and the global reaction to humanity's first encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence. The novel explores themes such as physics, existential risk, human nature, and the clash between hope and despair in the face of an overwhelming threat.
The novel begins during China's Cultural Revolution, where a scientist named Ye Wenjie, traumatised by the political turmoil and the loss of her father, becomes disillusioned with humanity. She secretly participates in a project that sends radio signals into space in an attempt to contact extraterrestrial life. Against all odds, a response comes from a distant star system called Trisolaris, which is home to an alien civilisation struggling to survive due to the unstable orbit of their three suns (a "three-body problem" in physics).
The Trisolarans, desperate to escape their dying world, plan an invasion of Earth. However, their message contains a dire warning: humanity should not respond further, as doing so will reveal Earth's location to hostile alien forces. Ye Wenjie, embittered by her experiences with humanity, ignores the warning and invites the Trisolarans to intervene in Earth's affairs, setting off a chain of events that spans decades.
The story follows multiple characters, including Wang Miao, a scientist who discovers strange phenomena linked to the impending alien contact, and the global reaction to humanity's first encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence. The novel explores themes such as physics, existential risk, human nature, and the clash between hope and despair in the face of an overwhelming threat.
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