The three-body problem.
The three-body problem is the name of the first book of the trilogy The memory of the Earth's past, Created by Chinese writer Cixin Liu. The title refers to the dilemma - almost always unsolved - in the field of orbital mechanics. Become an editorial phenomenon within the Asian country.
This novel is considered a science fiction masterpiece, is about humanity's first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. Furthermore, this literary creation is absolutely visionary due to its focus on the role of science in society. The author offers in his pages a fairly broad perspective on the past and future of China with respect to current geopolitics. Its impact has been such that it should be included among the best asian books ever.
About the Author
Liú Cíxīn was born on June 23, 1963 in Yangquan, Shanxi, China. Since he was little he was sent to live with his grandmother in Henan, this due to the repression of the authorities during the Cultural Revolution. In his youth he returned to his homeland to study mechanical engineering at the North China University of Water Conservancy and Electric Power. There he graduated in 1988 and immediately pursued that profession at the Yangquan Power Plant.
At the beginning of the 1990s, the Chinese government had scientific and technological renewal among its priorities, therefore, conditions were very conducive to the development of science fiction texts. In that context, Cixin Liu began to develop her stories with strong social content and evident theoretical influence from Leo Tolstoy., Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.
Facts about the trilogy of the three bodies
The three-body problem earned the author the 2015 Hugo award for best novel. This was the first time this award was given to a publication whose original language is not English, which was a milestone. Additionally, this book received in 2006 the Galaxy Award (China) for the best science fiction publication, the Ignotus Award 2017 and the 2017 Kurd Lasswitz Prize.
His translations became so popular that celebrities like former US President Barack Obama chose it for their 2015 Christmas reading. Likewise, Mark Zuckerberg (leader and co-founder of Facebook) selected The three-body problem like the first book of your book club.
The number one installment of the trilogy of The memory of the Earth's past It first appeared in Science Fiction World magazine in 2006. In 2008 it was released in book format, becoming one of the most popular works in China.. Its distribution in Spanish began during 2016 by Ediciones B, integrated into its NOVA collection. In 2018 its adaptation to the big screen was released.
Cixin Liu.
The trilogy of the three bodies is completed with The dark forest (2008) and The end of death (2010) Before gaining worldwide fame with this series, Liú Cíxīn had produced other suspense and science fiction works: The age of the supernova (1999) Rural teacher (2001) and The luminous sphere (2004). His latest post is The wandering Earth, and dates from 2019.
Summary of The three-body problem
The enigma of orbital mechanics
The so-called three-body problem in the field of orbital mechanics has no general solutionWhat's more, it is almost always chaotic. Under this premise, Liu describes a planet - Trisolaris - in orbit of a ternary solar system, Alpha Centauri. The gravitational fluctuation between the three stars generates in this world a catastrophic climate and unpredictable tectonic phenomena that have destroyed its civilization countless times.
A revolution, a murder, a new beginning
The start of The memory of the Earth's past is a flashback that places the reader in the middle of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, when some fanatics assassinate physics teacher Ye Zhetai at the sight of Ye Wenjie, his young daughter. After surviving the height of the riots, she becomes an astronomer. However, the regime's intelligence services mark her as a "counterrevolutionary" woman.
Costa Roja, the classified program
With the threat of jail time, Ye Wenjie is assigned to Red Coast, a classified military program. The work environment is quite uncomfortable due to the mutual distrust between her and the leaders of the investigations. However, the young astronomer's knowledge of exoplanets and distant star systems is much needed. Resigned, she works hard, waiting for an opportunity to avenge her father's death.
Wang Maio and the Frontiers of Science group
Today, the nanomaterials specialist Wang Maio infiltrates - at the request of the police - into a group called Frontiers of Science. It is a mysterious debate club made up of several leading scientists from around the world focused on determining a solution to the problem of the three bodies. Possibly, the answer defies the limits of conventional science.
Three-Body
Preliminary information from the police indicates a high probability that Frontiers of Science is linked to a succession of alleged suicides of scientists around the world. Later, Wang's inquiries reveal a key element: Three Body, a massively multiplayer VR technology program used by Frontiers of Science members. This software simulates an Earth with an inexplicably altered climate.
In Three Body the length of the seasons (and even the days) is unpredictable. The variations in temperature are radical due to the disappearance of the sun for years or, on the contrary, the star king seems to approach the planet. There, humans can only survive by remaining in a kind of dehydrated dormant state during times of extreme weather.
Consequently, predicting the path of the sun is logically a major issue in which Wang observes and participates, like the other characters in the game, unsuccessfully applying his ideas to the dilemma. The author of the work takes advantage of the situation to refer to the great feats of scientific history and makes a theoretical extrapolation to try to see if the statements of the past would be useful in the problem of the three bodies.
Ye Wenjie's comeback
However, going from being just a massively multiplayer game, this one seems to have direct consequences on the actual participants. Therefore, Wang begins to search for answers among various scientists, including an elderly Ye Wenjie. They reveal to him that Three Body is actually a type of communication platform used by an alien civilization, the Trisolarians.
The discovery
Then, Wang forms an alliance with Shi Quang, a cynical policeman (worthy of all distrust) completely disinterested in science to continue his investigations. They discover that aliens would be the true cause of the suicides of scientists around the world, as its objective is to corrode the certainty of humans by science and deprive humanity of any possibility of progress.
Wang develops nanotech weapons installed by battle commando (assembled by Shi Quang) on Frontiers of Science's roving radar. At that moment, two factions within the group become evident: those supporters of the invasion of the Trisolarians to improve human civilization by force, facing those who want the complete annihilation of humanity.
It is also revealed that the "pro extermination" have blocked the cryptic messages of the other faction to the Trisolarians.. Wang relays all this new information to Ye Wenjie, who confirms old suspicions without looking surprised. By that time, she had discovered a new way to transmit radio waves at interstellar distances using the refractive properties of the sun's rays.
The crude realidad
Ye Wenjie relies on his recent discovery to send a message in the direction of Alpha Centauri. In this message, he asks for help to free Earth from the autocracy of communism, alleviate poverty and end wars. But the rulers of Trisolaris also do not believe in democratic designs. Therefore, the message of aid becomes a perfect excuse for the justification of the Trisolarianos “pro extermination”.
Finally, the Trisolarians announce to all humanity their existence and their invasion plans. The aliens openly show their contempt by calling humans "bugs". The alien warning plunges Wang into utter despair, but Shi Quang reassures him by stating that, in a way similar to the survival of insects in the face of people's superior technology, humanity will be able to do so.
An ending to think about
The first chapter of The memory of the Earth's past closes with Ye Wenjie walking alone through the ruins of the old Red Coast facility. There, the astronomer reflects on the consequences of her actions and remembers her past invaded by sadness. Then, presumably, he takes his own life.
Quote by Cixin Liu.
This is a highly reflective work that invites us to think about what we really are as a species in such a vast universe.. It also leaves several unknowns up in the air, including "Are we really prepared for a close encounter?" Or "Are we truly an advanced civilization?" The truth is that more than one will doubt after reading this book. The answers will depend on each reader, the truth is before our eyes.