Book Review: The Three-Body Problem, by Cixin Liu

A Chinese novel of first contact and imminent alien invasion.

Tor, 2014, 400 pages

With the scope of Dune and the commercial action of Independence Day, 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.

( SETI during the Cultural Revolution; online gamers prepare to welcome our alien overlords. )

---

My complete list of book reviews.