Status
Checked out
Call number
Publication
Nova (2018), Edition: Media tie-in, 576 pages
Description
"With the scope of Dune and the rousing action of Independence Day, this near-future trilogy is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience this multple-award-winning phenemonenon from China's most beloved science fiction author. In Dark Forest, Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion--in just four centuries' time. The aliens' human collaborators may have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth's defense plans are totally exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret. This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four men enormous resources to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he's the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
It took me longer to get into this book than it did the first Remembrance of Earth's Past novel-- no character here was ever as arresting as Ye Wenjie in The Three-Body Problem. What really carries you through the first two-thirds or so are the ideas: how would Earth react to an inevitable alien
As one of them (Luo Ji, an astronomer and sociologist who seems to know very little about either astronomy or sociology) finds out, this can be a curse and a blessing. You can't not be a Wallfacer (because people will assume everything you do is part of the plan, including saying you have no plan) but you can also do whatever you want (because people will assume everything you do is part of the plan, though eventually they will get suspicious if you just buy a lot of fine wine). The social implications about how to plan a mass evacuation and such are also pretty interesting, and the various Wallfacer plans for Earth defense pretty epic. Unfortunately, Luo Ji isn't a great character, and outside of him, there are so many other characters that I struggled to keep track of them all. There's especially this weird, long subplot about a really weird romance Luo Ji has that had some pretty questionable aspects.
The last third of the novel, which jumps ahead two centuries (several main characters use suspended animation) really picks up, especially once the first alien probe arrives, and I found myself engrossed once more. There are multiple events that made perfect sense that I did not see coming, and the idea of the "dark forest" and the way it is used by Luo Ji is pretty interesting and clever. Not as good as The Three-Body Problem, but it contains the scientific and social inventiveness of the best epic hard sf.
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invasion centuries in the future, especially if Earth has entered a period of technological stagnation thanks to alien intervention, and if the aliens can monitor almost all electronic communications? The book answers these questions in a variety of ways, most of them interesting: I liked, for example, the Wallfacer Project, where certain men are granted the power to do anything necessary for Earth's defense, without explanation.As one of them (Luo Ji, an astronomer and sociologist who seems to know very little about either astronomy or sociology) finds out, this can be a curse and a blessing. You can't not be a Wallfacer (because people will assume everything you do is part of the plan, including saying you have no plan) but you can also do whatever you want (because people will assume everything you do is part of the plan, though eventually they will get suspicious if you just buy a lot of fine wine). The social implications about how to plan a mass evacuation and such are also pretty interesting, and the various Wallfacer plans for Earth defense pretty epic. Unfortunately, Luo Ji isn't a great character, and outside of him, there are so many other characters that I struggled to keep track of them all. There's especially this weird, long subplot about a really weird romance Luo Ji has that had some pretty questionable aspects.
The last third of the novel, which jumps ahead two centuries (several main characters use suspended animation) really picks up, especially once the first alien probe arrives, and I found myself engrossed once more. There are multiple events that made perfect sense that I did not see coming, and the idea of the "dark forest" and the way it is used by Luo Ji is pretty interesting and clever. Not as good as The Three-Body Problem, but it contains the scientific and social inventiveness of the best epic hard sf.
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LibraryThing member fredbacon
Last night I finished reading Cixin Liu's The Dark Forest, the second volume in his Three Body Problem trilogy. The English translation of the first volume, The Three-Body Problem, won the Hugo Award for best novel just a few weeks ago. I think the second volume is an even better book than the
I seldom read science fiction anymore, but I made a point of reading Cixin's trilogy. They were huge bestsellers in China when they came out ten years ago, and it's easy to see why. They are furiously imaginative hard sci-fi. Cixin approaches many old science fiction tropes with a new perspective. For instance, he uses game theory (although it isn't mentioned as such in the book) to examine the problem of alien contact, giving a credible solution to the Fermi Paradox. His solution isn't worked out in detail, but merely hinted at.
At times, his techno-babble gets on my nerves. I'm still not sure what an infrasonic H-bomb is, or why sound waves at frequencies below human perception (which is what infrasonic means) would cause a fireball to sparkle with infrasonic energy. Still one must give the authors of sweeping science fiction stories some leeway for storytelling.
The book is definitely told from a post-Maoist, Chinese point of view. That's a plus, not a minus, in my opinion. It's an interesting view into the zeitgeist of today's China. It's definitely worth a read.
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first, so it's almost a shoo-in for the best novel award next year. I seldom read science fiction anymore, but I made a point of reading Cixin's trilogy. They were huge bestsellers in China when they came out ten years ago, and it's easy to see why. They are furiously imaginative hard sci-fi. Cixin approaches many old science fiction tropes with a new perspective. For instance, he uses game theory (although it isn't mentioned as such in the book) to examine the problem of alien contact, giving a credible solution to the Fermi Paradox. His solution isn't worked out in detail, but merely hinted at.
At times, his techno-babble gets on my nerves. I'm still not sure what an infrasonic H-bomb is, or why sound waves at frequencies below human perception (which is what infrasonic means) would cause a fireball to sparkle with infrasonic energy. Still one must give the authors of sweeping science fiction stories some leeway for storytelling.
The book is definitely told from a post-Maoist, Chinese point of view. That's a plus, not a minus, in my opinion. It's an interesting view into the zeitgeist of today's China. It's definitely worth a read.
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LibraryThing member JBD1
I think I liked this one even more than the first in the series. Some really excellent scenes, even if there are a few moments of apparent inconsistency, too. Definitely imperfect, but I will still very much look forward to the final volume in the trilogy.
LibraryThing member lwobbe
More, book two. I'm scared to read book three. What can possibly happen next?? Can't be good.
LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
3,7 stars
If I rated this book for the concept and ideas alone, this would be a five star read. However, those aren't the only things I look for in a book, so I can't in good conscience rate this for those alone.
Overall, this is a decent book. What it lacks for me is any kind of emotional anchor.
I felt no connection to any of the characters and felt pretty uncomfortable with how women were regarded throughout the book. Women were either muses, mothers, or deceivers with little to no agency of their own. This was something that was addressed in glancing way during the future years, but even that was done pretty poorly.
I'll definitely read Death's End this year, but I'm going to take a little break from this universe before getting started on that one.
If I rated this book for the concept and ideas alone, this would be a five star read. However, those aren't the only things I look for in a book, so I can't in good conscience rate this for those alone.
Overall, this is a decent book. What it lacks for me is any kind of emotional anchor.
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And it boils down to the writing, for me. The story has many points that could have been devastating, but because the writing was so clinical, they ended up reading more like a mission report than an account of the tumultuous future of the world.I felt no connection to any of the characters and felt pretty uncomfortable with how women were regarded throughout the book. Women were either muses, mothers, or deceivers with little to no agency of their own. This was something that was addressed in glancing way during the future years, but even that was done pretty poorly.
I'll definitely read Death's End this year, but I'm going to take a little break from this universe before getting started on that one.
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LibraryThing member endolith
I had to read it to find out what happens after the first book, but it wasn't very enjoyable or engrossing most of the time. So much blah blah blah about imaginary perfect girlfriend and how fragile and beautiful and innocent and one-dimensional imaginary perfect girlfriend is, and wow look at all
It dragged on a lot.
As I said to a friend while reading it:
"The author likes writing about stuff he imagines, which is fine, that's the point of a lot of sci-fi, but like, incorporate it into the story, have characters experience things."
Interestingly, this book and one of the Culture books both feature spaceships with featureless walls that can grow furniture when needed. I want to compare the two descriptions when I have time to look them both up.
So anyway I was going to give it 2 stars, but then some more dramatic interesting things happen and then it has a pretty cool unexpected ending, so ok, it gets 3 stars. But really I'm just reading it to find out what happens. Hopefully the third book is better.
{Wait, have I seriously been reading this since AUGUST? Ugh.]
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the future technology I can think up that isn't relevant to the plot, so amazing, and here's some descriptions of the inside of spaceships which also isn't relevant to the plot, and here's some musings about spaceship social structure and how to maintain morale and blah blah blah.It dragged on a lot.
As I said to a friend while reading it:
"The author likes writing about stuff he imagines, which is fine, that's the point of a lot of sci-fi, but like, incorporate it into the story, have characters experience things."
Interestingly, this book and one of the Culture books both feature spaceships with featureless walls that can grow furniture when needed. I want to compare the two descriptions when I have time to look them both up.
So anyway I was going to give it 2 stars, but then some more dramatic interesting things happen and then it has a pretty cool unexpected ending, so ok, it gets 3 stars. But really I'm just reading it to find out what happens. Hopefully the third book is better.
{Wait, have I seriously been reading this since AUGUST? Ugh.]
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LibraryThing member Pantalaimon01
I have to say I wasn't as gripped by this, the second part of Cixin Liu's trilogy, as I was by the first. It is still excellent science fiction, but this time it took about half of the book before I got really into it. This may have something to do with my buying it as an e-book. There are a lot of
I did get a bit frustrated with one of the main protagonists - Luo Ji, who takes some time to come into his own, and finally start acting in the manner that as a reader you hoped he would. Also, once the book leaps ahead to a certain point in the future, the 'new' humans there for want of a better term, are idiots!
The ending of this story is well worked out. So well worked out, that I'm left wondering what direction the last book will take.
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characters to keep track of, and the story jumps about quite a bit. With the e-version, it was harder for me to check back on who was who.I did get a bit frustrated with one of the main protagonists - Luo Ji, who takes some time to come into his own, and finally start acting in the manner that as a reader you hoped he would. Also, once the book leaps ahead to a certain point in the future, the 'new' humans there for want of a better term, are idiots!
The ending of this story is well worked out. So well worked out, that I'm left wondering what direction the last book will take.
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LibraryThing member santhony
I have been reading science fiction for over forty years. I think I have had a broad exposure to all forms of the genre during that period. After a brief hiatus, several years ago I dove back in; focusing on some of the newer authors, and have been very satisfied with most of my selections. I try
With all of that said, I feel strongly that The Dark Forest may be the best work of science fiction I have ever experienced. I read the English translation of Cixin Liu’s Chinese science fiction novel, The Three Body Problem. I thought that it was very good, but not excellent. I was sufficiently intrigued to proceed on to the second novel of the trilogy, The Dark Forest, and I am eternally grateful that I did. I am just floored by how good this novel is, on so many levels.
I have read so many science fiction novels that are little more than spaceships and aliens, with poor underlying stories or character development. The Dark Forest is an outstanding piece of literature, above and beyond its label as a work of science fiction. It has very thoughtful themes, touching on philosophy, anthropology, sociology and psychology. The advanced technology and elements of hard science fiction are outstanding, second to none. The underlying story is absolutely captivating, as are the characters.
At the conclusion of the Three Body Problem, we are left with an alien race, the Trisolarans, who have embarked on a four hundred year long trip across the galaxy, ostensibly to conquer and inhabit the Earth. Through use of their advanced technology, they have arrested the technological development of the human race and are able to eavesdrop on every aspect of life on Earth. Faced with this scenario, how does the human race respond? As the years pass and different generations are tasked with coming up with strategies to face the threat, the author continues, time and again, to impress with his vision and the elements of human psychology and philosophy that he employs.
Most impressive to me is the author’s ability to deal with these philosophical and technological themes in such a way that the reader can easily follow and appreciate. To me, he walks the perfect line between being intellectually challenging, yet approachable (unlike some of Frank Herbert’s work, which was more than I could handle).
So, if you have read The Three Body Problem and are trying to decide whether to proceed on to this second installment, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to do so. If you have not read the Three Body Problem, I urge you to do so, with the knowledge that the follow up book will be worth the effort. The Dark Forest wraps up very nicely and could easily be the end of the story; however this is a trilogy, so I will gladly continue to the final chapter, hoping not to be disappointed. The Dark Forest is a terribly difficult act to follow.
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to read most of the Hugo and Nebula Award winners, and having done so, I think I have a pretty good idea of what makes outstanding science fiction.With all of that said, I feel strongly that The Dark Forest may be the best work of science fiction I have ever experienced. I read the English translation of Cixin Liu’s Chinese science fiction novel, The Three Body Problem. I thought that it was very good, but not excellent. I was sufficiently intrigued to proceed on to the second novel of the trilogy, The Dark Forest, and I am eternally grateful that I did. I am just floored by how good this novel is, on so many levels.
I have read so many science fiction novels that are little more than spaceships and aliens, with poor underlying stories or character development. The Dark Forest is an outstanding piece of literature, above and beyond its label as a work of science fiction. It has very thoughtful themes, touching on philosophy, anthropology, sociology and psychology. The advanced technology and elements of hard science fiction are outstanding, second to none. The underlying story is absolutely captivating, as are the characters.
At the conclusion of the Three Body Problem, we are left with an alien race, the Trisolarans, who have embarked on a four hundred year long trip across the galaxy, ostensibly to conquer and inhabit the Earth. Through use of their advanced technology, they have arrested the technological development of the human race and are able to eavesdrop on every aspect of life on Earth. Faced with this scenario, how does the human race respond? As the years pass and different generations are tasked with coming up with strategies to face the threat, the author continues, time and again, to impress with his vision and the elements of human psychology and philosophy that he employs.
Most impressive to me is the author’s ability to deal with these philosophical and technological themes in such a way that the reader can easily follow and appreciate. To me, he walks the perfect line between being intellectually challenging, yet approachable (unlike some of Frank Herbert’s work, which was more than I could handle).
So, if you have read The Three Body Problem and are trying to decide whether to proceed on to this second installment, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to do so. If you have not read the Three Body Problem, I urge you to do so, with the knowledge that the follow up book will be worth the effort. The Dark Forest wraps up very nicely and could easily be the end of the story; however this is a trilogy, so I will gladly continue to the final chapter, hoping not to be disappointed. The Dark Forest is a terribly difficult act to follow.
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LibraryThing member buffalopoet
Holy shit. One of the most surprising, rich, and unique sci fi books I've read in a long time. The first book of the trilogy, The Three-Body Problem, was great, but in reading this 2nd book, it feels as if book 1, in retrospect, is set-up for really diving in here. That's not to take away from
Cixin Liu has an imagination - an ability to extrapolate out from a setup - that reminds me of William Gibson's work - particularly Pattern Recognition. It's a future world where you're always trying to figure out the details, but you are able to hold the big picture in your mind as you go with it - like the difference between standing close to Impressionist painting and taking a few steps back.
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3-Body Problem, but to underscore what's going on here in The Dark Forest.Cixin Liu has an imagination - an ability to extrapolate out from a setup - that reminds me of William Gibson's work - particularly Pattern Recognition. It's a future world where you're always trying to figure out the details, but you are able to hold the big picture in your mind as you go with it - like the difference between standing close to Impressionist painting and taking a few steps back.
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LibraryThing member Algybama
Worse than 3-Body. Mainly because of the overwriting (half of the book is incomprehensible similes). Though I'm willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and blame it on the translation.
The texture of future beijing reminded me of Rudy Rucker in the worst way possible. Silly, frivolous,
Wicked spaceship stuff.
The texture of future beijing reminded me of Rudy Rucker in the worst way possible. Silly, frivolous,
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not believable - basically the polar opposite of the rest of the series. I suppose it hearkens back to the 3body game from the first novel, but it's not fun and interesting.Wicked spaceship stuff.
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LibraryThing member br77rino
What a disappointment, following the wonderful and brilliant originality of the first book. I didnt even finish it though I'd read more than half of it. Endlessly visiting the thoughts of characters with zero action. It felt like a pointless show on TV. Filler. Perhaps it was co-written (which
I will try the third, though, hoping it might miraculously be in the same league as the first.
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means written) by a Communist bureaucrat, to punish him for the first book, which, in the opening, gave an honest view of Communist horrors.I will try the third, though, hoping it might miraculously be in the same league as the first.
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LibraryThing member travelster
An interesting and fast moving sci-fi. Most middle of a trilogy books can be full. This one isn't at all. Rather fresh actually.
LibraryThing member cindywho
Has a tough start accompanied by some eye rolling, but when the last Wallfacer reveals all - phew!
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
The splendid aspect of having a second book is that you needn't repeat (often boring or overly technical) backstory and repeating characters get flushed out. My particular favorite is Da Shi - as a security guy he has a fascinating focus and randomly honest/to the point way about him. He also helps
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add in the familiar trope of spy/detective genius...[in progress] Show Less
LibraryThing member capiam1234
The thought process on developing this book and the other two books in the series is just so detailed and amazing.
LibraryThing member zeborah
Covers a lot of future-history very fast, so as soon as it throws out the cunning idea of picking a handful of people to enact secret plans against the enemy - which had all sorts of promise for being all sorts of fun-and-twisty - it wraps it up and moves onto the next era... But I never stopped
It's interesting that the characters make much of the axioms of cosmic sociology (1. that survival is the primary need, and 2. that civilisation grows and expands but matter remains constant) and...
well, for one thing don't notice that #2 is in fact two axioms, the first of which is nowhere proven;
and come to think of it I don't think they discuss whether it matters how many civilisations there are. After all if a million civilisations, growing exponentially, is too many for one universe, then so is one civilisation growing exponentially; it'll just take a few years more to reach the too-big point. In fact having multiple civilisations competing, each checking the growth of the others, could be the best outcome in a Darwinian sort of way;
but more importantly, when they realise that this means that when two civilisations come into contact, they must by necessity be competitors for the finite matter in the universe, they decide that there's no way around this except a) hiding or b) crushing said competitor. Which may be true if there are only two civilisations. But as soon as you realise that the universe is a "Dark Forest" filled with civilisations facing the same dilemma - and though they only formally realised this towards the end of this book, it follows by induction from the fact that there are two! - then you have to realise that there is room for alliances. And if there is the possibility of an alliance then there is the necessity for an alliance, lest the next competitor you come across be part of an alliance that will crush you.
I'm really hoping some of this gets explored more in the third book of the trilogy, because I do enjoy the speculation of cosmic sociology, I just think it's so far incomplete.
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enjoying this.It's interesting that the characters make much of the axioms of cosmic sociology (1. that survival is the primary need, and 2. that civilisation grows and expands but matter remains constant) and...
well, for one thing don't notice that #2 is in fact two axioms, the first of which is nowhere proven;
and come to think of it I don't think they discuss whether it matters how many civilisations there are. After all if a million civilisations, growing exponentially, is too many for one universe, then so is one civilisation growing exponentially; it'll just take a few years more to reach the too-big point. In fact having multiple civilisations competing, each checking the growth of the others, could be the best outcome in a Darwinian sort of way;
but more importantly, when they realise that this means that when two civilisations come into contact, they must by necessity be competitors for the finite matter in the universe, they decide that there's no way around this except a) hiding or b) crushing said competitor. Which may be true if there are only two civilisations. But as soon as you realise that the universe is a "Dark Forest" filled with civilisations facing the same dilemma - and though they only formally realised this towards the end of this book, it follows by induction from the fact that there are two! - then you have to realise that there is room for alliances. And if there is the possibility of an alliance then there is the necessity for an alliance, lest the next competitor you come across be part of an alliance that will crush you.
I'm really hoping some of this gets explored more in the third book of the trilogy, because I do enjoy the speculation of cosmic sociology, I just think it's so far incomplete.
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LibraryThing member quondame
Readers who want something like The Three Body Problem may well be disappointed with this book. The Cultural Revolution and the Trisolarian ‘culture’ are both absent, the second more surprisingly but as completely. Joel Martinson’s translation has produced a very readable English which
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conveys nothing of the Chinese viewpoint that burdened the the Ken Liu’s translation and made TBP different and unique in it’s expressions. TDF relies on revealed solutions for it’s cleverness, but they are very thin. Only two characters are really developed or more accurately revealed, both men. A significant part of the story takes place 200+ years later in what is supposed to be a gender equal society, but the only female authorities are tokens and all but one of the interesting interactions take place between and among men. The ideal female is once again a plot device. And the science is once again rubbishy. Show Less
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
This is the second volume of The Three Body Problem trilogy. At the end of the first volume, the Trisolarians have left on their 400 year journey across space to conquer Earth. They have stopped technological advances on Earth, and are able to spy on every action taken on Earth to prepare its
Since the only advantage humans have over Trisolarians is that they cannot read our minds, the primary defensive tactic taken on Earth is to select 4 brilliant people as "Wallfacers." The 4 Wallfacers are each charged with devising and preparing a strategy for the defeat of the Trisolarians, all the while concealing the plan from everyone else and the Trisolarians, using deceit and evasive tactics as necessary. Three of the chosen Wallfacers are well-known scientists/intellectuals. The fourth, however, is Luo Ji, an unknown Chinese astronomer. The only thing that is known about him is that he is the one person on Earth the Trisolarians want dead above all others. Over the next couple of hundred years, the plans of the three other Wallfacers are exposed (by individuals working for the Trisolarians known as "Wallbreakers") and fail. An advance probe by the Trisolarians destroys most of the Earth's fleet. It is then left to Luo Ji--will he be able to come up with a plan to save the Earth?
When I first finished this volume, I had decided I wasn't going to read the final volume of the trilogy. The story seemed to be becoming focused on space battles and military techniques, which I don't usually care for. However, I have since read several reviews highly laudatory of the final volume, and how it ties everything together, so I will probably finish the series. Recommended for space science fiction fans only.
3 stars
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defenses. This second volume relates the events of Earth's attempts to prepare its defense against the Trisolarians, as well as the initial forays of Trisolarian probes into our solar system.Since the only advantage humans have over Trisolarians is that they cannot read our minds, the primary defensive tactic taken on Earth is to select 4 brilliant people as "Wallfacers." The 4 Wallfacers are each charged with devising and preparing a strategy for the defeat of the Trisolarians, all the while concealing the plan from everyone else and the Trisolarians, using deceit and evasive tactics as necessary. Three of the chosen Wallfacers are well-known scientists/intellectuals. The fourth, however, is Luo Ji, an unknown Chinese astronomer. The only thing that is known about him is that he is the one person on Earth the Trisolarians want dead above all others. Over the next couple of hundred years, the plans of the three other Wallfacers are exposed (by individuals working for the Trisolarians known as "Wallbreakers") and fail. An advance probe by the Trisolarians destroys most of the Earth's fleet. It is then left to Luo Ji--will he be able to come up with a plan to save the Earth?
When I first finished this volume, I had decided I wasn't going to read the final volume of the trilogy. The story seemed to be becoming focused on space battles and military techniques, which I don't usually care for. However, I have since read several reviews highly laudatory of the final volume, and how it ties everything together, so I will probably finish the series. Recommended for space science fiction fans only.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member CK31
Love it. What an amazing imagination the author has. Can't wait to read the next one. Highly recommended for any sci-fi fan?
LibraryThing member mcdenis
Volume two in the Trilogy of the “Three Body Problem” again dazzles with its array of science and fiction. The translation highlights the Chinese character of the players and is more fluid than in volume one. Dr. Luo Ji, the last of the Wallfacers comes out of 200 years of hibernation and is
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challenged to seek a solution to an impeding Doomsday destruction by the Trisolarians. Earth’s defensive fleet is all but demolished. The excitement and desperation builds, as Luo Ji appears to take his own sweet time to resolve the crisis much to the consternation of those around him. In the end his strategy works, not withstanding the superior intelligence and firepower of the Aliens and he is able to deter the final conflagration. This is a challenging read but massive in its scientific outreach and imagination. Show Less
LibraryThing member renbedell
An amazing continuation of the invasion of the Sophons and what Earth's plans for defense are. Great look at what Earth would do in such situation of impending doom. Gives a deep look at technology and the science behind them all. A very technical book, but makes it incredibly interesting. The
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story is ever changing, and this one has a different feel and different themes than the first book. The story grows as generations go by and each section of the book feels like it could itself be its own book. Great read and I'm looking forward to what Cixin Liu delivers in the third installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
I gave this one twenty-five pages before I realized that I read the first book out of a sense of obligation to the Hugo awards and I don't really care to trudge through this one.
LibraryThing member jzacsh
Bumping to to 3 stars because I ended up finishing this and the story was worth the distractions it came with.
LibraryThing member willszal
Is all fiction about the future dystopian? Are all eras of humanity equally fixated on apocalypse?
As Charles Eisenstein describes in his latest book, "Climate," it is not an end to civilization that we must fear, but rather, a dead planet. Liu would seem to agree.
Much of the book focuses around the
The concept of wallfacers seems a uniquely authoritarian concept. The concept illustrates an extreme concentration of power.
The concept that we can never know if wallfacers actions and words reflect their truths; this bears striking similarity to all people. People regularly behave in either unpredictable or counterintuitive ways. It is one of their attributes that makes communication so challenging.
The most disturbing aspect of this books is Liu's assertion that life expands endlessly towards domination. Most indigenous peoples don't exhibit this behavior, nor do other forms of intelligent life. It is a dangerous kind of capital-centrism—a world view that ascribes all civilizations across the universe to have capitalistic tendencies.
The ideas we explore—fiction or otherwise—have a magnet pull. You might think of Liu's book as propaganda for a dead earth, and because of this, I don't like it.
As Charles Eisenstein describes in his latest book, "Climate," it is not an end to civilization that we must fear, but rather, a dead planet. Liu would seem to agree.
Much of the book focuses around the
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concept of wallfacers—individuals that must defend against an alien invasion but know that their actions and words will be fully surveilled. Their minds are the only safe space.The concept of wallfacers seems a uniquely authoritarian concept. The concept illustrates an extreme concentration of power.
The concept that we can never know if wallfacers actions and words reflect their truths; this bears striking similarity to all people. People regularly behave in either unpredictable or counterintuitive ways. It is one of their attributes that makes communication so challenging.
The most disturbing aspect of this books is Liu's assertion that life expands endlessly towards domination. Most indigenous peoples don't exhibit this behavior, nor do other forms of intelligent life. It is a dangerous kind of capital-centrism—a world view that ascribes all civilizations across the universe to have capitalistic tendencies.
The ideas we explore—fiction or otherwise—have a magnet pull. You might think of Liu's book as propaganda for a dead earth, and because of this, I don't like it.
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LibraryThing member Phrim
The Dark Forest continues along the timeline from The Three-Body Problem, this time telling the story about how humanity would prepare for an alien invasion that's coming 400 years in the future. The book is separated into two parts with a large time skip. In the first era, the whole world is
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paranoid about the invasion, particularly since alien technology can spy on them as well as prevent fundamental scientific research. The Wallfacer Project is invented to combat this, which essentially gives select individuals absolute power provided they mask their true plans to avoid spying. In the second part, humanity has advanced to a point where they no longer believe the aliens are a threat, and the Wallfacer Project is dismantled. Humanity being wrong about this is a completely unsurprising turning point, and it takes the work of the remaining Wallfacer to halt the alien threat, albeit in a way that's entirely pessimistic about the universe. I really enjoyed this book from cover to cover and found it to be an interesting exploration of humanity's capability and psyche. Show Less
Awards
Seiun Award (Nominee — 2021)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2015)
Language
Original language
Spanish
Original publication date
2015-08-11 (English translation)
2008 (original Chinese version)
Physical description
576 p.; 9.02 inches
ISBN
9788466660921