I can't share the excitement of this book. In terms of the logic of events, it seems there is nothing to complain about, but the presentation leaves much to be desired. In this case, it is not clear to whom I should complain - the Chinese author, the American translator into English, or the Russian translator from English. But I will start from the beginning.
Liu Cixin (Chinese: 刘慈欣, pronounced [ljǒʊ tsʰɨ̌ɕín]; born 23 June 1963) is a Chinese science fiction writer. He is a nine-time winner of China's Galaxy Award and has also received the 2015 Hugo Award for his novelThe Three-Body Problem as well as the 2017 Locus Award for Death's End. He is also a winner of the Chinese Nebula Award.In English translations of his works, his name is given as Cixin Liu. He is a member of China Science Writers Association and the vice president of Shanxi Writers Association. He is also called "Da Liu" ("Big Liu").
Scientists all over the world are victims of assassination attempts, or commit suicide for unknown reasons. Basic science theorists are the main ones under attack. At the same time, the mass media are used to promote an environmentally friendly life, uncontaminated by the soot of technological progress. Pastoral villages in feature films are calling mankind to return to the roots, preferably to caves. Eco-activists sabotage, block and sabotage construction sites of new scientific projects. It becomes clear that someone is waging a real war against science. But to what end? The armies of all countries are on full alert, but they do not understand who they are at war with and what they will face. There is only one comforting thing - the enemy, whoever he is, is also afraid, otherwise why would he destroy the science of mankind with such cunning and sophistication.
The author throws the reader incomprehensible. Here we have scientists dying, here we have an incomprehensible computer game, which makes you bored, and here is a military base "Red Bank". Here's more headquarters with military and police officers. And the Earth Traitor Society on top to cover it up. And if the synopsis hadn't blurted out all the gory details, you'd be racking your brains trying to figure out what it's all about.
Liu Qixin, no doubt, is good. He summed up the realities of our modern world as the basis for the events that will unfold in the next books and the distant future. He has managed to explain in his own way the popularity of the green agenda of contemporary society, which in some respects can only be described as malicious. He was quite realistic in his description of a social milieu in which a type of people has developed that hates humanity so much that they are willing to destroy it. The details of the Cultural Revolution in China are shocking to someone who knows little or nothing about this period except the suspicious word hongweibin. Also, speaking as someone very far removed from physics, astrophysics, quantum physics and all other physics, there is a scientific basis for all the "miraculous" phenomena described in the book. Not just an alien world is described, but an explanation of why everything is so difficult there, what led to this or that social change, why such strange natural phenomena, how life managed to survive under them. Not just a description of the miracle, and explained how in this way it was achieved, with what mechanisms, and to achieve what goals. In general, quite a coherent picture comes out, if we take as an axiom (and what else can I do, almost nothing understanding the laws of physics), that all the justifications are reliable, and scientific calculations are not the product of the author's imagination.
On the other hand, the artistic value of this literary work leaves much to be desired. Sometimes the characters, for the presentation of certain author's theses, or historical references, are lined up and rammed the text as written, without actually engaging with the reader. They lined up, spouted information and dissolved, as if they never existed. Sometimes the book reminded me of a textbook for very young children, where the author explained on the simplest examples of complex phenomena. And not very clearly explained, just on the verge of understanding. But to understand, however, most of it was possible, which can not be written in the book on the plus side.
Pianos lurk in a few bushes and, when the need arises, they come out in the open: the photographer begins to pedantically record the time in which he took each shot, admiring the beauty of the surrounding world. Again. Time of Every Frame. Dear photographers, do you do this too? No? Why not? It might come in handy...
The main character was incredibly annoying. This, of course, should be counted as a plus in the book. So fucking unpleasant character, as unpleasant as a traitor can be. I wanted to bang her head against the wall so her brains would go from her back to her head. What fucking right do you have to decide for all mankind what is best for them - to self-destruct in wars, revolutions and man-made disasters, or with the assistance of a superior race. What makes you think they're better, anyway? Yes, I wanted to yell at this heroine. And I wanted to yell at some of the other characters, too. There was a very strong emotional response to the whole traitors thing, but when it came to the description of the secret society, it was kind of funny. The impressions of the recent events with mass nomadism were too fresh. Yes, in fact, we are still living those events. The markers of behavior are the same - the reasons are larger.
"The most surprising aspect of this movement was the number of people who lost faith in humanity, hated it, did not hesitate to betray their native species, and even relished the grand prospect of destroying the entire human race, including themselves along with their own children.
OST (Earth-Trisolaris Society) was called an organization of the spiritual elite. Most of its members were highly educated people, many belonged to high political or financial circles. At one time OST tried to spread its ideas among the common people, but nothing came of it. Probably, decided the OST adherents, the common people, unlike educated people, are not able to see and comprehend the dark sides of human nature.
In general, not a bad informative book, but I would not call it a masterpiece. There is some artificiality in it, despite the description of real and terrible events. Here you see that the author has made this move to lead up to this result. And the reader should not understand why the author did this or that, the reader must follow the path paved without noticing any holes or bumps, following the logic of events. Here, the logic of the characters' actions, was not so obvious as to justify what happened afterwards.
Let's see, in general, what the author in the next books with the artistic embodiment and richness of language will be. Maybe, over time, all miraculously changed and came into perfect harmony with the logic and validity of the plot. Let's hope so, anyway.
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