BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

The Three-Body Problem
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem Hardback - 2014

by Cixin Liu; Ken Liu (Translator)

Add to wish list
This seller has earned a 3.95 of 5 Stars rating from internet customers.
3.95 / 5 (1933 total reviews)

About this book

2015 Hugo Award Winner for Best Novel. 

Reader reviews for The Three-Body Problem

Review summary

This seller has earned a 3.95 of 5 Stars rating from internet customers.
3.95 / 5 (1933 total reviews)

Readers broadly agreed that The Three-Body Problem is concept-driven hard science fiction distinguished by its scientific rigor and the Chinese historical frame, especially the Cultural Revolution. Many praised the scale, originality, and the clever Three-Body game/first-contact mystery, calling the book intellectually stimulating and philosophically rich. Others were put off by dense explanations, long info-dumps, and an erratic pace—slow and opaque early, hurried near the end—with the “sophon” reveal dividing opinion on plausibility. Character work and dialogue were frequently described as thin or stilted, a critique sometimes attributed to translation or cultural distance, though Ken Liu’s footnotes and context were widely appreciated. Several readers said it feels like setup for the trilogy and plan to continue; a noticeable minority DNF’d or found audio either helpful for names or harder to follow.

Readers say this book is:
conceptually ambitioushard SFthought-provokingculturally richinventivescience-denseuneven pacingwooden characterizationinfo-dump heavyoccasionally confusing

Write a review for this book

There are no reviews for this book yet. Be the first to write a review!

Your review will be anonymous unless you login or create an account first.

Overall rating
Remember: You’re rating the book as a work, not the seller or the condition of the specific copy you purchased!

Important Terms and Guidelines

  • Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
  • Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
  • Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
  • This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
  • Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
  • Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
  • Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
  • Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
  • Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
  • Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

The inspiration for the Netflix series 3 Body Problem!

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL

Over 1 million copies sold in North America

"A mind-bending epic."--The New York Times - "War of the Worlds for the 21st century."--The Wall Street Journal - "Fascinating."--TIME - "Extraordinary."--The New Yorker - "Wildly imaginative."--Barack Obama - "Provocative."--Slate - "A breakthrough book."--George R. R. Martin - "Impossible to put down."--GQ - "Absolutely mind-unfolding."--NPR - "You should be reading Liu Cixin."--The Washington Post

The Three-Body Problem is the first novel in the groundbreaking, Hugo Award-winning series from China's most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu.

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.

The Three-Body Problem Series
The Three-Body Problem
The Dark Forest
Death's End

Other Books by Cixin Liu
Ball Lightning
Supernova Era
To Hold Up the Sky
The Wandering Earth
A View from the Stars

Details

  • Title The Three-Body Problem
  • Author Cixin Liu; Ken Liu (Translator)
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 400
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Tor Books, New York
  • Publication date 2014-11-11
  • Features Dust Cover
  • ISBN 9780765377067 / 0765377063
  • Weight 1.3 lbs (0.59 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.6 in (23.62 x 16.00 x 4.06 cm)
  • Themes
    • Aspects (Academic): Dixon
    • Chronological Period: 21st Century
    • Cultural Region: Asian - Chinese
  • Category Fiction - Science Fiction
  • Library of Congress subjects Science fiction, Human-alien encounters
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2014033729
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 10/15/2014, Page 28
  • Kirkus Reviews, 10/15/2014, Page 0
  • Library Journal, 10/15/2014, Page 69
  • Publishers Weekly, 09/29/2014, Page 0

About the author

CIXIN LIU is the most prolific and popular science fiction writer in the People's Republic of China. Liu is a winner of the Hugo Award, an eight-time winner of the Galaxy Award (the Chinese Hugo), and a winner of the Chinese Nebula Award.

KEN LIU (translator) is a writer, lawyer, and computer programmer. His short story "The Paper Menagerie" was the first work of fiction ever to sweep the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. He has written two novels (The Grace of Kings and The Wall of Storms) and edited and translated the Chinese science fiction anthology Invisible Planets.

Back to top↑

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Gulf Coast Books
Item price
A$15.48
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Tor Books, 2014-11-11. hardcover. Good. 6x1x9.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$15.48
Free Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • New
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Canada BetterBookDeals
Item price
A$18.15
A$36.74 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
NEW.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$18.15
A$36.74 Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • Used
  • Hardback
Condition
Used
Edition
Later Ed
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Ergodebooks
Item price
A$22.20
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Tor Books, 2014-11-11. Later Ed. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.30x1.50x9.50. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$22.20
Free Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Ausvora INC
Item price
A$24.14
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Tor Books. hardcover. Good. 9.5X6.5X1.5. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$24.14
Free Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • New
  • Hardback
Condition
New
Edition
Later Ed
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
6
Seller
Ergodebooks
Item price
A$25.90
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Tor Books, 2014-11-11. Later Ed. hardcover. New. 6.30x1.50x9.50. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$25.90
Free Delivery to USA
Three-Body Problem, The
Stock photo: cover may vary

Three-Body Problem, The

by Cixin, Liu,

  • Used
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
5
Seller
GreatBookPrices
Item price
A$29.80
A$5.87 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
like new.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$29.80
A$5.87 Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth's Past)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth's Past)

by Liu, Cixin

  • New
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
33
Seller
Ambis Enterprises LLC
Item price
A$31.21
A$5.87 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Tor Books. New. BRAND NEW, GIFT QUALITY! NOT OVERSTOCKS OR MARKED UP REMAINDERS! DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER!
Add to wish list
Item price
A$31.21
A$5.87 Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem.
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem.

by LIU, Cixin.

  • Used
  • Hardback
Condition
Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Grendel Books, ABAA/ILAB
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$36.75
A$10.29 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
NY:: Tor,. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 2014. Hardcover. 0765377063 . Hugo Award winner. Translated from the Chinese by Ken Liu. Twelfth printing. Fine in a near fine (small damp stain on verso of rear panel) dust jacket. .
Add to wish list
Item price
A$36.75
A$10.29 Delivery to USA
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem Series, 1)

by Liu, Cixin

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Bonita
Item price
A$48.88
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$48.88
Free Delivery to USA
Three-Body Problem, The
Stock photo: cover may vary

Three-Body Problem, The

by Cixin, Liu,

  • New
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780765377067 / 0765377063
Quantity available
5
Seller
GreatBookPrices
Item price
A$49.01
A$5.87 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
new.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$49.01
A$5.87 Delivery to USA
Show all copies
Back to top↑

Please wait a moment while we load the requested page.