Thursday, March 06, 2014

Cover Art: The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem is a novel by Liu Cixin, translated into English by Ken Liu.

From Tor.com,


The Three-Body Problem is an award-winning series by Liu Cixin—the first of which is arguably the first Chinese science fiction novel translated into English. Liu uses the “three-body problem” of classical mechanics to ask some terrifying questions about human nature and what lies at the core of civilization. The series explores the world of the Trisolarans, a race that is forced to adapt to life in a triple star system, on a planet whose gravity, heat, and orbit are in constant flux. Facing utter extinction, the Trisolarans plan to evacuate and conquer the nearest habitable planet, and finally intercept a message—from Earth. 

I'm intrigued.  I also don't believe I have read Chinese literature before, and I am positive I have not read Chinese science fiction.  What better place to start than this book?

But, look at the cover art from Stephan Martiniere!  Gorgeous.


Just from the cover, I want to know more.  I like cover art as art for its own sake, but I know that the primary reason it is there is to help present, market, and sell the book.  From that perspective, the cover works.  It pulls me in. 

2 comments:

odo said...

Liu Cixin is an amazing writer and this is a truly amazing novel. Highly, highly recommended.

I also recommend his short fiction (almost a dozen of his short stories have been translated into English). Mountain (my review: http://sentidodelamaravilla.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/taking-care-of-god-y-mountain-de-liu.html ), The Wandering Earth (my review http://sentidodelamaravilla.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/review-of-wandering-earth-by-liu-cixin.html ) and The Longest Fall are favorites of mine.

Joe said...

I'm excited to check out his work. I so seldom see (and haven't sought out) Chinese fiction, so I'm excited to give this a try when it is published later this year in America.