Liu Cixin - Tumblr Posts
Is it possible that the relationship between humanity and evil is similar to the relationship between the ocean and an iceberg floating on its surface? Both the ocean and the iceberg are made of the same material. That the iceberg seems separate is only because it is in a different form. In reality, it is but a part of the vast ocean...
the mass deaths of physicists and other intellectuals is certainly disturbing, especially if it all seems like it's out of nowhere. (cw suicide mention) when you realize that they all killed themselves because the fundamental laws of physics and their life work have become obsolete, that's when the cosmic horror really sets in.
that being said, mathematicians had godels incompleteness theorems come out in real life, in 1931. real, verifiable proof that the mathematics we know and love will always contain facts that cannot be proven or unproven, and that mathematics can never prove its own consistency. and to my knowledge, there was no mass-suicide among the mathematicians.
i had to put down the three body problem for a day-ish because the intensity of discomfort was actually too much for me. but i remembered that the real-life mathematicians came out of a mathematical cosmic horror completely intact and okay - and while it's true we don't have aliens to worry about (yet), real-life scientists have survived godels incompleteness theorems and they will survive ai and that gives me the strength to keep on reading.
it also makes me feel a little silly for being so deeply disturbed by the narrative that was written to evoke cosmic horror, but i think that's just good writing on liu cixin's part.
the narrative pacing of the three body problem and the entire tone of the english translation by ken liu is impeccable
seriously, words cannot describe how enamored i am with this writing style and way that events unfold
i'm still only reading the first book. it is truly an experience.
Update that I forgot to make: the ending is. Disappointing as all get out! The main character are 100% lesbians and her VERY ACTUALLY LESBIAN roommate and confidant and rock through the whole book is. Simply written out???? So our VERY STRAIGHT ACTUALLY mc can spend the rest of forever with a man.
Made another thing based on Cixin Liu’s “Death’s End”. READ IT if you like sci-fi hoo boy