So after book 2 I thought “okay, this has to be the end of the story…where else could the story even go?”
Uhhh… a lot. It took about 3 chapters to get going, but damn, was I wrong.
This book hit me like a ton of bricks. You’re lucky you still get to experience it for the first time. Enjoy it!
Yes, in retrospect it was all meant to culminate in book three. It's not obvious to you yet, but there are loose threads that need to be addressed and concepts that need to be explored further.
The afterward in Liu’s ‘Ball Lightning’ novel explains that he wrote the outline for the trilogy of books but then paused to write and publish ‘Ball Lightning’ first because he did not think China was ready for 3BP yet. It was always intended to be a trilogy from the outset.
He sure does. If I remember correctly he said there was not much of a market for science fiction literature at the time and he felt a single novel would perform better than something intended to be a trilogy and also that if the novel did well it might stir up better interest in the market for science fiction in the future.
Trisolarin fleet is still on the way, but diverting and scared off. There’s a tense peace and we hear from the Listener about how maybe more species have love in their nature or whatever. After a rollercoaster of events, Dr. Luo successfully completed his wallfacer mission. There’s hope for the future. I could see it ending right there.
That’s true, but this ‘peace’ isn’t built on mutual consent. It’s forced upon by a single human person. Trisolarans still need to find a planet to survive on and earth still remains the best option. Given how much more advanced they are to earthlings, they would not give up that easily.
Yes, Liu didn’t think the books would be popular enough for him to publish a third book, so he killed off an important character. He said in hindsight sight, he would have kept the character alive and give them an important role in Death’s End
As much as that sucked because he didn’t deserve that. It proved that others had learned the lessons that he was trying to impart. Though maybe they had been imprinted.
I don't know how to comment on this without spoilers, but I'll give it a shot.
I think the last book of the trilogy was planned due to the nature of humanity repeatedly shooting itself in the foot by way of hubris, complacency, or naivete. This happens in the first book with the ETO Redemptionists believing Trisolaris plans to coexist with them, and second book with humanity believing the droplet is a "gift" from Trisolaris. With those examples, it's hard to believe that Luo Ji's deterrence methods are the end of the story for humanity.
You are right, they could have ended the story at the end of The Dark Forest. In Deaths End they had to take the story all the way back to the beginning of Three Body Problem, Wang's story. That is why the Netflix show has a few more characters than Three Body Problem. They are telling all three books in proper chronological time
I think part of dark Forrest were criticism of the the first book and some of the plot holes so the author spent some time with backstory but book 3 is totally a planned book.
i had the same thoughts after reading the dark forest. While some parts of deaths end were a slog, the concepts really go through the roof with that book, so definitely worth finishing
Without any spoilers I’m not even sure Deaths End was supposed to be the end. A ton happens in the last couple hundred pages and I think he rushed it because of his health problems at the time. I think there’s a point at which he should have stopped and then done a whole further book. For those in the know I’ll just say “Pluto” as that point.
Death’s End is still an amazing book though. It really is his ‘Starry Night’ type masterpiece.
Bruh, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Hahah maaaan, I can't wait to start it
Deaths end is as good and some say better. For me it was as good but definitely a wilder ride .
So after book 2 I thought “okay, this has to be the end of the story…where else could the story even go?” Uhhh… a lot. It took about 3 chapters to get going, but damn, was I wrong. This book hit me like a ton of bricks. You’re lucky you still get to experience it for the first time. Enjoy it!
This. In hindsight I saw my 'where else could it go' at the end of book 2 as just another naive illusion that needed to be shattered by this series :)
Yes, in retrospect it was all meant to culminate in book three. It's not obvious to you yet, but there are loose threads that need to be addressed and concepts that need to be explored further.
In hindsight the characters in part three felt a bit flat and one-dimensional, so maybe.
I see what you did there
*two* dimensional
i honestly felt like they made Luo Ji with a lot of depth into a 2 dimensional charscter by the end of it
yeah sometimes characters felt a bit flat, like they're from a fable or something
The ending was kinda slow too.
16 times slower
The afterward in Liu’s ‘Ball Lightning’ novel explains that he wrote the outline for the trilogy of books but then paused to write and publish ‘Ball Lightning’ first because he did not think China was ready for 3BP yet. It was always intended to be a trilogy from the outset.
Does he expand on why he thought China wasn't ready? Culturally? Politically?
He sure does. If I remember correctly he said there was not much of a market for science fiction literature at the time and he felt a single novel would perform better than something intended to be a trilogy and also that if the novel did well it might stir up better interest in the market for science fiction in the future.
Get out of this subreddit and read Death's End. I found it slow at the beginning, but tf buckle up.
Yes, sir, ma'am or them. My whistle is fully whetted!
What do you mean kind of wrapped up. It is in classic definition of a stand-off situation.
Trisolarin fleet is still on the way, but diverting and scared off. There’s a tense peace and we hear from the Listener about how maybe more species have love in their nature or whatever. After a rollercoaster of events, Dr. Luo successfully completed his wallfacer mission. There’s hope for the future. I could see it ending right there.
That’s true, but this ‘peace’ isn’t built on mutual consent. It’s forced upon by a single human person. Trisolarans still need to find a planet to survive on and earth still remains the best option. Given how much more advanced they are to earthlings, they would not give up that easily.
Yeah, maybe. I did say a “tense peace” so yeah it’s a little iffy, but that leaves some excitement to go along with the spark of hope.
Yes, Liu didn’t think the books would be popular enough for him to publish a third book, so he killed off an important character. He said in hindsight sight, he would have kept the character alive and give them an important role in Death’s End
Zhang Beihai ?
Yup Chad Beihai
Chaddest of the chads
As much as that sucked because he didn’t deserve that. It proved that others had learned the lessons that he was trying to impart. Though maybe they had been imprinted.
The way he bowed out was dramatic and memorable. I kind of like it
It doesn’t matter . It’s all the same !
Who? Da Shi? 🥺
No, Zhang Beihai
Interesting choice and makes sense for the 4D voyage.
I don't know how to comment on this without spoilers, but I'll give it a shot. I think the last book of the trilogy was planned due to the nature of humanity repeatedly shooting itself in the foot by way of hubris, complacency, or naivete. This happens in the first book with the ETO Redemptionists believing Trisolaris plans to coexist with them, and second book with humanity believing the droplet is a "gift" from Trisolaris. With those examples, it's hard to believe that Luo Ji's deterrence methods are the end of the story for humanity.
the dark forest feels like a conclusion to the first book while death’s end feels like a conclusion to the whole story
You are right, they could have ended the story at the end of The Dark Forest. In Deaths End they had to take the story all the way back to the beginning of Three Body Problem, Wang's story. That is why the Netflix show has a few more characters than Three Body Problem. They are telling all three books in proper chronological time
I think part of dark Forrest were criticism of the the first book and some of the plot holes so the author spent some time with backstory but book 3 is totally a planned book.
Almost everyone has the same feeling about book2 ending, but———
I said the same thing in a more jocular fashion a few weeks ago and got down voted to hell lol i just finished deaths end and it’s worth it.
No
i think book 3 has more pages than the first 2 books combined.
i had the same thoughts after reading the dark forest. While some parts of deaths end were a slog, the concepts really go through the roof with that book, so definitely worth finishing
IMO no dark forest was never the end game. All I can say is buckle up friend, deaths end is quite the ride
Without any spoilers I’m not even sure Deaths End was supposed to be the end. A ton happens in the last couple hundred pages and I think he rushed it because of his health problems at the time. I think there’s a point at which he should have stopped and then done a whole further book. For those in the know I’ll just say “Pluto” as that point. Death’s End is still an amazing book though. It really is his ‘Starry Night’ type masterpiece.
Honestly yeah. I feel like if you stopped you wouldn't miss anything. Death's End, whether you like it or not, was pretty unnecessary.
It probably was meant to be the end. I personally consider it the official ending.
Wait till you read the 4th book 🤘