The Three-Body ProblemThe Three-Body Problem
Score Modern
What it's about
During China's Cultural Revolution, a young astrophysicist named Ye Wenjie watches her father beaten to death and is sent to a secret military base that searches the sky for alien life. Decades later, a nanotech researcher in Beijing is drawn into an investigation of scientists who are killing themselves, and a strange virtual-reality game about a world with three suns that turns out to be no game at all.
Why it's worth reading
It was the first translated novel to win the Hugo Award, and it made Chinese science fiction a global phenomenon. It's full of mind-bending ideas, and the slow reveal of what's really happening is unforgettable.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
The first third moves slowly before it takes off. It's the first of a trilogy. The 2024 Netflix series 3 Body Problem adapts it.
By the numbers
- Readers59 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics75 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #24 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #33 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #132 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #259 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is The Three-Body Problem worth reading?
Yes. It was the first translated novel to win the Hugo Award, and it made Chinese science fiction a global phenomenon. It ranks #259 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Three-Body Problem about?
During China's Cultural Revolution, a young astrophysicist named Ye Wenjie watches her father beaten to death and is sent to a secret military base that searches the sky for alien life. Decades later, a nanotech researcher in Beijing is drawn into an investigation of scientists who are killing themselves, and a strange virtual-reality game about a world with three suns that turns out to be no game at all.
How long does it take to read The Three-Body Problem?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Three-Body Problem won?
Hugo Award winner (2015).
What should I read after The Three-Body Problem?
If you liked it, try Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir or Hyperion by Dan Simmons.