100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Auckland Bookstore open Sunday until 5pm! 🎉

The Three-Body Problem

Now a major Netflix series
4.08 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 469,675 ratings, 44,843 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu is a thought-provoking sci-fi novel that explores humanity's first contact with an alien civilisation. Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, it delves into complex scientific ideas and the profound consequences of extraterrestrial encounters. The story weaves together historical events, scientific discovery, and gripping suspense.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2100
Elsewhere:
$2499
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy intricate, high-concept science fiction that blends real scientific theories with imaginative storytelling. It's a gripping tale that explores humanity's first contact with an alien civilisation against the backdrop of China's tumultuous cultural revolution, offering a unique and thought-provoking read.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

After a spate of apparent suicides among elite scientists, nanotech engineer Wang Miao is asked to infiltrate a secretive cabal. During his investigation, Wang is inducted into a mysterious online game that is the key to humanity's place in the cosmos and the key to the extinction-level threat it now faces.

The opening installment of China's best-selling apocalyptic space opera trilogy.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu is a masterful blend of science fiction and gripping narrative, inviting readers to delve into a world where the line between science and fiction blurs. Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, the novel weaves a tale that spans decades, exploring the profound effects of one woman's trauma on her life and, eventually, on the fate of humanity.

In 1967, Ye Wenjie endures the harrowing experience of witnessing her father, a prominent physicist, being brutally beaten to death by Red Guards. This pivotal moment not only shapes her destiny but also sows the seeds for events that will transcend time and space. Ye Wenjie’s ensuing decisions and actions become integral to a sequence of extraordinary occurrences that thrust her into the heart of an unimaginable cosmic conflict.

Four decades later, Beijing's authorities enlist Wang Miao, a nanotechnology expert, to infiltrate a clandestine group of scientists. The mission comes on the heels of a string of bizarre suicides, hinting at an underlying conspiracy. Wang’s journey of discovery leads him to “Three-Body,” a perplexing online game that mirrors the erratic dynamics of a real-world stellar system controlled by three suns. As Wang immerses himself in this enigmatic virtual environment, he uncovers clues that suggest these complex celestial interactions hold the answers to the recent scientific deaths and a far-reaching, galaxy-spanning conspiracy.

The mystery intensifies as Wang’s investigation reveals an impending existential threat to humanity. The interactions of the three-body system within the game act as an allegory for profound scientific questions and hidden dangers, culminating in revelations that challenge the very survival of the human race. As the secrets of the "three-body problem" unfold, readers are taken on a spellbinding ride through intricate scientific theories and richly imagined speculative scenarios.

The Three-Body Problem has garnered extensive acclaim, resonating across a broad spectrum of readers. Wired hails it as “Your next favourite sci-fi novel,” while former U.S. President Barack Obama describes it as “Immense.” Renowned author George R.R. Martin praises its uniqueness, and the Guardian encapsulates its grandeur, labeling it “SF in the grand style.” The Daily Mail lauds it as “Mind-altering and immersive.”

This novel is the recipient of the prestigious Hugo and Galaxy Awards for Best Novel, affirming its standing as a seminal work in the science fiction genre. With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and rich scientific underpinnings, The Three-Body Problem offers both an intellectual challenge and an exhilarating reading experience, soon to be adapted into a highly anticipated Netflix Original Series by the creators of Game of Thrones.

Series: The Three-Body Problem

View all
  • The Three-Body Problem
    The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu is a masterful blend of science fiction and gripping narrative, inviting readers to delve into a world where the line between science and fiction blurs. Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, the novel weaves a tale that spans decades, exploring the profound effects of one woman's trauma on her life and, eventually,...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Dark Forest
    The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning science-fiction masterpiece, The Three-Body Problem. As part of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, this novel ventures deeper into the mysteries and existential threats posed by extraterrestrial forces. In a universe teeming with advanced civilisations, every civilisation that draws attention to itself becomes prey to more...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Death's End
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Death's End by Cixin Liu is the thrilling conclusion to the groundbreaking Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy. Following the events of the Doomsday Battle, humanity has entered an era of unprecedented prosperity, thanks to the advanced knowledge imported from...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem Trilogy
    The Three-Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu is a breathtaking and intellectually stimulating journey that traverses the vastness of space and the depths of human ambition, exploring the fragility and tenacity of civilisation. When Chinese physicist Ye Wenjie makes first contact with an alien civilisation during China's Cultural Revolution, she sets in motion a chain of events that will shape...
    Paperback
    $6499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem Boxset
    NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES THE AWARD-WINNING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, MILLION-COPY-SELLING SCI-FI PHENOMENON Imagine a universe patrolled by numberless and nameless predators. Imagine what might happen to any civilisation unwise enough to broadcast its location. This is Cixin Liu’s Three-Body Problem trilogy. Weaving a complex web of stratagem, subterfuge, philosophy, and physics across light years of space and 18.9 million years...
    Set
    $6499
    Elsewhere:
    $6999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science fiction phenomenon – now a major Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. 1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind. Four decades later, Beijing...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a major Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones.1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind.Four decades later, Beijing police ask nanotech...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Dark Forest
    THE MUST-HAVE DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION, THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS AND COLLECTORS: — Exclusive foil hardcover — Full colour, illustrated endpapers — Full colour, designed printed edges Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Imagine the universe as a forest, patrolled by numberless and nameless predators....
    Hardback
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Death's End
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – soon to be a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge and, with human science advancing and...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu is celebrated for its unique blend of scientific and philosophical ideas, delivering a mix of politics, history, and cosmology. Praised for its imaginative scope, clear writing, and robust scientific concepts, the translation also gets high marks for preserving the book's depth. Many reviewers hail it as a milestone in science fiction, both captivating and intellectually stimulating, drawing comparisons to genre classics. The novel's grand scale and intricate plotting appeal to a broad audience, from sci-fi aficionados to casual readers.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784971571

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 December 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Head of Zeus

Contributors:

  • Translated by Ken Liu

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 319g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Cixin Liu is China's #1 SF writer and author of The Three-Body Problem – the first ever translated novel to win a Hugo Award. Prior to becoming a writer, Liu worked as an engineer in a power plant in Yangquan. Ken Liu is an award-winning American author of speculative fiction. His collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. Liu's other works include The Grace of Kings, The Wall of Storms, and Star Wars tie-in The Legends of Luke Skywalker, and a second collection The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. He has been involved in multiple media adaptations of his work including the short story 'Good Hunting', adapted as an episode in Netflix's animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC's Pantheon, adapted from an interconnected series of short stories. 'The Hidden Girl', 'The Message', and The Grace of Kings have also been optioned for development. Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on topics including futurism, cryptocurrency, the mathematics of origami, and others. Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Also by Cixin Liu

View all
  • The Dark Forest
    The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning science-fiction masterpiece, The Three-Body Problem. As part of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, this novel ventures deeper into the mysteries and existential threats posed by extraterrestrial forces. In a universe teeming with advanced civilisations, every civilisation that draws attention to itself becomes prey to more...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Death's End
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Death's End by Cixin Liu is the thrilling conclusion to the groundbreaking Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy. Following the events of the Doomsday Battle, humanity has entered an era of unprecedented prosperity, thanks to the advanced knowledge imported from...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem Trilogy
    The Three-Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu is a breathtaking and intellectually stimulating journey that traverses the vastness of space and the depths of human ambition, exploring the fragility and tenacity of civilisation. When Chinese physicist Ye Wenjie makes first contact with an alien civilisation during China's Cultural Revolution, she sets in motion a chain of events that will shape...
    Paperback
    $6499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science fiction phenomenon – now a major Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. 1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind. Four decades later, Beijing...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Ball Lightning
    Cixin Liu is the author of your next favourite sci-fi novel WIRED On his fourteenth birthday, right before his eyes, Chen's parents are incinerated by a blast of ball lightning. Striving to make sense of this bizarre tragedy, he dedicates his life to a single goal: to unlock the secrets of this enigmatic natural phenomenon. His pursuit of ball lightning...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Supernova Era
    Like Ursula K. Le Guin rewriting The Lord of the Flies for the quantum age — NPR Cixin Liu is the author of your next favourite sci-fi novel — WIRED Eight years ago and eight light years away, a supermassive star died. Tonight, a supernova tsunami of high energy will finally reach Earth. Dark skies will shine bright as a...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Backorder
    Ships early August
  • Of Ants and Dinosaurs
    A satirical fable, a political allegory and an ecological warning from the author of The Three-Body Problem. On an otherwise ordinary day in the late Cretaceous, the seeds of Earth's first and greatest civilization were sown in the grisly aftermath of a Tyrannosaurus' lunch. From humble tooth-picking origins, ants and dinosaurs – two species so unalike and yet so complementary...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Wandering Earth
    NOW A #1 BLOCKBUSTING FILM. The Sun is dying. Earth will perish too, consumed by the star in its final death throes. But rather than abandon their planet, humanity builds 12,000 mountainous fusion engines to propel the Earth out of orbit and onto a centuries-long voyage to Proxima Centauri... Cixin Liu is one of the most important voices in world...
    Paperback
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • A View from the Stars
    ‘We’re mysterious aliens in the crowd. We jump like fleas from future to past and back again, and float like clouds of gas between nebulae; in a flash, we can reach the edge of the universe, or tunnel into a quark, or swim within a star-core... We’re as unassuming as fireflies, yet our numbers grow like grass in spring. We...
    Paperback
    $3899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Three-Body Problem
    The Hugo-nominated, astounding 10-volume, 1,924-page graphic novel adaptation of Cixin Liu’s international bestseller The Three-Body Problem. An investigation into a spate of apparent suicides amongst the world’s top scientists leads to a mysterious online game set in a virtual world ruled by the intractable and unpredictable interaction of its three suns. This is the Three-Body Problem, and it is the...
    Set
    $22000
    Backorder
    Ships early August
  • The Dark Forest
    THE MUST-HAVE DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION, THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS AND COLLECTORS: — Exclusive foil hardcover — Full colour, illustrated endpapers — Full colour, designed printed edges Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Imagine the universe as a forest, patrolled by numberless and nameless predators....
    Hardback
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Three-Body Problem
    Read the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – now a major Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones.1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind.Four decades later, Beijing police ask nanotech...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all
  • The Strength of the Few
    The highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Many—one of 2023's most lauded and bestselling fantasy novels. The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am. But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore. I am no longer one. I won the...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Crossroads of Ravens
    THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS... Every legend has an origin - and Geralt of Rivia's begins here. In this brand-new chapter of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series, follow Geralt in his earliest days as a Witcher, as he faces monsters and humans alike. Discover the untold stories and encounters that shaped the iconic character known today. Crossroads of Ravens brings readers into...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Will of the Many
    Phenomenal! One of the best high fantasy novels I've read in years—think Red Rising meets The Name of the Wind. I couldn't put it down. - LYNETTE NONI This new edition of book one in the Hierarchy series features never-before-seen bonus materials, including a full-colour map by the author, a note to the reader, and new cover art. AUDI. VICE....
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wind and Truth
    The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the Number One New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive. Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson sees Dalinar Kholin challenge the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare, and the sudden ascension of the...
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Ministry of Time
    One of the 18 best novels of the year for the Sunday Times A book of the year for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, Spectator, Red, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Slate, Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, Globe and Mail, Den of Geek, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, NetGalley and Smithsonian Magazine 'A sparkling delight' Observer 'Make room on your bookshelves...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • I Who Have Never Known Men
    A haunting, heartbreaking tale of female friendship and intimacy that evokes the chilling atmospheres of The Handmaid's Tale and the desolate landscapes of The Road, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This gripping narrative takes us deep underground, where thirty-nine women are held in isolation...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Colour Illustrated Hobbit
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a timeless classic that has enchanted readers for generations. This beloved tale follows Bilbo Baggins, a peace-loving hobbit from the quaint and picturesque Shire, who finds himself thrust into an epic journey far from the comforts of his cosy home. Charming and lively illustrations by Jemima Catlin breathe new life...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Blood Over Bright Haven
    A riveting dark academia fantasy about the limits of truth and power, from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. For twenty years, Sciona...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Great Dune Trilogy
    Frank Herbert's The Great Dune Trilogy plunges readers into an evocative and grandiose saga set on the desert planet of Arrakis. This richly detailed landscape becomes the focal point for a complex tapestry of political intrigue, military conflict, and galaxy-wide repercussions. Arrakis, also known as Dune, is the sole source of the spice melange, a valuable and highly sought-after substance...
    Paperback
    $3900
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.