meganpbell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really do love the hard, challenging science in this sci-fi, the big ideas about the nature of the universe and human and alien culture and behavior, however bleak, but Liu’s characters are sacrificed to this and are just so flat and shallow. That would be fine if it weren’t for the ridiculously misogynistic way he writes about women. I.E. science professor’s “dream girl” is “slender,” (Liu’s fav word to describe women), “angelicly” beautiful, “naive,” 20-something who immediately falls for him…shocking 🙄 Add to that the popular opinion that it’s a real slog to get to the pay off…I won’t be reading the last one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, War, Violence, Body horror, Sexism, Mental illness, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
runefactories's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
zone_a3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Car accident, Genocide, Misogyny, Death, and War
Minor: Suicide
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer
burritos060's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
geraldinerowe's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This is the second in the Three Body Problem trilogy, and the scope of the novel is vast. Having said that, it didn't need to be this long. It had some exciting scenes, but far more long, turgid parts and a few completely unnecessary episodes. It also had a rather hurried ending for a book which went round the houses the rest of the time. Nor was I entirely convinced by the philosophical proposition upon which the entire novel hangs. But it had lots of fascinating ideas that will keep you thinking long after you've finished the book. I loved it and will be reading the (even longer) concluding part. (I should also mention the main character has some rather problematic attitudes towards women in places which you're asked to overlook. It's nothing major, but I could never quite shake it.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Gore, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol
savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Dark Forest was a chore to read. The main focus of this novel is the incredibly irritating character of Luo Ji. Luo Ji has an insane obsession with Zhuang Yan. Before even meeting Yan, Luo Ji conjures her up as his "dream lover" and constantly fawns over her beauty, purity, and innocence. Gross! She is never characterized beyond his perception. Zhuang Yan is one of the most egregious examples of the manic pixie dream girl trope I have ever encountered. It's tired, it's sexist, and it took me out of the story.
Additionally, another aspect of this book that I did not enjoy was the focus on intergalactic war and military theory. This may sound harsh, but I simply am not interested in old men talking about bombs; a subject that takes up large portions of this novel.
Lastly - and without spoiling anything - the best part of this book was the establishment and explanation of the Dark Forest theory of extraterrestrial contact. What a fascinating and terrifying concept!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, War, and Misogyny
cloudcoveronvenus's review against another edition
The flow of this book feels way worse than the first one. The narration has continued from person to person and place to place without any clarity or development, and I kept asking myself, “why is it structured like this? I can’t tell what purpose it serves even this far in.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Misogyny
storyorc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia