Review of Death's End by Cixin Liu

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 

Genre = Novel, Science

Series Collection = The Three-Body Problem

Intriguing Connections = 1) Not Alone Out There After All? Alien Life Of Various Kinds, 

2) Once Upon A Future. 3) To Cooperate Or To Defect?, 4) How Is Sovereignty Is Gained And Lost?. 

5)  Why Conflict Occurs And How To Resolve Them?,

Watch Short Review

Excerpts

“A new technology can transform society, but when the technology is in its infancy, very few people can see its full potential.  For example, when the computer was first invented, it was merely a tool for increasing efficiency, and some thought five computers would be enough for the entire world.  Artificial hibernation was the same.  Before it was a reality, people just thought it would provide an opportunity for patients with terminal illnesses to seek a cure in the future.  If they though further, it would appear to be useful for interstellar voyages.  But as soon as it became real, if one examined it through the lens of sociology, one could see that it would completely change the face of human civilization.” – Cixin Liu, Chapter: Excerpt from A Past Outside of Time: Hibernation: Man Walks for the First Time Through TIme, Page 828

“When humanity finally learned that the universe was a dark forest in which everyone hunted everyone else, the child who cried out for contact by the bright campfire put out the fire and shivered in the darkness.  Even a spark terrified him.  |  During the first few days, even mobile phone use was forbidden, and antennas around the world were forcibly shut down.  Such a move, which would have once caused riots in the streets, was widely supported by the populace.” – Cixin Liu, Chapter: Excerpt from A Past Outside of Time: Nyctohylophobia, Page 862
 
“Without a doubt, Lou Ji’s creation of dark forest deterrence against Trisolaris was a great achievement, but the Wallfacer Project that led to it was judged a ridiculous, childish act.  Humanity, like a child entering society for the first time, had lashed out at the sinister universe with terror and confusion.  Once Lou Ji had transferred control of the deterrence system to the UN and the Solar System Fleet, everyone thought the Wallfacer Project, a legendary bit of history, was over.” – Cixin Liu, Chapter: Excerpt from A Past Outside of Time: The Ghost of the Wallfacers: The Swordholder, Page 885

Review

Is This An Overview?

The Dark Forest deterrence has changed human and Trisolaran societies.  Humans think that Trisolarans are no longer a threat.  Trisolaran eagerness to share knowledge, leads to a cultural exchange.  Humans learn to advance technologically from Trisolaran culture.  Trisolarans learn to be creative and organize their society based on human culture.  Each species shows respect to each other.  People are speaking of a universe of peace.  The Dark Forest deterrence is still needed as the Trisolarans are acknowledged to still be technologically superior.  Dark Forest deterrence depends on a single person, a Swordholder, to activate the system once defection has been detected.  Can deterrence last?  What makes for an effective Swordholder?  What do the Trisolarans want from Earth?

 

Caveats?

This book is still based on science, but is more science fiction.  The science fiction becomes increasingly more abstract.  Part of the science is the potential interaction with alien life, which shares how the universe, can be a tragic place. 

Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?

•What are some limitations of the book?

•To whom would you suggest this book?

•What happened during the 15th century in Constantinople?

•What magic did Helena have?

•What did Yang Dong learn from Ye Wenjie’s computer?

•How does the environment change with the presence of life? 

•What happened to Euthanasia Laws during the Crisis Era?

•Who is Yun Tianming?

•What does Yun Tianming think of Euthanasia?

•How did Yun Tianming effect Wen?  What did Wen do for Yun Tianming in return?

•How did Yun Tianming obtain money and what did Yun Tianming do with the money?

•How did Cheng Xin effect Yun Tianming?

•What does Yun Tianming think of Cheng Xin?

•What is the Stars Our Destination Project?

•Why send a probe at the Trisolaran fleet?

•Who is Cheng Xin?

•Who is Wade?

•What is the Staircase Program?

•What is being used in the Staircase Program?  What is being sent and why?

•How did hibernation effect society? 

•What happened to the probe being used in the Staircase Program?

•What happened when the Dark Forest idea was learned by humanity?

•What happened to the Bronze Age spaceship?

•What did the crew of the Bronze Age do, and how did Earth respond?  How does the crew justify what they did?

•What was the purpose of the Gravity spaceship?

•Why is Gravity spaceship sent to chase Blue Space spaceship?

•What is a Swordholder?

•What is Cheng Xin awakened from hibernation during Deterrence Era?

•Who is AA?

•What is the cultural exchange between humans and Trisolarans?

•What knowledge do the Trisolarans share?

•What information is being withheld by Trisolarans?

•How does language work during the Deterrence Era?

•What were the social demographics of the Deterrence Era?

•What is mundicide?

•Who is considered a murderer?

•What do people think of Lou Ji?

•Who is being considered for the Swordholder position?

•What happened when Lou Ji transferred ownership of the deterrence system to the UN and the Solar System Fleet?

•Who is Sophon?

•What are sophon blind region?

•What is happening inside Gravity spaceship when pursuing Blue Space inside the sophon blind region?

•How does the crew of Gravity react to the events that are happening inside the blind region?

•What happened to the Droplets accompanying Gravity?

•What happened during the change of Swordholders?

•What choice did the 2nd Swordholder make? 

•How did Dark Forest deterrence system evovle?

•What happened to humans during the Post-Deterrence Era?

•What happened in Australia during Post-Deterrence Era?

•How was the Earth Security Force formed and what happened to them?

•How was the Gravity and Blue Space situation resolved? 

•How to navigate the fourth dimension?  

•What discoveries were made in the fourth dimension? 

•What happened due to the broadcast by Gravity?

•What happened to the Trisolarans?

•Can a safety notice be sent out to the universe?

•What happened to the brain of Yun Tianming?

•What were Yun Tianming tails about?

•What is the Bunker Project?

•What is the Blank Domain Plan?

•What is the Lightspeed Spaceflight Plan?

•What is the problem with lightspeed?

•What choice did Cheng Xin make with the Halo Group?

•What choice did Cheng Xin make with Halo City?

•What was the purpose of the paper slip sent to humans? 

•What is different about the spaceship Halo?

•Where did Cheng Xin take Halo?

•What is the most powerful weapon of a civilization?

•Who are the Zero-Homers?

•What is Universe 647?

Book Details

Translator:              Ken Liu

Original Language: Mandarin

Translated Into:       English

Publisher:               A Tor Book [Tom Doherty Associates]

Edition ISBN:         9780765397485

Pages to read:          597

Publication:             2017

1st Edition:              2010

Format:                    eBook 

Ratings out of 5:

Readability    5

Content          4

Overall          4