![]() ![]() In fact, Liu’s translation likely exceeds even that one. If you’re familiar with works translated from Chinese it will still feel like a translation – but it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, easily on a par with the Shapiro translation of Outlaw of the Marsh, which has long been my gold standard. Ken Liu has tread a very masterful line between preserving the cadence of speech and the structure of the story on one hand, while providing a book that flows correctly in English. As a result, translations of Chinese novels often have issues with pace. Chinese fiction, especially, has a different pace and structure from western fiction. And that’s part of what makes this book so exceptional. ![]() The Three Body Problem starts with a gut-punch and never lets up from there. I’ll provide ample warning, so if you haven’t read the Three Body Problem and want to be surprised you’ll get plenty of warning. I really want to get into a thorough exploration of the work, but that’s going to tread into some spoilery territory, so what I’ll do is start with a brief review up top and then include the longer spoiler review at the bottom. ![]() ![]() It is the first book in the Three Body trilogy, and an exceptional starting point for people interested in reading Chinese genre translations. If you read one Science Fiction book this year, make it the Three Body Problem, by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu. ![]()
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