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The Dark Forest

Cixin Liu author Joel Martinsen translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:14th Jul '16

Should be back in stock very soon

The Dark Forest cover

In a universe where civilizations must hide to survive, Earth has revealed its location, attracting deadly predators. As humanity prepares for an impending threat, a unique defense strategy emerges. This sets the stage for The Dark Forest.

In The Dark Forest, the universe is depicted as a vast and perilous forest inhabited by countless unseen predators. In this metaphorical landscape, civilizations that expose their existence become vulnerable, as stealth is the key to survival. Earth has made its presence known, and now it faces imminent danger from these lurking threats. The Trisolarians, an alien civilization, are on their way to Earth, set to arrive in four centuries. However, their agents, known as sophons, have already infiltrated humanity, influencing events from within.

To combat this existential threat, humanity initiates the Wallfacer Project, a desperate measure that empowers four individuals with extraordinary authority to devise secret strategies. These plans are to be concealed through deception, keeping both human and alien adversaries in the dark. Among the Wallfacers are influential leaders and scientists, but one stands out: Luo Ji, a seemingly ordinary Chinese astronomer. Unprepared for his newfound significance, Luo Ji grapples with the reality that he is the target of the Trisolarians, who see him as a significant obstacle to their plans.

The Dark Forest is the second book in a celebrated trilogy that has garnered acclaim for its imaginative storytelling and profound themes. It explores the complexities of survival in a universe filled with threats, the nature of power, and the resilience of the human spirit. With its blend of science fiction and philosophical inquiry, the novel invites readers to ponder humanity's place in the cosmos and the lengths we will go to protect our existence.

A unique blend of scientific and philosophical speculation, politics and history, conspiracy theory and cosmology -- George R.R. Martin
Wildly imaginative, really interesting... The scope of it was immense -- Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
A milestone in Chinese science fiction * New York Times *
Cixin Liu is the author of your next favourite sci-fi novel * Wired *
China's answer to Arthur C. Clarke * The New Yorker *
A marvellous mélange of awe-inspiring scientific concepts, clever plotting and quirky yet plausible characters, all conveyed in in a plain style capable of signalling hidden depths * The Times *
The best kind of science fiction -- Kim Stanley Robinson
Vivid, imaginative and rooted in cutting-edge science... Cixin stands at the top tier of speculative fiction in any language' -- David Brin
Full of surprises and wondrous ideas... The depth of feeling here is extraordinary. Emotion and science brilliantly co-exist. To call the vision grand and ambitious seems a ridiculous understatement... I await the conclusion, Death's End, in the spring with enormous anticipation. I have no doubt that when this trilogy is complete we will have a masterpiece on our hands' * For Winter Nights *
Hauntingly gentle in its delivery and gorgeous in its own wondrous atmosphere, The Dark Forest is a quiet slice of lovely science fiction... it's bursting with character and ingenuity' * Starburst magazine *
Chinese SF has been neglected in the wider world for far too long * Interzone *
[The Three-Body Problem and The Dark Forest are] the works of fiction I am most enthusiastic about * Bloomberg *
Even what doesn't happen is epic * London Review of Books *

ISBN: 9781784971618

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

560 pages