TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    What led a newlywed bride to plan her husband’s murder?

    From wedding festivities to gruesome murder: the entire timeline of Raja Raghuvanshi case

    Tripura CM's Gesture Sparks Controversy Within BJP Over Gifting Cow to Muslim Family on Bakrid

    Tripura CM’s Cow Donation to Muslim Family for ‘Qurbani’ on Bakrid Ignites Debate Within BJP Ranks

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to U.S.

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to US University Amid Security Concerns

    BJP Chief JP Nadda

    Modi Government Completes 11 Years: JP Nadda Highlights Major Milestones, From Welfare Reforms to Demonetisation

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    How a Compound Interest Calculator Can Boost Your Returns in India?

    How a Compound Interest Calculator Can Boost Your Returns in India?

    Crisil Forecasts Another Rate Cut in FY26, Pegs India’s GDP Growth at 6.5%

    Crisil Forecasts Another Rate Cut in FY26, Pegs India’s GDP Growth at 6.5%

    India Lifts 269 Million Out of Extreme Poverty in 11 Years: World Bank

    India Lifts 269 Million Out of Extreme Poverty in 11 Years: World Bank

    Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra addresses the post-Monetary Policy press conference in Mumbai.

    RBI Slashes Repo Rate by 50 Basis Points to Boost Growth; Middle Class May Receive Loan Relief

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    India-Russia Pact on the Su‑57 as a Leap of Strategic Trust

    From Buyer to Partner: What the Su‑57 Means for India’s Military Autonomy Inside Russia’s Su‑57 Gamble with India

    Dassault and Tata to Begin Rafale Fuselage Production in India

    Dassault and Tata to Begin Rafale Fuselage Production in India, Marking Major Milestone in Defence Manufacturing

    Mock Drills Under ‘Operation Shield’ Scheduled Today in Border States and UTs

    Mock Drills Under ‘Operation Shield’ Scheduled Today in Border States and UTs

    New Delhi: Indian Army Brahmos Missile System during a rehearsal for Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Friday, January 20, 2023. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IANS)

    India’s Defence Manufacturing Set to Reach ₹8.8 Lakh Crore by 2047: CII-KPMG Report

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Can PM Modi’s Visit Nudge Canada Toward Action on Khalistani Extremism?

    Can PM Modi’s Visit Nudge Canada Toward Action on Khalistani Extremism?

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to U.S.

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to US University Amid Security Concerns

    PM Modi’s G7 Canada Invitation: What It Signifies

    PM Modi’s G7 Canada Invitation: What It Signifies — And How the Congress Spoke Too Soon

    Pakistan’s Imminent Threat to Gulf Monarchies

    Pakistan’s Imminent Threat to Gulf Monarchies

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The Vedic Ethos: A Civilization of Knowledge and Inquiry

    From Rigvedic Wisdom to Modern Decay: How Islamisation Crushed a Knowledge Civilization

    Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha 2.0

    Thousands Gather in Ayodhya for Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha Ceremony

    How to Decide Between Amity and Manipal for Your Online MBA Journey

    How to Decide Between Amity and Manipal for Your Online MBA Journey

    Mughals, Delhi Sultans Out, Fresh Chapters on Indian Rulers, Mahakumbh Introduced: NCERT revises Class 7 books

    Mughals, Delhi Sultans Out, Fresh Chapters on Indian Rulers, Mahakumbh Introduced: NCERT revises Class 7 books

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Bangalore: High Court of Karnataka in Bangalore. (Photo: IANS)

    RCB Moves HC to Quash FIR in Bengaluru Stampede Case, Cites Govt Approval for Celebration

    Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money

    Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money

    In December 2024, D. Gukesh Dommaraju, then just 18, became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion

    The Gukesh Effect: How a Teen Grandmaster Is Reshaping Indian Chess and Reclaiming Its Ancient Legacy

    Critical Dimensions for Evaluating Procurement Software Providers

    Critical Dimensions for Evaluating Procurement Software Providers

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    What led a newlywed bride to plan her husband’s murder?

    From wedding festivities to gruesome murder: the entire timeline of Raja Raghuvanshi case

    Tripura CM's Gesture Sparks Controversy Within BJP Over Gifting Cow to Muslim Family on Bakrid

    Tripura CM’s Cow Donation to Muslim Family for ‘Qurbani’ on Bakrid Ignites Debate Within BJP Ranks

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to U.S.

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to US University Amid Security Concerns

    BJP Chief JP Nadda

    Modi Government Completes 11 Years: JP Nadda Highlights Major Milestones, From Welfare Reforms to Demonetisation

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    How a Compound Interest Calculator Can Boost Your Returns in India?

    How a Compound Interest Calculator Can Boost Your Returns in India?

    Crisil Forecasts Another Rate Cut in FY26, Pegs India’s GDP Growth at 6.5%

    Crisil Forecasts Another Rate Cut in FY26, Pegs India’s GDP Growth at 6.5%

    India Lifts 269 Million Out of Extreme Poverty in 11 Years: World Bank

    India Lifts 269 Million Out of Extreme Poverty in 11 Years: World Bank

    Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra addresses the post-Monetary Policy press conference in Mumbai.

    RBI Slashes Repo Rate by 50 Basis Points to Boost Growth; Middle Class May Receive Loan Relief

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    India-Russia Pact on the Su‑57 as a Leap of Strategic Trust

    From Buyer to Partner: What the Su‑57 Means for India’s Military Autonomy Inside Russia’s Su‑57 Gamble with India

    Dassault and Tata to Begin Rafale Fuselage Production in India

    Dassault and Tata to Begin Rafale Fuselage Production in India, Marking Major Milestone in Defence Manufacturing

    Mock Drills Under ‘Operation Shield’ Scheduled Today in Border States and UTs

    Mock Drills Under ‘Operation Shield’ Scheduled Today in Border States and UTs

    New Delhi: Indian Army Brahmos Missile System during a rehearsal for Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Friday, January 20, 2023. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IANS)

    India’s Defence Manufacturing Set to Reach ₹8.8 Lakh Crore by 2047: CII-KPMG Report

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Can PM Modi’s Visit Nudge Canada Toward Action on Khalistani Extremism?

    Can PM Modi’s Visit Nudge Canada Toward Action on Khalistani Extremism?

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to U.S.

    Chinese Researcher Arrested for Smuggling Biological Material to US University Amid Security Concerns

    PM Modi’s G7 Canada Invitation: What It Signifies

    PM Modi’s G7 Canada Invitation: What It Signifies — And How the Congress Spoke Too Soon

    Pakistan’s Imminent Threat to Gulf Monarchies

    Pakistan’s Imminent Threat to Gulf Monarchies

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The Vedic Ethos: A Civilization of Knowledge and Inquiry

    From Rigvedic Wisdom to Modern Decay: How Islamisation Crushed a Knowledge Civilization

    Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha 2.0

    Thousands Gather in Ayodhya for Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha Ceremony

    How to Decide Between Amity and Manipal for Your Online MBA Journey

    How to Decide Between Amity and Manipal for Your Online MBA Journey

    Mughals, Delhi Sultans Out, Fresh Chapters on Indian Rulers, Mahakumbh Introduced: NCERT revises Class 7 books

    Mughals, Delhi Sultans Out, Fresh Chapters on Indian Rulers, Mahakumbh Introduced: NCERT revises Class 7 books

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Bangalore: High Court of Karnataka in Bangalore. (Photo: IANS)

    RCB Moves HC to Quash FIR in Bengaluru Stampede Case, Cites Govt Approval for Celebration

    Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money

    Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money

    In December 2024, D. Gukesh Dommaraju, then just 18, became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion

    The Gukesh Effect: How a Teen Grandmaster Is Reshaping Indian Chess and Reclaiming Its Ancient Legacy

    Critical Dimensions for Evaluating Procurement Software Providers

    Critical Dimensions for Evaluating Procurement Software Providers

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Defense
  • Geopolitics
  • Knowledge
  • Law
  • Lounge

A deep dive into the science fiction trilogy- The Three Body Problem Trilogy

Dev Desai by Dev Desai
18 July 2020
in Lounge
A deep dive into the science fiction trilogy- The Three Body Problem Trilogy
Share on FacebookShare on X

Over the past few months, as China captured the world’s imagination for all the wrong reasons, coincidentally I happened to read the English translation of the Chinese science-fiction trilogy ‘Three Body Problem’ by Cixin Liu.

The trilogy starts with the cultural revolution in China when most intellectuals and academicians were persecuted by kangaroo courts inspired by Mao. The inflection point comes when one of the first protagonists of the story happens to establish contact with Trisolaris, an alien civilisation 4 light-years away. The series meanders through centuries and millennia as it follows the fate of various protagonists and that of the Earth and human civilisation itself.

RelatedPosts

From wedding festivities to gruesome murder: the entire timeline of Raja Raghuvanshi case

Meghalaya murder case: Raja Raghuvanshi’s mother, brother demand capital punishment for accused

Who Is Raj Kushwaha — Secret Lover of Sonam or Key Conspirator in the Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi?

Load More

The premise of finding alien life is indeed a very interesting proposition to start with; if and when humanity can establish communication with an alien lifeform (an intelligent one at that), it would be the most defining moment in the history of human civilisation. While I only have a basic idea of science and astronomy, I found the entire storyline more science and less fiction; it is believable and does not seem to have many bizarre elements. The major leap of faith the novel takes is in the domain of certain advanced lifeforms having the ability to manipulate dimensions (change a 3-dimensional world to one with 2 dimensions and so on) and the descriptions of this aspect make for a fascinating read.

The purpose of this article is not to act as a book review, the preceding paragraphs were just meant to build the basic premise for the uninitiated. Though the novel from the face of it is about interactions of humanity with alien civilisations, it is more of a window into the civilisational psyche of humanity and various facets of it.

First and foremost, the novel beautifully puts in perspective how mankind is unique and special, but at the same time immaterial to the larger scheme of things. I was always fascinated by the ‘Pale Blue Dot’, an image of the Solar System captured by the Voyager spacecraft from some point near its boundary. In this image, the Earth appears little more than a pixel in size. Like the Pale Blue Dot is a humbling realisation of the fact that this Earth is all we have and must cherish it and preserve it, this trilogy broadens your horizons to accept the fact that for all our intelligence and technological prowess, in the huge (unimaginably huge) expanse of the Universe, human civilisation could be one among billions of others, many of which could be far far (unimaginably far) more advanced than us. Once we understand this fact, co-existence with one another and so many other species with whom we share this blue planet would become much easier, as it would inevitably lead us to give up our ego and superiority complex.

The myriad of reactions which the imminent invasion of Earth by Trisolaris generates is a thought-provoking read.

Like in any crisis, there are defeatists- who have lost all hopes, there are escapists- who want to escape Earth into the endless space and then there are realists- who want to work in the existing framework of science and technology available on the Earth to fight back the Trisolarans. 

The crisis presented by the alien invasion, as rightly remarked by the author himself, is the starkest inequality humanity would have ever faced- if the rich get to escape into space before the invasion, the poorer nations would have no choice but be left to die at the hands of the invaders. Though looking back at the history of human civilisation, I could not help but wonder how different a colonisation of humankind by aliens would be, from the experience of natives of South America, who had their entire civilisation wiped out by the Conquistadors?

Humanity’s response to the crisis as depicted in the novel is equally intriguing. After the initial chaos, the leadership of the world manages to get its act together and like the quintessential joint family faced with an existential external crisis, differences within are papered over and resources pooled to mount the most effective response possible. Just like Mir Jafar and Jaichand, even this crisis has its own share of traitors who are more than willing to join forces with the enemy; but the motivation for most of them is interestingly their disgust with the society of the day and they feel it is better off if the human society is either radically transformed by or totally cleansed by the incoming aliens. The only way which works out, in the end, is something familiar to those who have even a basic knowledge of the Cold War- mutually assured destruction; going on to show that the civilisational urge for self-preservation could well be the fundamental characteristic of any intelligent civilisation.

The era of peace ushered in after the protection bought by the hanging sword of mutually assured destruction shows a mirror to how progress and prosperity breeds complacency. As humankind benefits more and more from the technological secrets shared by the Trisolarans, doves outnumber the hawks by a wide margin and the civilisation gradually feminises (in the author’s words) over the passage of time. The pacifism and trust over Trisolarans reach a crescendo when humanity elects a mother-like, soft and sensitive figure to take charge of the system of mutually assured destruction. What consequences this has on the future of mankind is for the interested reader to read from the book itself, but I could not hold back the thought of how that society is similar in many ways to the world of today. Awed by the glamour of the West, more and more developing countries are queueing up to cede more and more control of their lives and systems to the giant MNCs in return for a promise of progress and prosperity. This wave is akin to a creeping and covert neo-colonisation which operates on the same principles as the previous overt colonisation, but is merely packaged differently.

Another interesting insight which this novel trilogy offers is into humanity’s behaviour towards religion and person (or objects) of worship. A section of people is so awed by the superiority of the Trisolarans that they start seeing in them new Gods. When one of the protagonists puts in place the system of mutually assured destruction which protects the Earth, he too begins to be worshipped by millions. It is a different matter that as the culture became more and more pacifist, the same person began to be seen as a cruel and heartless villain and hated as much as he was respected. Sounds similar to the ‘cancel-culture’ unleashed by the wokes in the recent protests in the USA, where statues of various historical figures are being taken down, is it not?

The core of the entire novel is its take on what hinders and what helps in the survival of the human species and its culture? Just like there have been comparisons between handling of Covid-19 pandemic by countries like China and democracies like India and the USA, the author also tries to draw contrasts. On one hand, is the democratic Earth, which choses a pacifist as the leader in line with the culture of those times and on the other is a spaceship with a few hundred humans sailing out in the endless abyss of space, which turns to an autocratic and unitary system of governance. The author’s opinion is that when it comes to the question of life, death and survival, the latter system with its discipline and ruthlessness would triumph. The transformation of formerly civilised humans into mean and menacing individuals with single minded focus on survival (ethics and morality be damned) is depicted in an interesting way.

To put it another way, the Universe is much like a forest ecosystem where every civilisation is looking to ensure its own survival and is simultaneously on the prowl to annihilate any other civilisation it can find to reduce competition to itself- Darwinism at its pinnacle and on a much larger scale. Humankind is but another naïve civilisation- eager to establish contact with any extra-terrestrial life form it can find, while most other mature civilisations believe in the motto that ‘stealth is survival’. Hide yourself from others in this forest of the Universe if you want to remain alive; to be discovered is to put a gigantic question-mark on your own future. It leaves one thinking, if the North Sentinelese are indeed the smartest people around.

ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Rahul Gandhi tried to preach Modi govt on foreign policy, Jaishankar rips him apart in point by point rebuttal

Next Post

Speak up, Media! Bihar’s coronavirus situation has spiraled out of control but media is silent on Nitish Kumar

Related Posts

Bangalore: High Court of Karnataka in Bangalore. (Photo: IANS)
Cricket

RCB Moves HC to Quash FIR in Bengaluru Stampede Case, Cites Govt Approval for Celebration

9 June 2025

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the criminal case lodged...

Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money
Games

Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money

7 June 2025

Slot Machines for Indian Players: Exclusive Gameplay for Real Money Without a doubt, this selection of online casino games...

In December 2024, D. Gukesh Dommaraju, then just 18, became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion
Lounge

The Gukesh Effect: How a Teen Grandmaster Is Reshaping Indian Chess and Reclaiming Its Ancient Legacy

3 June 2025

In December 2024, D. Gukesh Dommaraju, then just 18, became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion by defeating reigning...

Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Currently Playing

BJP, bakrid and the cow. CM Manik Saha in eye of the storm.

BJP, bakrid and the cow. CM Manik Saha in eye of the storm.

00:03:56

Pakistan needs money from IMF to feed their people

00:15:20

Vacate PoK and more: Steps Pakistan needs to take to avoid Indian military action

00:06:36

Taking The Wire’s Propaganda Piece on VP to the Cleaners – Feat. Prof. Kapil Kumar

00:09:19

Rahul Gandhi Undermines India’s Electoral Integrity as Trump Applauds It

00:07:09
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
tfipostTfipost.com
Right Wing | News Analysis | Indian Opinion
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited