I read the first book and found some of the larger "setpiece" sections to be unique and pretty compelling, but yea everything else including the characters just felt sort of thin to me; which was strange as some details felt very well-rounded and researched. started the second book and just didn't get on with it and stopped midway through. after that experience I still gave the show a try and found it to be laughably bad and awkwardly delivered, didn't get past the first episode.

Yep, totally agree. I just couldn't stand the characters, especially the second time I read part of it and knew how they messed everything up.

The ending is weirdly "feel good"? Which doesn't make much sense.

I read the first book and I think it is the first time in decades that I have encountered actual sci-fi concepts that weren't a reworking of ideas that have been around for decades.

It's not a character driven novel but the characters are fine, mostly they're not that likeable - which in my opinion is not a reason to dislike a story - and I think they probably lose something in translation. When I was a teenager I devoured Asimov, Phillip K Dick, Heinlein etc for the concepts, compared to them the characters in 3 Body are masterfully written.

I haven't yet read the second book as I found the first few chapters a bit of a slog but I plan to pick it up again once I've finished rereading some Ursula K LeGuin

I enjoyed this series. Some cool concepts, I really like the trisolarian technologies. Like the description of the probe and sophons.

I read all 3. Loved them!

Interesting ideas 💡

Fun sci fi settings

Characters were predictable

Nice mix of science and fiction

The series most interesting as an allegory of the competition between the US and China.

Ive been meaning to read these for years, ever since watching a YouTuber named Quinn talk about them. I watched the first season of the netflix series, I'm sure that kinda ruined the first book for me.

Id recommend reading the fan-written (but original author blessed!) fourth book in the series - the redemption of time. I was also unimpressed by the ending of the third book and the fourth one wrapped things up well.

I’ve been interested in this author after I found out the show Pantheon, which I really liked, was based on his other works. (Wrong author) I haven’t had a chance to check out the three body problem, but I intend to soon.

I'm 58% through the third book and it feels like it should've ended at book two so far for me.

Reading this post and comments I feel relieved, because I decided not to read the books and just to watch a Netflix series. Which by the way wasn’t anyhow special or interesting at all…

Just finished the first book, thought it was excellent and very thought-provoking.

Ye Wenjie was unpleasant, but it felt like there was good reason for that, given what happened to her and her family during the cultural revolution. Plus she was still a compelling character.

Counterpoint.