Remembrance of Earth's Past
4 books
The Remembrance of Earth's Past series by Cixin Liu and Liu Cixin has 3 books. Start with The Three-Body Problem (2008), then read the rest in the order below. Related works without a series number, like companions and adaptations, are listed after them.
Remembrance of Earth's Past reading order
The Three-Body Problem
Liu Cixin
During China's Cultural Revolution, astrophysicist Ye Wenjie makes a fateful decision that sets humanity on an irreversible collision course with an alien civilization. Decades later, nanomaterials researcher Thomas Wade and a group of scientists uncover the shocking truth: an extraterrestrial species from a chaotic three-body star system is heading toward Earth with conquest in mind. As humanity grapples with this existential threat, they must confront not only the technological superiority of their cosmic adversaries but also the moral complexities of first contact and the fragility of human civilization itself. Liu Cixin's groundbreaking hard science fiction epic weaves together physics, philosophy, and geopolitics into a sweeping narrative that challenges our understanding of survival, sacrifice, and humanity's place in the universe. This is the first book in a trilogy that redefined science fiction for a global audience and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
The Dark Forest
Cixin Liu
In the gripping sequel to The Three-Body Problem, humanity faces an existential threat from an alien civilization, with their every move laid bare by advanced surveillance. As Earth's defenses are exposed, a desperate gambit called the Wallfacer Project is initiated, empowering a select few to devise secret strategies hidden from both humanity and the invaders. Among them, an unassuming astronomer finds himself the prime target of the enemy, thrust into a cosmic game of deception and survival. This epic saga delves into profound themes of technology, morality, and the vast, unknown universe, delivering a thrilling narrative of interstellar conflict and the future of humankind.
Death's End
Cixin Liu
Decades after the brink of annihilation, a fragile peace holds between humanity and the Trisolarans, fueled by shared knowledge and a mutual fear of destruction. As Earth experiences unprecedented technological advancement and cultural exchange, complacency begins to set in, threatening the delicate balance. Into this new era awakens Cheng Xin, an engineer from a bygone time, whose connection to a forgotten program could either propel humanity toward the stars or seal its doom. This epic conclusion to a celebrated science fiction saga explores profound questions of progress, morality, and the ultimate fate of civilizations.
Three-Body Problem Boxed Set
Cixin Liu
Embark on an epic journey that begins during China's tumultuous Cultural Revolution, where a secret military project reaches out to the stars, inadvertently inviting an alien civilization to Earth. As humanity grapples with this monumental discovery, a mysterious virtual reality game emerges, mirroring the desperate plight of an alien world facing an existential crisis. This groundbreaking novel masterfully blends hard science fiction with profound philosophical questions about humanity's place in the cosmos, exploring themes of survival, despair, and the enduring flicker of hope.