The Three Body Problem

 

Author:  Cixin Liu

Begun: March 25th 2025

Finished: March 31st 2025

Type: Audiobook on Libby

Narrator: Luke Daniels

Rating: 4/10

Because a lot of the science fiction I've read in the past was mostly written by white men in the 50s, I thought the problem of intense sexism in SF was because of the time period in which it was written. 

Apparently not. 

Let's take a look at some of the more salient female characters in this book:

One betrays the entire human race. 

Another is emotionless and cold.

Three are brutal murderers who do not repent of what they've done

Another threatens to blow everyone up with a nuclear bomb

And lastly, the wife and child: completely neglected by husband/father. Used, then forgotten about, never mentioned again, never missed, never thought of...presumably because he's a MAN and has MORE IMPORTANT THINGS to think about. 

So it seems that my thought that SF was problematic in the past, but has grown past that now, is completely erroneous.   SF apparently teaches that men are so so smart and important.  Women are completely important so just forget about them.  Women are also emotionless, cold, and are willing to kill every single person alive.  

Well ok then.  

NOPE.  Hard. Pass.  

I endured this entire book, and I want my 13+ hours back now please.  I wish I could unread it.