The Three-Body Problem cover art

The Three-Body Problem

Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Three-Body Problem

By: Cixin Liu, Ken Liu - translator
Narrated by: Luke Daniels
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $31.10

Buy Now for $31.10

About this listen

The inspiration for the Netflix series 3 Body Problem!

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL

Over 1 million copies sold in North America

“A mind-bending epic.”The New York Times • “War of the Worlds for the 21st century.”The Wall Street Journal • “Fascinating.”TIME • “Extraordinary.”The New Yorker • “Wildly imaginative.”—Barack Obama • “Provocative.”Slate • “A breakthrough book.”—George R. R. Martin • “Impossible to put down.”GQ • “Absolutely mind-unfolding.”NPR • “You should be reading Liu Cixin.”The Washington Post

The Three-Body Problem is the first novel in the groundbreaking, Hugo Award-winning series from China's most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu.

Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.

The Three-Body Problem Series
The Three-Body Problem
The Dark Forest
Death's End

Other Books by Cixin Liu
Ball Lightning
Supernova Era
To Hold Up the Sky

The Wandering Earth
A View from the Stars

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

First Contact Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration World Literature Chinese Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

“Remarkable, revelatory and not to be missed.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
All stars
Most relevant
I purchased this audiobook on recommendation from a Chinese friend who had read the original Chinese version. I'd be lying if I said this was an easy read, the physics references alone would scare off most people, but trust me when I say if you just ignore most of the technical stuff and focus on the core story it is definitely worth it because this is such a fascinating treatment of a story that has been done so many times before. I eagerly awaiting the translation of the next book!

Complex but interesting!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

While listening I was embracing new ideas and concepts stepped in the history and culture of modern China. For those uninitiated in high physics this will streach their minds to accept the ideas central to the story, but it is presented in a way that allows the listener to keep up with the level of discussion between characters.

Scientificly deep within the grasp of mere motals

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

While I enjoyed the overall story, it's slow and has so many tangents. I think high ratings come from the novelty of the core theme and story, not so much the journey to get through that.

Interesting content, difficult to digest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Maybe something got lost in translation but this book is awfully boring. I thought it was hard sci-fi but it's full of airy-fairy nonsense. No wonder there was a big uproar when this won the Hugo. I thought this was a straight up alien invasion story but no it's some spiritual pseudoscientific tale about what I can't really tell.

I want my credit back.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Terrible narration, story was soooooo slow and confusing, probably lost in translation. Thank god for the refund option. I couldn't get through this one... Gave up halfway through.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.