Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Liu Cixin

リウ・ツーシン

Liu Cixin

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-06-23 （Yangquan, Shanxi, China）
Nationality
China
Languages
Mandarin Chinese

Career

Occupations
Writer, Engineer
Active Years
1988-
Influenced By
Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke
Influenced
Contemporary Chinese science fiction authors (influenced the revival), International science fiction readers and writers community

Education

North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power
Engineering / Hydraulic and Hydroelectric Engineering
Degree: 学士
Period: 1980s
Year of Graduation: 1988
Country: China
After graduation he worked as a technical engineer at a hydroelectric power facility.

Awards

Hugo Award (Best Novel)
2015
Work: The Three-Body Problem
Category: 長編
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Galaxy Award
Organization: China science fiction organizations
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Three-Body Problem

2006 Science Fiction (Hard SF) 302 pages

Interweaving Cultural Revolution-era events with first contact, the novel begins a trilogy exploring civilization survival, technology and ethics.

First contactCivilization survivalScience and ethics
Adaptations
  • [TV series] The Three-Body Problem (TV adaptation)
Translations
  • English translation by Ken Liu (2014)

The Dark Forest

2008 Science Fiction (Hard SF) 427 pages

Sequel to The Three-Body Problem. Uses the 'dark forest' metaphor to depict inter-civilizational survival competition and the harsh logic of the cosmos.

Cosmic perspectiveDeterrence and psychological warfareCivilizational strategy
Translations
  • English translation (various translators; e.g., 2015-2016 editions)

Death's End

2010 Science Fiction (Hard SF) 512 pages

Final volume of the trilogy. On a grand time scale it portrays the rise and fall of civilizations and extreme cosmic conditions.

Scale of time and civilizationSacrifice and choiceCosmic determinism
Translations
  • English translation(s) (published internationally after 2015)

Ball Lightning

2005 Science Fiction 320 pages

A story revolving around ball lightning phenomena, blending scientific investigation with personal loss.

Scientific inquiryLoss and obsession
Translations
  • English translation available

Bibliography

  • The Three-Body Problem
  • The Dark Forest
  • Death's End
  • Ball Lightning
  • Many short stories (including 'The Wandering Earth' related and others)

Adaptations

  • The Three-Body Problem (Chinese adaptations in production; international TV adaptation planned by Netflix)

Translations of Works

  • The Three-Body Problem — English translation by Ken Liu (2014)
  • Ball Lightning — English translation available

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Hard-SF oriented with detailed scientific descriptionCold, expansive cosmic scaleConcise and functional narrative pacing
Recurring Motifs
Inter-civilizational friction and survivalDual nature of technologyCosmic loneliness (the 'dark forest' metaphor)

Legacy

Liu Cixin is a leading figure of 21st-century Chinese science fiction. His Three-Body trilogy sparked a revival of Chinese SF and global interest, praised for linking scientific imagination with philosophical inquiry.

In Popular Culture

  • The Three-Body series has permeated popular culture via international adaptation projects and multilingual translations.
  • He is symbolic of the modern Chinese science fiction movement.

Quotes

  • The universe is a dark forest.
    Source: The Dark Forest (2008)

Trivia

  • He originally worked as an engineer at a hydroelectric power plant.
  • In 2015 he won the Hugo Award for Best Novel for the English translation of The Three-Body Problem.
  • The Three-Body trilogy gained wide recognition through international translations and adaptation projects.