One of the best discussions on the trilogy I’ve seen. I’m impressed by the idea that life is bigger the universe. Seems that western readers do not appreciate the books as much as their Chinese counterparts do, and they talk a lot about the characters (especially how unsuccessfully female characters are portrayed) and so forth. What cliche! Regarding the classic definition of literature, i.e. “literature is the study of humanity”, Liu once said it was absolute arrogance; humanity is too small a thing to deserve so much attention. Literature could explore so many more themes than the over-chewed, ages old “well-being of humans”. He has made it clear that characters are not important at all. They are only there to develop the story. His real protagonist is the universe itself: what it is about and how it has evolved to its state of being. That’s why I like this video, finally one centered on the philosophy and the laws of universe. Keep the great work!
Ope. You got me. I wrote about how the author wrote about women. lol In my defense, it's my only criticism, and I love the series otherwise. And my criticism isn't simply "Y MAN WRITE WOMAN BAD?!?" It's a bit more nuanced. :)
I appreciate this in-depth analysis of the series. As a US Army veteran (I didn't want it, I'm not a nationalist, I don't like violence, though I understand it has a time and place as part of survival), I've seen first hand the way the US (and other) military(-ies) rely(-ies) increasingly on technology to turn the tide of battle rather than more traditional parameters (example: GPS tech rather than elevation maps, compasses, and learning the terrain) to their detriment. It was refreshing to see that get explored the way it got explored in this series. It made me... FEEL THINGS. In ways I'll probably be talking about for a long while. Which is what makes it such amazing art. In particular, the reliance on technology is what has been getting the US trounced in EVERY conflict it has engaged in since World War II. Though, that idea of the universe being paralyzed... us only knowing three dimensions instead of 10, time only being one dimensional instead of infinite dimensions, light speed being what it is instead of infinite... it's haunting. I feel confined already for other reasons... now I just feel more confined. My ONLY criticism (yeah I see the top comment, call me cliché): I don't appreciate the way Liu writes women. It feels like they are there simply to be a contrast to men, who get to be actual characters. I think the Hobbes quote from Leviathan is kinda what sealed that for me. It's disappointing because, on the one hand, Cheng Xin kind of gets a redemption for her "mistake" in not broadcasting as the Swordholder because she is who was chosen. On the other, Cheng Xin is so overwhelmed with grief in Australia that it literally blinds her, and later she gets blamed for Earth not getting light speed tech beyond the one ship? I dunno. It seems like she's taking a lot of heat for not being so callous with sacrificing life. Which is exactly what Luo Ji encouraged Zhuang Yan to be like early in his Wallfacer days: that maybe peace could be achieved in such a way (it's been about two months since I read Dark Forest, if memory serves, Luo Ji encouraged Zhuang Yan to do art that promoted peace and harmony or something...?). Then, throughout the Dark Forest and Death's End, there seemed to be a huge deriding of femininity as a concept (I think this was the late crisis era through the start of post-deterrence), even though... like... what is it? What even is femininity? I'm not trying to psychoanalyze Cixin Liu or anything. As a feminine woman, I'd agree with Cheng Xin in finding a society with a lack of masculinity dull and lifeless. So, with all that said, please know that I have taken my time with this comment, that I thoroughly enjoyed the series and this video's commentary, but I kinda feel like Cixin Liu's writing borders on misogynist, but not in a traditionally misogynist way. More like... he's trying to hide something and covering it with misogyny. I won't say more than that. So... y'know. Maybe not cliché. ;)
I had no idea sadler was on this. I just found out about this. One of my favorite you tube channels. It already had a video waiting for me before i even knew id be into it.
the two books for me that changed me were lord of the rings series and dune saga books...they blew me away the entire story of leto II the god emperor and the moral implications of that entire act within the saga is so brilliantly done... I haven't seen this type of skill beyond their writing to draw in my mind to immerse and imagine along with them since these set of books I just mentioned... These 3 books by liu cixin are masterpieces in sci fi story telling..absolutely masterpieces..so it definitely stands up there with the great works before it..most definitely I hope we get to see a movie version of these stories or mini series or something..they are too good not to
Thank you professor, I was so excited to see this video popping on my feed - I've learned so much from your 30 minutes Hagel Master-Work (and had bought the version that you teach with of course) - and now this? Geez - I must be in paradise :)
i am halfway through season 1 of the TV show!!!!!!!!! i am like a kid on christmas morning!!!!!!! it is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PS I read the books too)
I've read The Three Body Problem and The Dark Forest, now i'm nearly finished Death's End...i'm at the part where our Solar Sytem has been attacked and is turning 2 Dimentional. The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is fast becoming one of my favourite reads, definitely up there with His Dark Materials and the extended edition of The Stand. Great video, very informitive delving into what the series is about while leaving enough for readers to dive into themselves and enjoy. Cheers.
One thing that’s different from the Chinese edition and the international edition of the Three Body Problem is that the cultural Revolution is told in flash backs in the original Chinese, which makes more sense since it is a mystery. This might be because they were afraid foreign audiences didn’t have any references to the cultural Revolution and be confused when this was revealed later on
Great video, thank you for thorough introduction and in-depth discussions. Minor bug, Liu was a software engineer when he works at power plant in shannxi.
Good perspective. I can only wish Netflix gets these books right. I read them and I am pretty sure some of the more unpopular perspectives on male-female and the way is factors in are handled.
I mean cern's already admitted to the fact that the particle collider create black holes and that's the whole premise for the Hyperion Chronicles. That a black hole is created that swallowed the Earth but luckily a man invented something called the Hawking drive and we are able to colonize the stars because of this
The Chronicles of Hyperion are probably the ones that stick in my mind the most and there's something to actually seem to be really telling the future because the things that happened in those bubbles are so well we seem in line we seem in line to create that world almost as soon as Elon Musk invents the Hawking drive anyways
Y'all should try out Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson and R. Skott Bakker's Prince of Nothing, I think you'll get your obligatory philosophical themes in quite the quantities. They're also, in my opinion, the best works of fantasy fiction I've read so far.
Well, as you know we're doing Bakker next. gbsadler.blogspot.com/2021/01/worlds-of-speculative-fiction.html Always best to keep suggestions for the end of the year, when we solicit them for the following year
@@GregoryBSadler Oh, sorry! Didn't know about that, I stumbled upon the channel just today. Good to know about Bakker, he is absolutely great. Can't wait.
china made the wandering earth into a movie...actually pretty good for a chinese made movie...had a big budget and made a ton over there...us americans are spoiled but for the rest of the world that movie is as top notch as any of ours to them...check it out if you can handle it all being chinese
How is it that I've been watching philosophy videos and searching for them on TH-cam for going on ten years now and I'm not even once heard of you? And just look at how many videos you have just here? The algorithm definitely has been fucking up until now. I mean I'm searching it must have recommended you at least once and I just didn't choose that video but I kind of evened out that because I have a tendency to marking my mind all the ones that I seen for later investigation also at least those that pertain to the topics I like and philosophy is like the main one besides maybe metaphysics in history which pretty much go hand-in-hand with the first. And I love mythology and hard science
Wouldn't the opposite of benevolence be malevolence. Strange using malice, unless it's to make it easier to understand w/a more commonly used word. Or it's a translation issue. For example, a malevolent God, or a malevolent God, in contrast to a malicious God, or God of malice. It just odd.
I'm 99% sure at least a couple of Japanese names are mentioned actually. Just finished the last book yesterday. The 1500+ pages are a bit of a blur right now but there's at least a Japanese scientist in the third book iirc.
Don't think you read the trilogy. One of the Wallfacer, Bill Hines' wife is a Japanese. And Japanese culture is obviously referenced through Sophon's fashion presentation (in kimono)
I mention it bc I felt it made an interesting attempt at combining its characters and plot devices - like liu was saying the idea characters exist to fulfill plot purposes
One of the best discussions on the trilogy I’ve seen. I’m impressed by the idea that life is bigger the universe.
Seems that western readers do not appreciate the books as much as their Chinese counterparts do, and they talk a lot about the characters (especially how unsuccessfully female characters are portrayed) and so forth. What cliche!
Regarding the classic definition of literature, i.e. “literature is the study of humanity”, Liu once said it was absolute arrogance; humanity is too small a thing to deserve so much attention. Literature could explore so many more themes than the over-chewed, ages old “well-being of humans”. He has made it clear that characters are not important at all. They are only there to develop the story. His real protagonist is the universe itself: what it is about and how it has evolved to its state of being. That’s why I like this video, finally one centered on the philosophy and the laws of universe. Keep the great work!
Glad to read you enjoyed it
6yy
You've actually managed to make a stupid point out of a brilliant book, I'm truly impressed.
@@pleasegoawaydude perhaps it takes a great mind to know another.
Ope. You got me. I wrote about how the author wrote about women. lol
In my defense, it's my only criticism, and I love the series otherwise. And my criticism isn't simply "Y MAN WRITE WOMAN BAD?!?" It's a bit more nuanced. :)
I appreciate this in-depth analysis of the series. As a US Army veteran (I didn't want it, I'm not a nationalist, I don't like violence, though I understand it has a time and place as part of survival), I've seen first hand the way the US (and other) military(-ies) rely(-ies) increasingly on technology to turn the tide of battle rather than more traditional parameters (example: GPS tech rather than elevation maps, compasses, and learning the terrain) to their detriment. It was refreshing to see that get explored the way it got explored in this series. It made me... FEEL THINGS. In ways I'll probably be talking about for a long while. Which is what makes it such amazing art. In particular, the reliance on technology is what has been getting the US trounced in EVERY conflict it has engaged in since World War II.
Though, that idea of the universe being paralyzed... us only knowing three dimensions instead of 10, time only being one dimensional instead of infinite dimensions, light speed being what it is instead of infinite... it's haunting. I feel confined already for other reasons... now I just feel more confined.
My ONLY criticism (yeah I see the top comment, call me cliché): I don't appreciate the way Liu writes women. It feels like they are there simply to be a contrast to men, who get to be actual characters. I think the Hobbes quote from Leviathan is kinda what sealed that for me. It's disappointing because, on the one hand, Cheng Xin kind of gets a redemption for her "mistake" in not broadcasting as the Swordholder because she is who was chosen. On the other, Cheng Xin is so overwhelmed with grief in Australia that it literally blinds her, and later she gets blamed for Earth not getting light speed tech beyond the one ship? I dunno. It seems like she's taking a lot of heat for not being so callous with sacrificing life. Which is exactly what Luo Ji encouraged Zhuang Yan to be like early in his Wallfacer days: that maybe peace could be achieved in such a way (it's been about two months since I read Dark Forest, if memory serves, Luo Ji encouraged Zhuang Yan to do art that promoted peace and harmony or something...?). Then, throughout the Dark Forest and Death's End, there seemed to be a huge deriding of femininity as a concept (I think this was the late crisis era through the start of post-deterrence), even though... like... what is it? What even is femininity? I'm not trying to psychoanalyze Cixin Liu or anything. As a feminine woman, I'd agree with Cheng Xin in finding a society with a lack of masculinity dull and lifeless.
So, with all that said, please know that I have taken my time with this comment, that I thoroughly enjoyed the series and this video's commentary, but I kinda feel like Cixin Liu's writing borders on misogynist, but not in a traditionally misogynist way. More like... he's trying to hide something and covering it with misogyny. I won't say more than that. So... y'know. Maybe not cliché. ;)
Just finished the trilogy. Thanks for this. Best analysis and facts about the author/trilogy I've seen.
You’re very welcome - and thanks!
I had no idea sadler was on this. I just found out about this.
One of my favorite you tube channels. It already had a video waiting for me before i even knew id be into it.
Glad you enjoy the channel. Yes, this was one of those fan-suggested and -voted series
Talking about the author of the 3-Body Problem in a room with 3 light sources projecting 3 shadows.
I love it! And have subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it
Wonderful discussion, the most detailed video I've seen on the trilogy so far!
Thanks!
the two books for me that changed me were lord of the rings series and dune saga books...they blew me away
the entire story of leto II the god emperor and the moral implications of that entire act within the saga is so brilliantly done...
I haven't seen this type of skill beyond their writing to draw in my mind to immerse and imagine along with them since these set of books I just mentioned...
These 3 books by liu cixin are masterpieces in sci fi story telling..absolutely masterpieces..so it definitely stands up there with the great works before it..most definitely
I hope we get to see a movie version of these stories or mini series or something..they are too good not to
I'd love to see an adaptation of them as well
Netflix series. Bilibili animated
@@GregoryBSadler Netflix series and Bilibili animated
@@GregoryBSadler There's a Tencent adaptation.
Great job! Really grabs the core of Liu's ideas!
Thanks!
Thank you professor, I was so excited to see this video popping on my feed - I've learned so much from your 30 minutes Hagel Master-Work (and had bought the version that you teach with of course) - and now this? Geez - I must be in paradise :)
Yes, I do a lot of different kinds of things in the channel. Glad you enjoyed it!
i am halfway through season 1 of the TV show!!!!!!!!! i am like a kid on christmas morning!!!!!!! it is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PS I read the books too)
I'll have to check out the show sometime when I can make the time
Wonderful talk, lots of interesting information that I didn't know before.
Glad you enjoyed it
I've read The Three Body Problem and The Dark Forest, now i'm nearly finished Death's End...i'm at the part where our Solar Sytem has been attacked and is turning 2 Dimentional.
The Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy is fast becoming one of my favourite reads, definitely up there with His Dark Materials and the extended edition of The Stand.
Great video, very informitive delving into what the series is about while leaving enough for readers to dive into themselves and enjoy.
Cheers.
It is indeed a great series!
One thing that’s different from the Chinese edition and the international edition of the Three Body Problem is that the cultural Revolution is told in flash backs in the original Chinese, which makes more sense since it is a mystery. This might be because they were afraid foreign audiences didn’t have any references to the cultural Revolution and be confused when this was revealed later on
Yes, some foreign readers might not know much of that history.
Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp
Me too bro
What? You don't smoke hemp bro
Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back
Great video, thank you for thorough introduction and in-depth discussions. Minor bug, Liu was a software engineer when he works at power plant in shannxi.
Minor bug indeed
Great job! I enjoyed so much!
Glad to read it!
I can definitely see the Clarke influence in his world (universe?) building.
God I love this book series
They are quite something
Good perspective. I can only wish Netflix gets these books right. I read them and I am pretty sure some of the more unpopular perspectives on male-female and the way is factors in are handled.
Haven't seen any of the adaptations yet
fine work!
Thanks!
I mean cern's already admitted to the fact that the particle collider create black holes and that's the whole premise for the Hyperion Chronicles. That a black hole is created that swallowed the Earth but luckily a man invented something called the Hawking drive and we are able to colonize the stars because of this
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Let's hope the series about to be made isn't too Hollywoodized
That's a tough one for American adaptations
Good luck with that one,eh! Wait for the casting.....
Haven't read the books, yet. Don't reas alot of fiction,but this trilogy sounds brilliant. Books' first. Adaptation second for me on this one.
The Chronicles of Hyperion are probably the ones that stick in my mind the most and there's something to actually seem to be really telling the future because the things that happened in those bubbles are so well we seem in line we seem in line to create that world almost as soon as Elon Musk invents the Hawking drive anyways
We'll be discussing those later on this year
@@seankelly9667 Obviously missing the sarcasm in the comment
@@seankelly9667 so no hawking drive? Darn! I guess we have to colonize space on rocket power! It'll never happen.
Y'all should try out Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson and R. Skott Bakker's Prince of Nothing, I think you'll get your obligatory philosophical themes in quite the quantities. They're also, in my opinion, the best works of fantasy fiction I've read so far.
Well, as you know we're doing Bakker next. gbsadler.blogspot.com/2021/01/worlds-of-speculative-fiction.html
Always best to keep suggestions for the end of the year, when we solicit them for the following year
@@GregoryBSadler Oh, sorry! Didn't know about that, I stumbled upon the channel just today. Good to know about Bakker, he is absolutely great. Can't wait.
thank you sir
You're welcome!
china made the wandering earth into a movie...actually pretty good for a chinese made movie...had a big budget and made a ton over there...us americans are spoiled but for the rest of the world that movie is as top notch as any of ours to them...check it out if you can handle it all being chinese
Well, I'd have a very rough time following a film in Chinese with no subtitles. Having read the story, I'd not be at a total disadvantage
It's on Netflix with subtitles
It was OK but not very many complex themes in it.
@@chadcuckproducer1037 Other changes from the novel
Really? I didn't like the Wandering Earth Movie, I reckon the book might be better.
How is it that I've been watching philosophy videos and searching for them on TH-cam for going on ten years now and I'm not even once heard of you? And just look at how many videos you have just here? The algorithm definitely has been fucking up until now. I mean I'm searching it must have recommended you at least once and I just didn't choose that video but I kind of evened out that because I have a tendency to marking my mind all the ones that I seen for later investigation also at least those that pertain to the topics I like and philosophy is like the main one besides maybe metaphysics in history which pretty much go hand-in-hand with the first. And I love mythology and hard science
No idea. Been producing videos that others seem to have no trouble finding for over a decade!
@@GregoryBSadler thank you for answering. Won't have no trouble finding you now because I'll be looking for you. Thank you my friend
Curious what you think of Eric Brown's Serene Invasion
Never heard of it
@@GregoryBSadler Deals a lot with death, what it is to be human, etc. More psychology and philosophy than scifi.
Wouldn't the opposite of benevolence be malevolence. Strange using malice, unless it's to make it easier to understand w/a more commonly used word. Or it's a translation issue.
For example, a malevolent God, or a malevolent God, in contrast to a malicious God, or God of malice. It just odd.
Sounds odd to you, is what you mean to say. Definitely not to me. And clearly not to the translator
@@GregoryBSadler I'm not knockin' it, I was just curious. I'm a big fan of the series.
Gotcha
No Japanese characters in LCX's trilogy,of course but USA, Europe and Venezuela (!)
So what? Make your point
I'm 99% sure at least a couple of Japanese names are mentioned actually. Just finished the last book yesterday. The 1500+ pages are a bit of a blur right now but there's at least a Japanese scientist in the third book iirc.
No Eskimo either.
Don't think you read the trilogy. One of the Wallfacer, Bill Hines' wife is a Japanese. And Japanese culture is obviously referenced through Sophon's fashion presentation (in kimono)
Either you haven't read the books or you don't remember much if you have.
Do you think he would like homestuck? Honest question
He who?
@@GregoryBSadler oh sorry I meant liu cixin lol
I am also interested if you would like homestuck too
I mention it bc I felt it made an interesting attempt at combining its characters and plot devices - like liu was saying the idea characters exist to fulfill plot purposes
@@emmett8940 I have no idea what he would like.
47:45 The deterrence era
Cosmic sociology
1:11 - 1:21
Great. Interesting: all in all horrifying. Anyway, thanks.
You're welcome