Latest news with #TheThree-BodyProblem
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chengdu: Empower Dreams with the Wings of Sci-Fi
CHENGDU, China, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Once upon a time, sci-fi was synonymous with classic works from Europe and America such as Star Wars, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. However, Chinese sci-fi author Liu Cixin made history when the first installment of his trilogy The Three-Body Problem won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel at the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention, becoming the first Asian to receive this honor. The achievement marked the first time the world truly began to pay attention to Chinese sci-fi. Furthermore, Chengdu hosted the 81st World Science Fiction Convention in 2023, the first time the event was held in China and second time in Asia. Today, The Three-Body Problem has been translated into over 30 languages and has captivated global audiences through its novels and screen adaptations. Yet few know that the first book of the trilogy was originally serialized in Chengdu's sci-fi magazine Science Fiction World. To further promote Chengdu's sci-fi industry and strengthen international collaboration in the field, the Chengdu International Sci-Fi Industry Salon, organized by National Business Daily and hosted by NBD Think Tank, was held in Chengdu on May 28, 2025. The event brought together leading global sci-fi companies and experts to discuss the future of the industry. Attendees included representatives from France's Hachette Publishing Group (the world's second-largest publishing group), Japan's D'Art Shtajio Animation Studio (the first major anime studio led by African American creators). During the presentation, Hachette and D'Art Shtajio shared insights on sci-fi IP development, copyright management, and animation production, while delivering speeches on topics such as "ideal environments for sci-fi innovation" and "enhancing cross-border industry collaboration." The event also featured prominent international experts, including Brigitte Leblanc, Editor-in-Chief of Le Rayon imaginaire, Hachette Heroes, Hachette Livre (responsible for publishing the French edition of The Three-Body Problem comic), American animation director Dalton Grant (known for Cars and Shrek), etc. During roundtable discussions, Grant emphasized sci-fi's role in sparking unexpected creativity and overcoming perceived limits, while Leblanc cited The Three-Body Problem's global success as a model for international IP cooperation. The organizers stated that such platforms aim to drive Chengdu's sci-fi industry toward greater diversity, depth, and global integration, while amplifying the reach of Chinese sci-fi works abroad and fostering cultural exchange between China and the world. SOURCE National Business Daily Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What Is Speculative Fiction? 15 Must-Read Spec Fic Books
A fireproof edition of Margaret Atwood's prescient and often-banned book "The Handmaids Tale." It is ... More one of the greatest works of speculative fiction. Speculative fiction, often referred to as spec fic, is one of the most unique and exciting genres in the reading world. Speculative fiction books may take you to other worlds, reimagine certain aspects of our own world, or create new rules for a new future. They can encompass aspects of science fiction and fantasy, and many of them have romance as well. The best speculative fiction books create a world that is so well-articulated and described that readers feel as though they have been transported somewhere else, even if only one or two small elements from our own world have been changed. This list of top speculative fiction works includes novels from some of the genre's most famous authors and many that have remained popular for decades. Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre that includes any story told in a different world than the one we live in. It encompasses a broad range of subgenres, including fantasy, sci-fi and dystopian novels. Fantasy includes magical aspects, sci-fi focuses on the impact of technology, and dystopian details a bleak future. All of those are speculative fiction because they include out-of-this-world elements or imagine a time in the future. Some of the best-known speculative fiction writers include Margaret Atwood, Suzanne Collins and Douglas Adams. Speculative fiction has been popular for more than a century, but it enjoyed its 'golden age' in the 1950s amid the uncertainty of the Cold War. The books on this list were selected based on critical acclaim, awards recognition, book sales, pop culture resonance and quality of the book's writing, characters and other-world development. This dystopian novel longlisted for the Booker Prize tells the story of sick child Josie and her Artificial Friend, Klara, a solar-powered android who is purchased to keep Josie company. The book is narrated by Klara, who can sense emotions remarkably well considering she is a robot. This book is best for those who want to explore questions about artificial intelligence (AI) and consumerism. Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun is available from publisher Penguin Random House. Recently made into a popular Netflix series, The Three-Body Problem follows a Chinese physicist who tries to communicate with aliens for a super-secret military project. He succeeds by contacting the Trisolarans desperate to escape their planet, but the result is not what the government hoped for—an invasion and ensuring war. This book is best for anyone who enjoyed the series or wants to investigate technology's capacity for violence. Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem is available from publisher Tor Publishing Group. The inspiration for Blade Runner, this dystopian science fiction novel is set in a future San Francisco damaged by nuclear war. It follows bounty hunter Rick, who is tasked with finding and eliminating a half-dozen androids who escaped from the Mars colony and have been wreaking vengeance back on Earth. This book is best for Blade Runner fans or anyone who enjoys a good plot twist. Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is available from publisher Penguin Random House. When Arthur Dent's friend Ford Prefect reveals that 1. he's an alien and 2. Earth is going to be destroyed, it sets Arthur on an epic adventure across the universe to discover the meaning of life. They meet a range of wily, hilarious characters along the way as Ford is an inept but amusing guide. This book and the accompanying book series are best for anyone who likes funny novels. Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is available from Penguin Random House. The winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel follows Paul Atreides as he and his family become stewards of planet Arrakis. Though the land is a desert and largely unpopulated due to its dangerous conditions, it produces the highly desirable mind-altering drug Spice. This book is best for anyone who enjoyed the films starring Timothée Chalamet or David Lynch's earlier adaptation. Frank Herbert's Dune is available from publisher Penguin Random House. Timothee Chalamet poses for a photocall during the preview screening event for the film "Dune: Part ... More Two," based on Frank Herbet's spec fiction series. This brilliant retelling of H.G. Wells's classic The Island of Doctor Moreau offers a feminist take on colonialism. Carlota Moreau navigates her own illness and her father's financial difficulties amid an island of animal-human hybrids. The novel presents a nuanced look at religion and who deserves (or doesn't) ultimate control. This book is best for fans of the original classic and those who enjoy modern retellings of old stories. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is available from Penguin Random House. This is one of gifted novelist Ursula K. Le Guin's most revered works and the one that catapulted her to fame. In the sci fi tale, human emissary Genly Ai tries to return Winter to the shared universe in an oft-banned work that explores colonialism, politics and gender identity. This book is best for anyone who wants to dive into Le Guin's library or who wants to see a pre-2000s look at gender fluidity. Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness is available from publisher Penguin Random House. Ranked among the top five novels on the Modern Library's list of all-time greats, A Brave New World imagines a dystopian society where advances in science have led to happiness and stability for everyone—or have they? The book explores the dehumanization that occurs when chasing what most would call societal advancements. This book is best for anyone curious about the most-banned speculative fiction novels, as this frequently makes the list. Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World is available from publisher Penguin Random House. Young scientist Victor Frankenstein engineers a creature in his own image and brings him to life, with disastrous results. Mary Shelley's beloved classic questions the ethical responsibility of scientists as they pursue knowledge while also passing judgment on those whose ambitions blind them to the consequences of their actions. This book is best for anyone who has seen a Frankenstein movie or wondered about Shelley's original, career-defining work. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus is available from publisher Penguin Random House. In a future America wrecked by nuclear holocaust, each district sends a teenage 'tribute' to compete in the annual Hunger Games, where competitors kill each other until one victor remains. Katniss volunteers to go in place of her sister and unwittingly sparks a national revolution. The multi-book series is a bestseller. This book is best for anyone who loves young adult romance novels or enjoyed the popular Jennifer Lawrence movies. Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games is available from publisher Scholastic. Actors Liam Hemsworth (L) and Jennifer Lawrence (R) on the set of the film "The Hunger Games: ... More Catching Fire," based on Suzanne Collins's spec fiction series. Nothing compares to N.K. Jemisin's beautiful writing. In her Hugo Award winner, she follows three women who can manipulate the Earth around them, an ability that makes them both very powerful and very dangerous. Amid a dystopian future, the women pursue individual quests that may or may not hold the key to a better planet. This book is best for anyone who loves fantasy books. N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season is available from publisher Hachette. Climate change and social upheavals prompted by inequality and violence have turned the Earth almost unrecognizable. After Lauren, an extreme empath, is forced from her home, she creates a new religion named Earthseed to help people navigate the political corruption and bleak outlook. The book's take on racism and climate change have sparked bans. This book is best for anyone who loves dystopian books. Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is available from publisher Hachette. Often referred to as presenting the inversion of Huxley's vision in A Brave New World, 1984 presents an authoritarian society where the government uses mass surveillance and propaganda to keep citizens in line. Government worker Winston begins to question the extreme tactics as he increasingly considers the promise of free will. This book is best for anyone who has ever wondered where the expression 'Big Brother is watching' came from. George Orwell's 1984 is available from publisher Penguin Random House. This National Book Award finalist depicts a post-epidemic world where swine flu has killed off most people in the United States. A dangerous cult leader threatens an acting troupe that tours the country, and the story of their lives before and after the flu unfolds. HBO adapted the book into a popular TV series. This book is best for those who love great character development. Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven is available from publisher Penguin Random House. American writer Emily St. John Mandel, who wrote "Station Eleven," a speculative fiction novel. The overthrow of the U.S. government heralds the development of a new patriarchal, totalitarian government where women of childbearing age are in high demand and forced to mate with male leaders. After being separated from her family, Offred becomes one of these handmaids while still holding hopes of forcing a rebellion. This book is best for fans of the Emmy-winning Hulu series or anyone interested in the impact of totalitarianism. Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is available from publisher HarperCollins. Speculative fiction spans so many genres and types of writing that it provides something for every taste. Enjoy journeying to another world when you pick up one of these novels that will spark reflections on bigger issues, too. Science fiction deals only with plotlines where technology and science make a broad impact. Speculative fiction includes a much broader spectrum of plotlines, including ones involving magic or anything else that exists outside of reality. Examples of speculative fiction include dystopian novels like The Handmaid's Tale and fantasy novels like The Fifth Season, which are not science fiction. Science fiction novels include Dune and 1984. Fantasy books include magical elements. They are often inspired by folklore, mythology or fairy tales, and they may include magical people or creatures. Speculative fiction includes fantasy books but also includes sci-fi and dystopian novels, which focus on technology or post-apocalyptic times. Examples of fantasy books include The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Those are also speculative fiction books, but speculative fiction also includes the wider umbrella of sci fi novels like Dune or dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games. Margaret Atwood, who published her first novel, The Edible Woman, in 1969 and went on to publish other speculative fiction novels including The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx and Crake and The Testaments. Ursula K. Le Guin, who published her first novel, Rocannon's World, in 1966 and went on to publish other speculative fiction novels including the Earthsea series starting with A Wizard of Earthsea and Hainish Cycle starting with The Left Hand of Darkness.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Feature: Birlin's largest sci-fi bookstore praised by celebrity Chinese writer on World Book Day
BERLIN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- World Book Day is always an important event for booksellers, but an unexpected message from Liu Cixin, a well-known Chinese science fiction writer, made this year's event very special for Otherland, a niche bookstore in Berlin that specializes in fantasy literature from all over the world. The Hugo Award-winning writer, best known for his book The Three-Body Problem, paid a poetic tribute to the shop, comparing it to "a steadfast beacon, guiding every soul who yearns to draw wisdom from the boundless sea of knowledge." Simon Weinert, one of Otherland's three owners, said he was surprised and deeply moved by the message marking World Book Day. "It's really heartwarming because we met him seven years ago ... and that he still remembers, that he knows Otherland still. That's really great," he said. Liu, who visited Otherland in 2018 and gave a lecture to a packed audience, expressed his hope that the bookstore "will continue to share the charm of reading with ever more people -- through inspiring events and exceptional books -- letting the light of knowledge illuminate the distant horizons of every seeking soul." Weinert also appreciated Liu's affection for printed books. "I think that's really beautiful ... I mean, (when he writes about) the 'rustling of turning pages,' that's what we're all excited about here and our customers." Liu's message also included a statement about the significance of the occasion: "On World Book Day, we gather to embrace this grand rendezvous with books. This special day pays tribute to the millennia-old tradition of human reading and offers a heartfelt salute to the legacy of knowledge passed from generation to generation." Wolfgang Tress, co-owner of Otherland, sees reading - particularly science fiction - as a way to expand the horizons of the mind. "Our brains are constantly dealing with the future, and books we read tell us that the future is not decided but consists of an immense space of possibilities with which we can interact and create a future we want to live in," he said in a written interview. Reflecting on Liu's message, he said it warmed his "bookshop-keeper-heart." "I couldn't agree more: books are able to change lives for everyone and all of us -- understanding, creating and entertaining by engaging with our imagination," he said. Carsta, a regular customer who only gave her first name, described Otherland as her favorite bookstore and a source of inspiration because it offers a mix of old rarities and new releases. She purchased a 1965 German edition of Dune, a world-famous science fiction book. Carsta noted a shift in reading habits. While many people still use smartphones in public spaces, she observed a renewed interest in books. "A lot of people join silent reading and go to places like museum shops, where they can regain good focus," she said. Thomas Spray, an English lecturer, became involved with Otherland after initially writing book reviews for its newsletter. Later, he joined the staff part-time at Tress's invitation. "I've noticed that while there was a time when reading dropped off, the idea of reading as a hobby is making a comeback. That's great to see," he told Xinhua. According to data released by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (BDB), the number of bookstores in Germany increased from approximately 3,200 in 2015 to around 4,500 in 2025. In 2024, the German book industry reported a 0.8 percent increase in overall turnover compared to the previous year. The BDB described the sector as "a stable business in challenging economic times." Its chairwoman, Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, said that knowledge and inspiring stories are "essential tools for understanding and coping with a complex and crisis-ridden reality". "Books are still a particularly popular medium among young people," she said. According to Spray, while English-language science fiction continues to dominate the market, readers are increasingly exploring alternatives from other regions, including China. For example, many readers have discovered major works like the Three-Body Trilogy, with some even turning to fanfiction and spin-offs. "What can we read next?" is a frequent question, he said. "We're really waiting for the German and English translation industries to catch up because the interest is definitely there -- not just from typical sci-fi fans, but also from young people in general," Spray added. "They're looking for alternatives to mainstream Western sci-fi. We see the same trend with African futurism and the current Korean sci-fi wave." Otherland frequently hosts events for its community. Apart from Liu Cixin, it has welcomed other writers like Chen Qiufan, Baoshu, and Regina Kanyu Wang. Several of their works can be found on the store's shelves. Felix Meyer zu Venne, co-editor of Kapsel, a German-Chinese magazine focused on Chinese science fiction, described Otherland as the largest sci-fi bookstore in Berlin in terms of its inventory. Overall, it holds a collection of about 11,500 titles, with over one-third dedicated to science fiction in both English and German, according to Tress. He noted that while Otherland will not make the owners rich, their shop is doing well. "I think it's because of our specialization and a very strong community we have built throughout the years," Tress said.
South China Morning Post
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
China's sci-fi industry shoots for the stars as Beijing pushes ‘quality' growth
When Alida Guo first discovered Liu Cixin's groundbreaking sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem in high school, she was captivated. The plot proved so irresistible that she hid a copy behind her history textbooks, turning classes into covert missions to decode the 'Trisolaran crisis' – named after the fictional alien civilisation that threatens Earth. Advertisement 'The physics element went over my head, but the story stuck with me – it's so Chinese that it resonates, yet so visionary that it challenges how we see tomorrow. That's why sci-fi matters,' said Guo, who is now 24 years old and works at a robotics company in the southern city of Shenzhen. Like many Chinese of her generation, Guo discovered science fiction through the award-winning 2008 novel – the first in Liu Cixin's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. It became her gateway into the sci-fi world, inspiring her to explore more books, TV series and films in the popular genre. As more people chart a similar path, China's sci-fi market has blossomed into the booming industry it is today, making it a potential growth point for consumption. Advertisement The industry saw 108.96 billion yuan (US$15 billion) in revenue in 2024, a 65.4 per cent increase compared to five years earlier, according to a report released on March 29 at the annual China Science Fiction Convention in Beijing.
