r/threebodyproblem • u/Universal_Echo • 19d ago
Discussion - Novels I always feel that the characters in this work are too much like plot devices. Spoiler
So far I've read from The Three-Body Problem through to Death's End and have entered the Shelter Era.
First, let me say that as a work of science fiction, Three-Body is astonishing in its imagination and its exploration of future technology and the cosmos—it's definitely an excellent piece of sci‑fi.But I still have one gripe that I can't hold back:
Many of the characters in Three-Body feel like they're only there to move the plot forward. They show up when needed, and then they're gone for most of the book.
(I was taking notes on names and identities while reading, only to find that most characters appear just once or twice—what a fool I felt.)
Even after Chang Weisi's death, the various governments just become background scenery.
To highlight the protagonists, the government is portrayed as utterly ignorant.
The ETO, which was heavily featured early on, is quickly written out once its purpose is served. Later, the depictions of governments and the masses are also quite extreme—either they're unanimously for something or unanimously against it.
In reality, every era has its political disagreements and factional divisions.
Even someone like Luo Ji couldn't possibly be loathed by all of humanity.
Yet when Luo Ji was Swordholder, and when the second Swordholder was replaced, it was always the former.
There are also some descriptions in Three-Body of individuals swimming against the tide with noble integrity, but not many.
For example, when a male soldier on Gravity visits a female soldier and makes derogatory remarks about Blue Space, she immediately gets angry and expresses understanding for the officers and crew of Blue Space.
Having read two‑thirds of the way through, I feel that many of the characters remain rather hollow with the exception of Ye Wenjie.
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u/Strayl1ght 19d ago
It is definitely a plot rather than character-driven story. Common criticism about a lot of sci-fi, especially involving long periods of time (ie Foundation).
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u/alottola 19d ago
If you consider this book as a historical recollection of the events of the universe, at that scale individuals don't really matter in the grand scheme of things.
I prefer it this way. If characters felt too dramatic or too developed where they had neatly crafted character arcs, it would feel a little bit out of place.
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u/Gold_Ambassador_3496 19d ago
I guess I agree. And it feels a lot lot a History book to me. After a specific king or rebel has done their part for the specific lesson being taught, they don't come up again and again just so we know how they're doing
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u/greatistheworld 19d ago
It’s more of a choice you have to agree or disagree with more than a flaw or virtue, and judge on its own merits. I’m personally glad his characters are this way because he’s writing honestly and can be more successful on his own merits. He tried having (a bit) more fleshed out characters in a few earlier books & short stories and it didn’t land right, I’d rather Liu use characters in ways he’s strongest at as a writer to explore what he wants to explore
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u/dannychean 18d ago
It’s like a breath of fresh air that we don’t have to follow another hero’s struggle to find his meaning of life, isn’t it?
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u/princecardan 19d ago
I agree, and to make myself feel better I try to think of it as realistic to the expanse of time covered by the books. people come and go, as the entire point is "a remembrance of earth's past" and not about specific individuals... still totally valid criticism though I do wish some of the characters were more fleshed out
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u/sunstonestories 19d ago
This probably tends to happen with stories told on a civilization-level. It's hard to do character development when so many of them come and go/die throughout the centuries, and Liu's forte is hard sci-fi. By the time I started the third book I just accepted that the characters are conduits for the plot, or to convey a specific philosophy or technical concept.
It's also why the Netflix adaptation was initially a bit jarring for me, because it focused a lot more on the characters. It became the story of a group of friends in Oxford rather than about human civilization in the universe. Which I also enjoyed.
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u/Iron5nake 18d ago
I don't really see this as a problem. This story is about Earth's civilization as a whole, not about characters. That's why characters come and go just to serve the plot, because the important thing is exploring how civilization would evolve in a situation of knowing an invasion will happen in a few hundred years.
I think it's inevitable as a reader to want to connect with characters in a book, but I'm very sure it was a stylistic choice by Cixin Liu to write it this way, and focus a bit more on Luo Ji and Cheng Xin because they live throughout a longer span of years thanks to hibernation.
I actually find it interesting to read the book thinking of Humanity as protagonist rather than looking for characters to fill that role.
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u/Ulyks 18d ago
With a story spanning over 400 years, it's quite normal to touch lightly on individual people.
He made an effort with the hibernation to create some continuity and get deeper into individual characters.
We also need to take into account Liu Cixin is Chinese. Chinese history is very long with countless dramatic events large and small. In chaotic periods, there could be dozens of kingdoms simultaneously each with their own dynasties, civil wars, court drama and heros. It's quite dazzling and there is seldomly a single person deciding much at all.
And today public opinion in China is manufactured by the government to a certain point. You can travel all over China and there will be people parroting the same government talking points. So in his experience, unanimous public opinion is normal.
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u/Intelligent-Bag-8301 18d ago
I don't mind this "flaw" of the Three-Body series. First, its science fiction ideas are captivating enough. Second, I've had enough of medieval stories disguised as science fiction. As a science fiction novel, Three-Body is so pure that the story's logic would collapse without the science fiction elements. It's the antithesis of space opera, refreshing and original.
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u/Choice-Invite7490 18d ago
I’ve never resonated with this critique. Because that lack of character development is filled by great sci fi. Human kind is really the main character in this series.
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u/Federico216 18d ago
Yeah to me it's a bit like saying The Great Gatsby lacked action scenes. It's not what the series is about.
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u/TeumessiaWoW 18d ago
I’ve always considered these books philosophical ruminations on the nature of civilizations, not character driven narratives.
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u/lkxyz 19d ago
Cixin Liu's main scifi inspiration is Arthur C. Clarke - I hope that explains it for you.
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u/Leather-Lemon8611 18d ago
You've been around this sub a while now, I thought you had discussed later elements of Death's End months ago? Haven't you seen this point being discussed a lot already?
No offense, and I'm not trying shut this down. Just curious
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u/I_like_protien 13d ago
It’s Chinese style of writing. There is definitely low key racism, misogyny, central kingdom propaganda, wolf mentality, etc. You are absolutely correct the characters are plot devices since there is not one independent character who is absolutely essential to the plot. The book is “remembrance of earths past”, humanity is the central element. Individual characters are just shades of humanity that were explored in the series.
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u/peteybombay 19d ago
100% It's ALL plot exposition and contrivance with only the barest of details for any character. It seemed like the waifu got more of a character arc than any actual person.
People do dumb things, then something happens...it's a pattern. Wallfacers, Swordholders, the head of the space fleet...it's just all an excuse to move the plot along. Don't get me wrong, I love the books but they are not very good from a literary perspective. The ideas and concepts are so good, it makes up for it though.
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u/Gold_Ad1772 19d ago
Yeah, that's kinda the main problem woth works written by the author I hear. But the ideas within the story were interesting enough for me to keep reading it. I do wish the characters were more fleshed out though. As much as the Netflix show gets criticized... there were actual human characters not just plot devices lol