Within the genre of science fiction, there exists a distinction. The label “hard science fiction” emerges within a profuse area of fantastical and futuristic literature, remaining grounded in the logistics, technology, and clearcut science that functions as it’s backbone. Literary classics such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park populate this subgenre, weaving masterful plots alongside copious amounts of legitimate scientific information.

Three Body Problem by Ken Liu also aligns itself with these literary giants, clearly presenting the focus on logistics, theory, and science that the label of “hard science fiction” requires. Liu defines his narrative, which details both the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the arrival of a futuristic alien species, through its engagement with physics, allowing aspects of theoretical and experimental physics to casually populate his novel’s pages. Such emphasis on the science-side of science fiction allows for an added complexity to be brought about within Three Body Problem, elevating the story within the novel while also enhancing its realism. But, simultaneously, it could be argued that the increasing presence of physics and hard science within the novel also functions to alienate its readership. The heavy reliance on knowledge existing beyond that of the general public seems to work against that particular audience, forcing the average reader to either skip over the intricacies of the science and thus lose out on the added detailing or abandon the book altogether. But, in aiding the understanding of the clearcut science within Liu’s novel, we propose an enhanced understanding not only of the literary techniques decided upon but also of the storyline as a whole.  

Ken Liu’s novel is built upon a nonlinear narrative, following both the perspectives of Ye Wenjie and Wang Miao, as it bounces back and forth between the past and present. Ye Wenjie’s portion of the story begins with the destruction of the world around her as a result of Cultural Revolution occurring within China in the late 1960s. Her father and favorite teacher are killed, leaving her to navigate the shambles of China’s intellectual society. Wenjie’s knowledge of physics results in her recruitment by the Red Coast, an organization using advanced technology to disrupt satellite waves. In the process, that advanced technology allows Wenjie to make contact with an alien society known as the Trisolarans, though this contact comes with a clear warning. In the present, scientist Wang Miao attempts to unravel the mysterious suicides befalling the intellectual community all while come face to face with the consequences of Wenjie’s contact with the Trisolarans. Three Body Problem weaves together complicated science and thrilling plot development, resulting in a novel that seems to break ground even within the hard science fiction subgenre. The novel has received its fair share of awards and praise as well, including positive words for former President Barack Obama, in which he says, “The scope was immense” (Kakutani). Overall, Liu presents a well-written, award-winning storyline, only further enhanced by the heavy inclusion of palpable scientific thought. 

But, despite the rich narrative benefits associated with steeping his narrative in hard science, there is also the present risk of the complications of that science distancing the novel’s audience or lessening its scope. The title itself refers to a problem within physics, dealing with the movement of celestial bodies in relation to mutual gravitation. Such a reference carries a certain level of importance as it alludes to a leading motivation of the Trisolaran race, but could be otherwise missed by an uninformed audience. Likewise, there are repeated mentions of the advanced technology and concepts used to dismantle the satellites and contact the Trisolarans that fill countless pages and could be potentially meaningless if not properly understood. Monumental scenes lack the necessary gravity they’re meant to hold when the audience’s understanding is obstructed by heavy science. For example, one scene pertaining to an experiment with billiard balls, functions as a driving point within the narrative as it outlines the deconstruction of the present world’s understanding of physics. Without the foundation of a basic understanding of how physics works, upending such a series of theories, let alone an entire field, doesn’t necessarily possess the weight it should. But in providing clear annotations of the heavy science Liu uses to drive his narrative, we can hopefully eliminate the barriers existing between the gravitational weight of the billiard scene and the audience’s digesting of the novel.  

The significant billiard scene in question falls in chapter five, otherwise titled as “A Game of Pool”. The chapter opens with Wang Miao, the aforementioned nanotechnologist investigating the suicides, confronting Ding Yi about the suicide of physicist, Yang Dong. The confrontation immediately defers into a series of experiments in which Wang Miao must repeatedly use the cue ball to knock in the black eight ball, as Ding Yi alters the location of the pool table. Afterwards, Wang Miao presents the conclusion that, regardless of the alteration of location, the other variables remain constant enough to yield the same results every time. Ding Yi then uses this conclusion to emphasis the absolute madness that would result in a deconstruction of the present laws of physics. He makes a clear reference to a short story, "The Billiard Ball” by Isaac Asimov, in which such dismantling occurs. This is then used to build up to the revelation that the anti-gravity device developed in Asimov’s short story was indeed created within the confines of the “real world”, completely disrupting all previous understandings of physics. This revelation is what has motivated the arising suicides and functions as a large turning point in the story, specifically within Wang Miao’s narrative. 

With such a monumental scene, audience understanding is necessary in order for the scene to carry its full, intended weight. And, in annotating the gravitational scene within “A Game of Pool”, we’ve attempted to provide a basis for understanding the scientific concepts laid out. Several of our annotations center around certain aspects of present laws of physics, such as references to Archimedes’ Principle and String Theory. In contrast, literary references such as the allusion to Hamlet in the final phrase of the chapter were annotated to indicate the deeper meaning established in the inclusion of that specific, famous quotation. Primarily, the most important annotation comes in the allusion to and explanation of Asimov’s short story, in which the contents of the story parallel the advancements in technology being made and the conclusions being drawn within the world of The Three Body Problem. In clarifying the reference to Asimov’s piece, we are able to not only demonstrate the weight of such a development but also reference the pre-existing consideration of this type of outcome in the physics environment. Annotating and clarifying the heavy science, especially in a monumental scene such as this one, allows for a deeper understanding Liu’s novel to be achieved, further cementing the importance and added benefit of the genre of hard science fiction overall.  

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