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This trilogy is the first one that I read that is on the same level, or even better, than Asimov's novels. Concepts and ideas here are much bigger, but there a

This trilogy is the first one that I read that is on the same level, or even better, than Asimov's novels. Concepts and ideas here are much bigger, but there are so many cramped into every book that sometimes it feels like a Rick & Morty show. And I like that the point of technology is that no matter how advanced you are, there is always a bigger fish.

chii 4y ago
The only real "flaw" is that the dark forest theory hinges on the inability to communicate at superluminal speeds, and yet the novel has superluminal communication (siphons). But if you ignore all that, it is a brilliant piece of SF.
- vincelt 4y ago
  How would the ability to communicate at superluminal speeds invalidate it? Isn't the civilization who can achieve that even more dangerous?
  - thehm 4y ago
    The Dark Forest problem posits that in the time required to send a message to a distant civilisation, the sender could just as easily send something that would destroy the distant civilisation. Further, that it is not possible to know without communication whether a distant civilisation would have peaceful or belligerant intent. Therefore, any civilisation that knows the existence of another should pre-emptively destroy the other rather than risk waiting to find out if it is peaceful If FTL communication is possible, it could be possible to establish the other civilisations intent before they could send anything destructive. As for the Sophon's it might be that they require a compatible recipient to work and so first require matter to be sent to the distant location. It's a long time since I read the Three Body books, but I seem to remember them being based on quantum-entangled particles, which would fit with this.
    - aortega 4y ago
      You need to physically send a Sophon for it to enable FTL, so the first message is not faster than light. Near the end I think future civilizations communicate via dimensional membranes or some magic-technology like that, but it doesn't reveals your position either.
- neodymiumphish 4y ago
  It still takes two civilizations the lightspeed time to establish superluminal comms, during which many things can change.
- sylens 4y ago
  It only took the sophons 4 years to reach Earth, but there are many civilizations that are hundreds of light years apart. More than enough time to start the chain of suspicion

chii 4y ago

The only real "flaw" is that the dark forest theory hinges on the inability to communicate at superluminal speeds, and yet the novel has superluminal communication (siphons). But if you ignore all that, it is a brilliant piece of SF.

vincelt 4y ago
How would the ability to communicate at superluminal speeds invalidate it? Isn't the civilization who can achieve that even more dangerous?
- thehm 4y ago
  The Dark Forest problem posits that in the time required to send a message to a distant civilisation, the sender could just as easily send something that would destroy the distant civilisation. Further, that it is not possible to know without communication whether a distant civilisation would have peaceful or belligerant intent. Therefore, any civilisation that knows the existence of another should pre-emptively destroy the other rather than risk waiting to find out if it is peaceful If FTL communication is possible, it could be possible to establish the other civilisations intent before they could send anything destructive. As for the Sophon's it might be that they require a compatible recipient to work and so first require matter to be sent to the distant location. It's a long time since I read the Three Body books, but I seem to remember them being based on quantum-entangled particles, which would fit with this.
  - aortega 4y ago
    You need to physically send a Sophon for it to enable FTL, so the first message is not faster than light. Near the end I think future civilizations communicate via dimensional membranes or some magic-technology like that, but it doesn't reveals your position either.
neodymiumphish 4y ago
It still takes two civilizations the lightspeed time to establish superluminal comms, during which many things can change.
sylens 4y ago
It only took the sophons 4 years to reach Earth, but there are many civilizations that are hundreds of light years apart. More than enough time to start the chain of suspicion