This was an excellent book. I can count it among the masterpieces of modern science fiction. The story has elements similar to that of other science fiction stories, such as Nightfall and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov, Childhood's End and Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, and Anathem by Neal Stephenson. It is important to stress that this is a hard science fiction novel. Generally, hard sci-fi stories focus strongly on the premise of the story (the idea) rather than characters or plot, so approach the story with that in mind. While it is technically part of a trilogy, the story stands extremely well on it's own. Of course, I'll be paying attention for more translated works of Liu Cixin. 
 For my full review, see my blog at http://strakul.blogspot.com/2015/07/b...