The Three-Body Problem Term Analysis

Trisolaris

Trisolaris, aptly named for having three suns, is a planet located four light-years away from Earth. Because each of the planet’s suns has its own gravity, their different gravitational forces repel and attract each other… read analysis of Trisolaris

Stable Era

Every so often, only one sun lies within the orbit of Trisolaris. When this is the case, Trisolarans are treated to rare moments of peace and regularity known as Stable Eras. During Stable Eras… read analysis of Stable Era

Chaotic Era

Whenever Trisolaris is not in a Stable Era, it is plunged into another Chaotic Era. Some Chaotic Eras are incredibly cold, because none of the three suns is close enough to Trisolaris to provide… read analysis of Chaotic Era

Tri-solar Syzygy

A tri-solar syzygy is an extremely rare event in which all three of Trisolaris’s suns line up with the planet itself. Because of the extreme heat emanating from the three suns, Trisolaris is immediately… read analysis of Tri-solar Syzygy

The Great Rip

The “great rip” is the term Trisolarans use to describe the traumatic destruction of their planet, which occurred during Trisolaris’s Civilization Number 191. During this civilization’s existence, the Trisolaran suns crashed into the planet, ripping… read analysis of The Great Rip

Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO)

The Earth-Trisolaris Organization (abbreviated as the ETO) is a group led by astrophysicist Ye Wenjie and founded by wealthy American Mike Evans. Members of the ETO believe that humanity is fundamentally broken and incapable… read analysis of Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO)

Adventists

The Adventists believe that humanity is so corrupt and evil that it deserves to be completely destroyed by the Trisolaran invaders. Mike Evans is the leader of the Adventist faction—in fact, his entire purpose of… read analysis of Adventists

Redemptionists

Unlike the Adventists, Redemptionists believe that humanity can be improved—but that in order to do so, humans need to learn from the superior Trisolaran civilization. To the Redemptionists, the creatures of Trisolaris are a… read analysis of Redemptionists

Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution, which lasted from 1966–1976, was a period in Chinese history when Communist leader Mao Zedong launched a series of “purges” to preserve his power. Many of these purges targeted academics, like the… read analysis of Cultural Revolution

Frontiers of Science

The Frontiers of Science is a mysterious global organization that brings together high-level scientists, many of whom focus on abstract theory. As physicist Ding Yi explains, the group tries to examine the limits of science… read analysis of Frontiers of Science

V-suit

A V-suit is a virtual reality suit that gamers use when playing games like Three-Body. The V-suit allows gamers to feel game temperatures as if they are really experiencing them, an especially important feature for… read analysis of V-suit

Pan-Species Communism

Pan-Species Communism is a new belief system invented by wealthy heir Mike Evans. After seeing the havoc wreaked on sea birds during an oil spill, Evans argued that the idea of universal human rights… read analysis of Pan-Species Communism

Operation Guzheng

Operation Guzheng is the name given to the multi-government plan to intercept the mysterious Trisolaran messages, located on the ship Judgment Day. The plan, which is masterminded by policeman Shi Qiang and American Colonel… read analysis of Operation Guzheng

Sophon

A sophon is a super-computer contained in a proton (hence the name, which combines the word proton with the word “sophia,” the Latin word for wisdom). After a complex process of trial and error, the… read analysis of Sophon