Death’s End by Cixin Liu
Death’s End brings to an end this grand trilogy. The delicate equilibrium of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay fifty years after the Doomsday Battle. Due to the introduction of Trisolaran knowledge, Earth enjoys a level of wealth never before seen. It appears that the two civilizations will soon be able to coexist happily as equals without the terrifying danger of mutually assured annihilation as human science continues to advance daily and the Trisolarans adopt Earth culture. But, the tranquillity has also led to a complacent human race.
Death's End by Cixin Liu
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In this new era, Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the first decade of the twenty-first century, emerges from hibernation. Her sheer presence could shatter the delicate balance between the two worlds because she carries information about a long-forgotten program that dates back to the start of the Trisolar Crisis. Will humanity strive for the stars or perish in the womb?
The plot begins after the Trisolaris invasion fleet is made known to the public, following a prologue that is peculiar, kind of great, and strictly unnecessary, and a brief interlude with Yang Dong just before she commits suicide (the Crisis Era). Yun Tianming is a downer, a recluse, and a completely unremarkable scientist. Yet, when his life’s thread re-enters contact with Cheng Xin, his undergraduate crush, it has the potential to have a greater impact on the course of human history.
A little bit of a head fake is Yun Tianming. In addition to being the main character in Death’s End, Cheng Xin plays a much bigger role in the plot as a whole than any of the other characters from the first two volumes. At least in one respect, Cheng Xin is the series’ best protagonist. She is therefore the most enduring. Although not the best, she is the character that is the simplest to keep separate in your memory. That was my experience, at least. But, she is not Luo Ji. Luo Ji is a powerful warrior, the Trisolarans are correct. Luo Ji reappears, but Cheng Xin’s narrative takes centre stage in the book in a way that Wang Miao and Luo Ji never did.
The UN’s response to the Trisolarans goes beyond the Wallfacer project. Joining the parallel Staircase Program is Cheng Xin. The Staircase Program chooses to use nuclear pulse propulsion to convey a frozen brain light years into space as its final solution, which is a true science fantasy concept.
