Advanced aliens didn't invent/discover this one basic thing.

[u/HotUKTakes]

1. The Santi, from The Three Body Problem, are masters of dimensional engineering. They can build an AI computer the size of a planet, and fold it into the size of a photon.

But they never invented the concept of lying.

1. The Asgard, from Stargate, are an advanced civilization with FTL travel capable of spanning different galaxies. But they need the help of humans to fight their enemies the replicators, a mechanical lifeform comprised of replicating lego blocks, because human guns can blow the blocks apart, while Asgard energy weapons are just absorbed.

The Asgard say the idea to use chemical reactions to launch a blunt object at high velocity never occured to them.

1. Despite having the ability to build a simulated beach, complete with simulated earth atmosphere, The Eridians didn't discover relativity and radiation.

2. The aliens from War of the worlds just lick everything, clearly having no concepts of germs. Which is what kills them in the end.

3. Despite having FTL travel, the Havesters from Independence day, never invented network security, as they are hacked by a human macbook.

[u/universe2000]

I read the first book and found it too inconsistent to read the other books. Some really, really great moments strung together with difficult pacing and characters.

[u/bctimmy → u/universe2000]

The second book is worth it, so much a better read than the first one

[u/Gobe182 → u/bctimmy]

Yet it also has the worst random plot line of any of the books. And somehow is still my favorite of the series. Insane highs but insane lows

[u/Agitated_Phone_9937 → u/universe2000]

Chinese authors are hamstrung by CCP doctrine and usually write absolutely terrible dialogue but are better able to express their talent with concepts and ideas because the censorship is less able to restrict those.

[u/Fluid-Produce808 → u/Agitated_Phone_9937]

Three body problem explicitly starts out with a scathing criticism of the revolution. The issue with the books is not censorship. Cixin liu just has a soft misogyny that makes all the female characters a bit ridiculous.

[u/Schmetterlizlak → u/Fluid-Produce808]

In the Chinese version the whole cultural revolution part was moved further into the book because the publisher thought it would be difficult to get it past the censors otherwise, so censorship has shaped the work in some way at least.

Can definitely agree that there is some misogyny in the books, which definitely extends to the way the protagonist of the third book is just along for the ride, and don't get me started on the fourth book...

[u/Agitated_Phone_9937 → u/Fluid-Produce808]

You're very out of date on current PRC policies towards the cultural revolution. VERY out of date.