This is the second book in the Three Body Problem trilogy and has quite a different feel. The first book deals with first contact with aliens in the ‘real world’ as we know it. In this book, set after the first, humanity knows that very advanced aliens bent on their destruction are heading towards Earth and will arrive in about 400 years. The aliens have sent super fast sort of nano particle robot things to both sabotage science experiments to halt human technological development, and to eavesdrop on all conversations so they know what humans are planning. This is quite a bleak situation and different responses are discussed about how humanity could possibly either hide from, escape from or successfully fight off (or even negotiate with) the aliens.
Again this is a very intelligent book and all the scenarios are thought out with sound scientific and philosophical arguments. It’s quite depressing though.
The Dark Forest theory of the title is basically that the universe is like a dark forest full of dangerous creatures and the only way to survive them is by hiding and as soon as the creatures (ie any intelligent life in the universe) knows where you are, you are doomed. Not as jolly as Star Trek’s view of the universe!
Sarah Wray Writer 