The Dark Forest

Summary

«The Dark Forest» is the second book in the trilogy «Remembrance of Earth's Past» by Chinese author Liu Cixin. In this novel, humanity faces the threat of an invasion by the alien civilization Trisolaris, which intends to destroy Earth's civilization. The protagonist, Luo Ji, becomes one of the «wallfacers»—individuals whose thoughts are hidden from the Trisolarans and who must devise a strategy to defend Earth. Luo Ji concludes that the universe is a «dark forest,» where every civilization hides to avoid being destroyed by others. He uses this concept to create a threat against Trisolaris, forcing them to retreat. The novel explores themes of survival, morality, and the nature of cosmic civilizations.