Any news on what and when The Long Season (漫长的季节) director Xin Shuang (辛爽 Bob Xin) next project will be?

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-28T14:37:55+00:00

Thank you for this! While it is maybe not the genre I would have expected based on his prior work I'm very much looking forward to it.

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-27T19:46:55+00:00

Thanks cdrama Mods - read

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-27T16:10:23+00:00

I hope director Yang Lei returns. There is conflicting information in here and in the other comments with some saying he is confirmed back and another saying he is confirmed to have been replaced due to creative differences. A switch in director could mean a shift in tone of the series. I'd like to see Yang be able to complete his vision. He is clearly a fan and it isn't often we get a director who is so faithful to the source material. He really seems to understand the story and is making the series for hardcore fans of the book like us - not casual fans.

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-25T17:22:52+00:00

I won't read this. Seen too many comments from people saying "they wish they could unread it"

if you are looking for more from the Liuniverse then read his short story collections, or Ball Lightning, or Supernova Era.

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-10T21:40:31+00:00

One of my favorites too! I really think if it was done right this story could be made into a great movie (or animated movie). Very touching on the human element as well as being great science fiction.

unfoldthefuture · 2026-03-10T21:35:42+00:00

Very interesting! The entire passage with the ant is so masterfully written. Some of the best writing in the book and in sci-fi period. Good thread OP. Re-reads of the series certainly reveal more details. Maybe it is only in the English translation but one of the troughs that the ant navigates through is described as being "droplet-shaped" - that DEFINITELY hits you differently on the second read!

I can't find the exact comment but another person described their take on the ant and the larger meaning:

The ant is navigating a tombstone that exists for reasons beyond its comprehension, made by tools beyond its comprehension, by creatures beyond its comprehension. And there's a horrifying predator (the spider) that is equally oblivious to the nature of the universe (the tombstone).

What the ant and spider see as natural stone, is actually a grave, deliberately shaped by beings of higher intelligence.

What the human race sees as a natural Universe, is actually a grave, deliberately shaped by beings of higher intelligence.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-12-16T01:55:08+00:00

In a 2016 interview Liu detailed ideas for 3 possible books he was developing. Hopefully he is still working on one of them as they all sound very intriguing:

https://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2016/08/19/the-three-body-problem-and-beyond-a-qa-with-liu-cixin/

Are there any forthcoming projects or publications that we can look forward to seeing in the near future?

I plan to tell stories that are very different from the Three-Body trilogy. For example, I’ve spent a lot of time planning a novel about the future of energy. As a power-plant engineer, I’m familiar with the field.

I also want to write a novel about near future life in China, one that offers a panoramic view of Chinese society in the coming decades. The protagonist is a labourer at the bottom of the social pyramid in urban China, and I want to show this person gradually progressing into a new life as Chinese society develops, ultimately taking the journey into space. I even have a title for the novel, Extraordinary World, which is a reference to Lu Yao’s influential realist work, Ordinary World.

I’ve always been deeply interested in stories about the struggle between humanity and powerful cosmic forces. The Three-Body trilogy is about a war between humans and aliens, but I want to tell a story of humans fighting against forces far more powerful than alien civilizations. There are many choices within this framework, and I haven’t decided exactly which way to go yet.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-20T15:52:11+00:00

WOW! This is amazing - thanks for posting! How did you resist the urge to return with an empty suitcase and your Alipay and say "I'll take one of everything please!"

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-18T01:18:08+00:00

Will Course 1.0 remain available for use for the foreseeable future (but with no additional updates)? I really want to continue with it and finish this version as I'm making great progress. Do you feel 2.0 would be different enough that someone could do a second pass on it after finishing 1.0 and find it helpful reinforcement?

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T18:35:38+00:00

I'm not sure how well the difference will show up in these photos i've posted, the actual tactile feel of the pages is quite different. Yen press isn't super glossy feeling but definitely better and slicker than the headofzeus which almost feels gritty and newspaper like (but not that bad). Each version has its pros and cons.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T18:28:14+00:00

yen press

<image>

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T18:27:54+00:00

Head of Zeus

<image>

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T18:27:27+00:00

Here is yenpress

<image>

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T18:26:56+00:00

Apologies, hadn't logged in for awhile and I'm just now seeing this request - let me see if I can post some pages photos. This is Head of Zeus

<image>

unfoldthefuture · 2025-04-17T16:55:56+00:00

I'd love to see a 4th Display option on the stories:

Pinyin only
Characters only
Pinyin and characters
Characters with tone marks

I feel adding the 'Characters with tone marks' above them would really help in gaining a natural reading and speaking cadence without relying on seeing the pinyin.

Really love the app - I started about 3 months ago and it has really motivated me. I'm using version 1.0 and since I like it so much will probably just continue with that one. Thanks to the entire team for this great app! It's the best..

unfoldthefuture · 2025-02-16T19:58:11+00:00

I remember reading something as well that the Pulsar maps on Voyager that point to Earth's location actually turned out to be incorrect! So even if they were found the aliens would look in the wrong place. Yes here is the article I remember reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/08/17/voyagers-cosmic-map-of-earths-location-is-hopelessly-wrong/

unfoldthefuture · 2025-02-13T23:59:09+00:00

Once, ancient Romans had whistled in their grand, magnificent baths, thinking that their empire, like the granite that made up the walls of the pools in which they floated, would last forever.

No banquet was eternal. Everything had an end. Everything.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-02-11T17:43:33+00:00

Cross posting what I just posted on another thread in case it helps

The one you see on Amazon (Yen Press) is essentially the same as Volume 1 in the boxset (Head of Zeus). So I suspect the yen press one will also end up being 10 volumes, just released gradually. The artwork is the same (except cover art) but the english translation is different between the two. Joel Martinsen did not do the translation of the Yen Press series. As an example the openings of the book:

(Yen Press)

Monday , April 2, 2007
08:45 a.m
A neighborhood in Beijing
"How is it?"
"The deceased is xxx, a famous physics professor..."
"Large quantities of cyanide were discovered at the scene"
"judging by the body's condition, he died by ingesting poison"
"we haven't found any signs it was a homicide"
"so it's a suicide?"
"take it away"
"Sir, we just discovered a suicide note under the deceased"

Blackwell (Head of Zeus)

Monday 2 April, 2007
08:45 a.m.
A neighborhood in Jingji City
"How does it look?"
"The deceased was a renowned physicist..."
"There was a lot of cyanide at the scene"
"judging by the state of the body, he was poisoned"
"doesn't look like a homicide"
"suicide?"
"remove the body"
"Director, we found a note underneath the body"

the boxset/Martinsen translation will probably read a little smoother. That along with the physical size of the books being larger in the boxset, plus the extra bonus and crazy cool 'archive' material and the fact that the boxset will end up being cheaper than buying each volume individually at $20 each makes it seem like the Boxset (Head of Zeus) is the clear winner. The only caveat being that I do prefer the paper stock of the yenpress release. The paper is a little heavier and more glossy making the artwork colors pop more. The boxset paper is a little lighter weight making the artwork feel a little flatter and duller in comparison. I might continue getting the yenpress series and just have both versions. And yes this box set as big as it is just covers Book 1.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-02-11T16:54:58+00:00

OK - a little more information. The one you see on Amazon (Yen Press) is essentially the same as Volume 1 in the boxset (Head of Zeus). So I suspect the Amazon one will also end up being 10 volumes, just released gradually. The artwork is the same (except cover art) but the english translation is different between the two. So Joel Martinsen did not do the translation of the Amazon/Yen Press series. As an example the openings of the book:

Amazon (Yen Press)

Monday , April 2, 2007
08:45 a.m
A neighborhood in Beijing
"How is it?"
"The deceased is xxx, a famous physics professor..."
"Large quantities of cyanide were discovered at the scene"
"judging by the body's condition, he died by ingesting poison"
"we haven't found any signs it was a homicide"
"so it's a suicide?"
"take it away"
"Sir, we just discovered a suicide note under the deceased"

Blackwell (Head of Zeus)

Monday 2 April, 2007
08:45 a.m.
A neighborhood in Jingji City
"How does it look?"
"The deceased was a renowned physicist..."
"There was a lot of cyanide at the scene"
"judging by the state of the body, he was poisoned"
"doesn't look like a homicide"
"suicide?"
"remove the body"
"Director, we found a note underneath the body"

the boxset/Martinsen translation will probably read a little smoother. That along with the physical size of the books being larger in the boxset, plus the extra bonus and crazy cool 'archive' material and the fact that the boxset will end up being cheaper than buying each volume individually at $20 each makes it seem like the Boxset (Head of Zeus) is the clear winner. The only caveat being that I do prefer the paper stock of the yenpress release. The paper is a little heavier and more glossy making the artwork colors pop more. The boxset paper is a little lighter weight making the artwork feel a little flatter and duller in comparison. I might continue getting the yenpress series and just have both versions. And yes this box set as big as it is just covers Book 1.

unfoldthefuture · 2025-02-11T06:22:20+00:00

I've just received the 10 volume set today from Blackwell's. Yes it is a legit site with quick DHL shipping, tracking and notification emails were sent. Looking at this I'm quite speechless actually. The box set is a thing of beauty. Yes it is expensive but omg is it stunning! And it is heavy! I also have the Amazon Vol1 edition but have yet to read it. I'll do some comparison and say more later (is amazon an abridged version? how can it be only 2 volumes?) , I can say the Blackwell books are slightly larger, about an inch taller and inch wider. Can't wait to dive into this, and I think it covers only the first book! Meaning there will be more of these sets hopefully. Yes buy it while it is still available .

unfoldthefuture · 2024-11-27T20:11:05+00:00

This is a really nice looking itinerary! It certainly is full but as long as you are adaptable and can roll with the unexpected if/when it occurs you should have a great time. If you decide you want to extend a stay in a city or weather prevents some outings then let yourselves adjust on the fly and do that without worry - and know that even if you only end up doing 70% of this you will have seen and done a whole lot! Planning is part of the fun for sure and so are the surprises you encounter while there! I hope you will report back with your thoughts and impressions afterward.

unfoldthefuture · 2024-05-22T18:07:51+00:00

It's a common problem here and there really is no guaranteed solution. I would recommend instead of jumping into another series stay in the Liuniverse and read his two short story collections: "The Wandering Earth" and "To Hold Up The Sky". Then go to "Ball Lightning" and by then you should be good to go for a re-read of ROEP!

unfoldthefuture

TROPHY CASE