Humanity's Final Warning: Tianming's Fairytales | Three Body Problem

The long shot hope of the Staircase Project was that by sending Yun Tianming to the Trisolarans, he might somehow obtain critical information about the Trisolarans' society, their weaknesses, or their invasion strategy. Even though Tianming was effectively being sent into enemy territory, the hope was that, as a captured and potentially revived human, he could gather intelligence that would help Earth prepare a better defense or devise a counter-strategy.
The Staircase Project was a high-risk, last-ditch attempt to do something, anything, that might offer a glimmer of hope for survival. Even if the project didn’t directly lead to a solution, it was at least an attempt to send a message to the universe that humanity wouldn’t give up without trying every possible avenue.

Ultimately the Staircase project does not go as planned. The launched brain falls off course. For Centuries the Staircase Project was thought to be a failure. Until year 7 of the Broadcast Era, a dark time for humankind. In the era Human had been exposed to the wider universe, The world of Trisolaris had already been annihilated, Earth was next. This was of course due to the Dark Forest State of the universe, which rendered the cosmos a hostile place to all intelligent life which revealed itself. Here we learn that at some point the Trisolarans had in fact intercepted the Staircase Project, they found Tianming’s Brain, and rebuilt his body. They had been studying him, learning from him. It was because of his brain that they had been able to pull off the devastating droplet attack, which destroyed the entirety of mankind’s space force.

He was also responsible for the boom in art and stories from Trisolaris, much of this had helped to humanize the Trisolarans in the eyes of humankind during the Deterrence Era. Due to Tianming the Trisolarans were able to utilize deception. As the hour grows late for Earth and our Solar system, the Trisolarans out of respect for Tianming allow him to communicate with Cheng Xin. But the communication will be monitored by the Trisolarans. Tianming will not be allowed to tell her anything that could potentially help humanity. The Trisolarans still viewed humankind as a threat and would rather they did not survive. Tianming however still feels resigned to help humankind, and the woman he has always loved from afar, Cheng Xin. In the form of fairytales Tianming would attempt to convey to humanity the secret’s for surviving in the universe, within the Dark Forest. Tianming tells three fairy tales and Cheng Xins listens very carefully, The New Royal Painter, The Glutton’s Sea, and Prince Deep Water.

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[QuinnsIdeas]

You're not losing your mind, Yes this is a re-upload from yesterday morning! The original video was the WRONG version!

[dancarey]

I am commenting to boost Quinn's channel, because I really like all his content. It is awesome, and I wish I was as half as eloquent as him.

[stephensteele]

You have single-handedly inspired my love of science fiction literature, from dune to Hyperion 3 body problem, foundation and so so many more I was never a big reader until I stumbled across your channel and started reading books to avoid spoilers from your videos lol

[ΝικόλαςΚοκοζίδης]

Having just finished reading the book series, I should give my opinion on the fairytales. I think that they are one of the best parts in the book, not only because they are a book inside another book, but also due to their metaphors. When I was reading the stories, I theorized about the possible meanings and symbolisms that were hidden in the lines. Eventually, the true meaning unraveled and it turns out that I was pretty close to it.

On a different topic, I think that Quinn didn't mention the fact that princess Teardrop was also bemused and intrigued by the outer world, which played a big role in her decision to explore it. I think that Tianming was also trying to encourage humanity to leave the solar system and explore the universe by saying this.

[blackcrow]

I believe the metaphor of Needle Eye being trapped in his own painting is showcased by the interaction between Singer and the Elder, and the ultimate effect of the dual-vector foil. We find out later that space will keep flattening to two-dimensions forever once it is used, and the weapon will inevitably catch up to the species which deploys it.

[Griffolion]

I think Needle Eye becoming a part of his own painting represents the fact that dimensional collapse attacks will eventually consume the entire universe. As such, use of those weapons will one day come back to bite the wielder.

[holyroads]

The fairy tales are my favorite part about the books. Thank you for making a video about them!

[buseyisgod]

That the dual-vector foil metaphor was probably the most obvious and was yet overlooked is just fantastic writing.

[hollismallory]

Quinn, I bought the Three Body Problem today due in large part to your multiple reviews… I’m 100 pages in and am happy to report that learning everything in advance did not spoil the story… to me, it makes it better, a more cohesive read for some reason. Maybe it’s the translation from Chinese to my native English, but I really appreciate Cixin Liu’s lively, almost plucky writing style. There is a certain invigorating and pleasing rhythm to the brisk pace of the story that keeps you reading.

[joef]

Your channel is one of the few things i enjoy in life. Keep it up.

[TheJanda]

You always surprise me with the direction of your channel. One of the few channels that I consider top quality.

[arthurjones]

Long time watcher! Love the videos man

[platinumpig]

Thanks for your interpretation of Tianming's fairy tales.

[narlzac]

Quinn, your Dune videos brought me to your channel and introduced me to Three Body Problem. I loved the trilogy. Thanks for making such high quality videos.

[shanesullivan]

Spoiler Warning: I ain't no big-city literary analyst, but I kind of figured the Princess leaving the kingdom had something to do with having to abandon pocket-universes in order to allow the universe to be reborn. But I don't know if Tianming and the Trisolarans even knew about that at the time.

[tannerbarnes]

Liu really writes great fairy tales, too! Even if you ignore all the symbolism, they're very nice stories!

[thegeeeeeeeeee]

I’ve read 50 scifi books this year… I finally got back into reading as a 30 year old. I can say that this book trilogy is up there with the classics and are serious contenders for my favorite books I read this year.

I didn’t think a modern writer would come out on top of all the greats I read this year. Such a hard decision for best scifi book haha

[Ronnie_R]

I remember that the first time I read the fairytales, I found them boring and wanted them to end so badly and keep going with the main story. Wasn't really getting the point of them. Then, when the thin foil attack started and everything happened, it all clicked and made sense. Brilliant!

[valeria-cyzp]

Great video as always, I love the dissection of this book, it just has so many interesting layers to it. I find it funny how in the show we see how the Trisolaris become afraid of us once they learn through the stories we told them how deceitful we can be and how they are a mirror into what makes us human, and yet they allow Tianming to tell those stories not thinking there could be something hidden in them. Either they were too cocky, thinking to themselves that we are doomed either way and makes no difference, or they just did not care xD This book became a all time, top 5 favorite! Thank you for making these fun videos!

[hypequeen]

I really love your channel. You reignited my love of dune from when I was a teen.