Beyond Three-Body: Liu Cixin's Sci-Fi Universe

#### 1. 《球状闪电》| Ball Lightning

#### 2. 《流浪地球》| The Wandering Earth

#### 3. 《超新星纪元》| Supernova Era

#### 4. 《赡养人类》| The Support of Humans

#### 5. 《乡村教师》| The Village Teacher

阅读顺序建议 | Reading Order

| 1 | 《流浪地球》短篇集 The Wandering Earth | ★☆☆ |

| 2 | 《球状闪电》 Ball Lightning | ★★☆ |

| 3 | 《三体》三部曲 Three-Body Trilogy | ★★★ |

| 4 | 《超新星纪元》 Supernova Era | ★★☆ |

English Summary: Why International Fans Should Read These

Ball Lightning — The "hidden prequel" to Three-Body. Introduces macro-atoms and quantum mechanics in a fast-paced thriller format. The lead female character becomes a key figure in the Deterrence Era of Three-Body.

The Wandering Earth — The short story collection that spawned China's first blockbuster sci-fi film. Each story is a gem of hard sci-fi with Liu's signature cosmic scale. *The Village Teacher* alone is worth the price of admission.

Supernova Era — A chilling thought experiment: what happens when all adults on Earth die, and children must rebuild civilization? Part social science experiment, part survival story, all Liu Cixin.

The Support of Humans — A razor-sharp critique of wealth inequality disguised as a first-contact story. The concept of the "final owner" will haunt you.

Why this matters for international readers: These works offer a window into Chinese sci-fi beyond Three-Body. They reveal the full scope of Liu Cixin's imagination — from quantum romance to social dystopia, from cosmic courts to dying classrooms. Each one is a piece of the puzzle that is modern Chinese science fiction.