📅 2018: Liu Cixin Wins Clarke Award

In November 2018, Liu Cixin was awarded the Arthur C. Clarke Award — one of the highest honors in science fiction.

About the Clarke Award

Named after Arthur C. Clarke, author of "2001: A Space Odyssey," the Clarke Award recognizes individuals or teams who have made outstanding contributions to science fiction. Liu Cixin is the first Chinese writer to receive this award.

Acceptance Speech (Excerpts)

> "Imagination is more important than knowledge, because it can transcend the limits of time and space."

> "The meaning of science fiction is not only to predict the future, but to broaden human vision through imagination. When we look up at the stars, we are already stepping into the future."

Liu Cixin and Clarke

Liu Cixin has said in multiple interviews that the sci-fi writer who influenced him most was Arthur C. Clarke. When he read "2001: A Space Odyssey" in his youth, he was profoundly shaken by its grand cosmic scale. In a sense, his writing of Three-Body is a tribute to Clarke.

Two Awards, Two Dimensions

- Hugo Award (2015): Reader vote — recognition from the market and readers

- Clarke Award (2018): Expert jury — recognition from the sci-fi establishment

Together, they cemented Liu Cixin's殿堂地位 in global science fiction.