Liu Cixin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liu Cixin
Liu in 2017
Native name	刘慈欣
Born	(1963-06-23) 23 June 1963 (age 62) Beijing, China
Occupation	Science fiction writer computer engineer
Alma mater	North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power
Period	1989–present
Genre	Science fiction
Notable works	Remembrance of Earth's Past
Notable awards	Galaxy Award; Hugo Award

Liu Cixin (Chinese: 刘慈欣; pinyin: Liú Cíxīn, pronounced [li̯ǒu̯ tsʰɨ̌ɕín]; born 23 June 1963) is a famous Chinese computer engineer and science fiction writer. In English, his name is often written as Cixin Liu. Some of his fellow science fiction writers in China call him "Da Liu," which means "Big Liu."

He has won China's Galaxy Award nine times. He also received the 2015 Hugo Award for his novel The Three-Body Problem. In 2017, he won the Locus Award for his book Death's End. He is also a winner of the Chinese Nebula Award. Liu Cixin is a member of the China Science Writers Association. He is also the vice president of the Shanxi Writers Association.

About Liu Cixin

Liu Cixin was born on June 23, 1963, in Beijing, China. He grew up in Yangquan, Shanxi province. His parents worked in mines there. During a difficult time in China called the Cultural Revolution, he went to live in his family's old home in Luoshan County, Henan.

Liu finished his studies at the North China University of Water Conservancy and Electric Power in 1988. After graduating, he worked as a computer engineer. He worked at a power plant in Shanxi province.

Liu Cixin's Books

The Hugo Award trophy won by Liu Cixin

Liu Cixin has said that English authors George Orwell and Arthur C. Clarke greatly influenced his writing. His novel China 2185 was released in 1989. After this book, he was called the first "cyberpunk" Chinese author.

Liu's most famous work is The Three-Body Problem. It was first published in 2006. This book is the first part of a series called Remembrance of Earth's Past. An American author named Ken Liu translated the book into English in 2014. This English version won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Over 1.2 million copies of the book were sold in China before it won the award. Liu Cixin became the first author from Asia to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

The third book in The Three-Body Problem series, Death's End, was also translated by Ken Liu in 2016. Death's End was a finalist for the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It also won a 2017 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.

Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past series has been very popular. It is well-known in China and around the world. In 2012, Mo Yan, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, praised Liu Cixin's amazing originality. Liu's stories often explore big ideas. These include social fairness, new scientific discoveries, and how humans impact the environment.

Books Made into Movies and TV Shows

Many of Liu Cixin's stories have been turned into movies and TV shows.

• A TV series based on The Three-Body Problem was released in January 2023. This series was made by the Chinese video platform Tencent Video.
• A movie version of The Three-Body Problem was filmed. However, its release was delayed.
• The movie The Wandering Earth was released in China on February 5, 2019. This film was based on Liu's short story The Wandering Earth. It became the second highest-grossing film in China within two weeks.
• The science-fiction comedy film Crazy Alien was adapted from his short story The Village Teacher. This movie earned a lot of money at the box office.
• The US streaming platform Netflix announced in September 2020 that it would make an English-language series based on Liu's The Three-Body Problem trilogy. Liu Cixin worked as a consulting producer for this project. The Netflix TV show started filming in November 2021. It was released on March 21, 2024.
• The Chinese video sharing website Bilibili released a series in November 2022. This series, called Rendezvous with the Future, explores the science in Liu Cixin's stories.

Films and TV Works

Personal Life

Liu Cixin is married and has a daughter. He generally prefers not to talk about politics. He has expressed that he believes stability is very important for China.

In his books, Liu Cixin sometimes includes parts that subtly question certain actions. For example, in the English translation of The Three-Body Problem, a difficult scene was moved to the very beginning of the book. His translator, Ken Liu, suggested this change. Liu Cixin agreed, saying that was how he originally wanted it. The Netflix TV show also starts with this scene.

Awards and Recognition

Liu Cixin has won many awards for his science fiction writing.

See also

In Spanish: Liu Cixin para niños