Three-Body Problem Reading Order & Timeline

The first novel makes contact a scientific and human problem before the following books ask how a whole civilization responds. Each change in scale draws force from the earlier discoveries, so the trilogy is a poor place to begin with a later era simply because its title sounds more immediately dramatic.

Screen versions choose different ways of opening that crisis. Tencent begins close to the first novel's investigation; the animation takes later material as its starting context, and Netflix rearranges people and events for another adaptation. Choose a version for its own structure rather than using one to skip unknown parts of another.

Use the three original novels in order for the source journey. Read the companion afterward if its different author's continuation interests you. For viewing, begin the selected Tencent or Netflix route from its first release; do not assume an animated first entry replaces all the source setup it draws on.

The source group includes a separately authored companion after the trilogy. Each screen track interprets the crisis differently, with future releases and unresolved placements kept separate from established story.

• Novel Continuity (4 entries)

  Liu Cixin's original trilogy in order, followed by Baoshu's separately authored companion as an optional later perspective rather than a fourth Liu novel.

• Tencent Adaptation (3 entries)

  Tencent's Chinese live-action interpretation beginning with Three-Body, with related projects' exact placement retained only where established.

• Bilibili Animation (1 entry)

  Bilibili's animated interpretation beginning with later source material, not a universal replacement for the trilogy's first discoveries.

• Netflix Adaptation (3 entries)

  Netflix's restructured screen interpretation, followed within its own cast and season sequence rather than combined with Tencent's scenes.

Follow the source from first contact toward the later eras. A screen route should retain its own introductions and adaptations of those discoveries.

1. 1
   The Three-Body ProblemNovel · 2008
2. 2
   The Dark ForestNovel · May 2008
3. 3
   Death's EndNovel · Nov 2010
4. 4
   The Redemption of TimeNovel · 2011
5. 5
   The Three-Body ProblemSeries · 2022
6. 6
   Three-BodySeries · 2023
7. 7
   3 Body Problem: Season 1Series · 2024
8. 8
   Three-Body: Da ShiSeries · TBAUpcoming
9. 9
   Three-Body II: The Dark ForestSeries · TBAUpcoming
10. 10
    3 Body Problem: Season 2Series · 2026Upcoming
11. 11
    3 Body Problem: Season 3Series · TBAUpcoming

Common, Crisis and Deterrence eras describe large periods, with memories and long time jumps inside them. They do not synchronize every adaptation scene or settle a still-unplaced project.

1. 1
   Common Era / Crisis EraThe Three-Body ProblemNovel · 2008
2. 2
   Common EraThree-BodySeries · 2023
3. 3
   Common Era3 Body Problem: Season 1Series · 2024
4. 4
   Placement TBAThree-Body: Da ShiSeries · TBAUpcoming
5. 5
   Crisis EraThe Dark ForestNovel · May 2008
6. 6
   Crisis EraThe Three-Body ProblemSeries · 2022
7. 7
   Crisis EraThree-Body II: The Dark ForestSeries · TBAUpcoming
8. 8
   Crisis Era3 Body Problem: Season 2Series · 2026Upcoming
9. 9
   Deterrence Era and beyondDeath's EndNovel · Nov 2010
10. 10
    Future eras3 Body Problem: Season 3Series · TBAUpcoming
11. 11
    After Death's EndThe Redemption of TimeNovel · 2011

Publication preserves the trilogy's sequence before a later companion and screen interpretations. Translation and edition dates should not be mistaken for the source's original publication or fictional time.

1. 1
   The Three-Body ProblemNovel · 2008
2. 2
   The Dark ForestNovel · May 2008
3. 3
   Death's EndNovel · Nov 2010
4. 4
   The Redemption of TimeNovel · 2011
5. 5
   The Three-Body ProblemSeries · 2022
6. 6
   Three-BodySeries · 2023
7. 7
   3 Body Problem: Season 1Series · 2024
8. 8
   3 Body Problem: Season 2Series · 2026Upcoming
9. 9
   Three-Body: Da ShiSeries · TBAUpcoming
10. 10
    Three-Body II: The Dark ForestSeries · TBAUpcoming
11. 11
    3 Body Problem: Season 3Series · TBAUpcoming