.jpg) 2005 Chinese edition | |
| Author | Liu Cixin |
|---|---|
| Original title | 球状闪电 Qiúzhuàng Shǎndiàn |
| Translator | Joel Martinsen |
| Language | Chinese |
| Genre | Hard science fiction |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Publication place | China |
Published in English | 2018 |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-0765394071 |
Ball Lightning (Chinese:球状闪电) is ahard science fiction novel by Chinese authorLiu Cixin, also considered a prequel toThe Three-Body Problem. The originalChinese language version was published in 2004. In 2018 theEnglish language version, translated by Joel Martinsen, was published in the US byTor Books.[1]
The novel is set in late 20th and early 21st century China. As a teenager, Chen witnesses his parents be killed byball lightning. Traumatized but intrigued, he dedicates his life to studying this phenomenon. After training as anatmospheric physicist, he joins amilitary technology research team alongsidePLAmajor Lin Yun, who aims to develop a ball lightning weapon.
With the help of theoretical physicist Ding Yi, they discover that ball lightning is not a manifestation oflightning. Rather, it is theexcited state of a novel macroscopic-sizedfundamental particle termed "macro-electron" which, in itsground state, is ubiquitous but near-invisible. After excitation by a high energy source such as a lightning strike, a macro-electron may then release its energy with destructive results, but only against materials that are specific to each macro-electron.
The team successfully captures macro-electrons and creates a weapon that can destroy targeted materials: wood, biological tissue or even microprocessors. The weapon is first deployed againsteco-terrorists at a nuclear power plant; excitedanti-personnel macro-electrons kill the terrorists and their child hostages, while leaving the plant undamaged. Disillusioned by the lethal application of his work, Chen resigns and returns to civilian research.
After Chen's departure, war erupts between China and its enemies[note 1]. An attempted ball lightning strike is neutralised by the enemy's countermeasures. Incentivized to develop novel weapons, the ball lightning team also discovers and captures "macro-atomic nuclei", creating the possibility of "macro-fusion," which could release huge amounts of material-selective destructive energy. Fearing the consequences of such technology, the Chinese military terminates macro-fusion research, but Lin Yun defies orders and initiates a test at the cost of her life. The resulting reaction destroys microprocessors across a vast swathe of China, crippling its defence capability. However, China's enemies recognize the potential for macro-fusion to be used formutual assured destruction, so they sue for peace.
Ding Yi explains to Chen that those "killed" by macro-electrons and macro-fusion instead exist in a quantum state that can occasionally influence the world paranormally. In this manner, an apparition of Lin Yun, who now exists as a quantum entity, converses with her father before vanishing. She later delivers an invisible rose to Chen. A photograph in Ding Yi's apartment displays Lin Yun's new existence among the "dead" child hostages and the animals sacrificed during ball lightning testing.
An American researcher visits Chen, and describes how they had observed several trials where macro-electrons behaved as thoughobservers were present, despite strict no-observer experimental conditions. They hypothesize the existence ofextraterrestrial observers.
There were plans to release a film based on the book.[2]
A TV series directed by Dai Mo was filmed in 2022 and is planned to be released on theiQIYI platform.[3]
Ball Lightning has been regarded as the book with the most complete story line and closest to real life in Liu's science fiction universe.[4]
Critics have called the book, "an important—and timely—meditation on science, weapons development, and the ways in which people confront trauma."[5]
One summer night in 1981, Liu Cixin first saw "ball lightning" during a thunderstorm at the south end of Zhonghua Road inHandan City. This natural phenomenon not only shocked his visual senses but also ignited his enthusiasm for exploring the unknown world, which became the inspiration for the bookBall Lightning.[6]
Due to a misdiagnosis, the author thought he was suffering fromliver cancer at the time he was writing the novel, but instead of making a statement, he did his best to finish writing the novel before he believed he was going to die. As such, the novel is a personal outpouring and reflection of Liu's feelings.[7]
