Facing an incoming Trisolaran invasion fleet, the UN's Planetary Defense Council names four Wallfacers—including sociologist Luo Ji—to devise secret defense strategies hidden even from their own species, since Trisolaris's sophons can monitor all human communication but not thought; Luo Ji eventually formulates the "dark forest" theory of cosmic civilizations as a deterrent, while political commissar Zhang Beihai maneuvers within the emerging Space Force and Earth's three star fleets are wiped out when they encounter a single Trisolaran probe.
Books mentioned in The Dark Forest (3)
Foundation by Isaac Asimov: “"There's a legend that says you named your organization after these novels." The old man set the book gently to one side and smiled. "Let it stay a legend."”
Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong: “"You have a book on your bookshelf called A Story of Three Kingdoms." "Romance of the Three Kingdoms. You won't understand that." ... "Indeed, that book lays out the highest levels of human schemes and strategy."”
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess: “"You must have read A Clockwork Orange." "It's a profound book."”