GERMAN sinologist Martina Hasse said the German version of Chinese writer Liu Cixin’s “The Three-Body Problem” would hit the market in the fall of next year, becoming the first Chinese sci-fi novel to be translated into German, according to China Daily.

    Having met Liu — author of “The Three-Body Problem”— at a dinner in Beijing last Friday, Hasse says the book’s translation project is just about to start.

    “Heyne Publishing House signed the translation contract with Liu and asked if I would like to translate ‘The Three-Body Problem.’ I said yes. So we met Friday. And I think I would start right away when I get back to Germany,” said Hasse.

    According to Hasse, she enjoyed talking to Liu and his friends a lot, and that Liu is a very easygoing and modest person.

    “Knowing that I’ve translated several of Mo Yan’s books, he joked that his works are not something profound, and they would not be as hard to translate as those by Mo. But you know with the physics and all, it won’t be easy.”

    As a sinologist who’s very into Chinese literature, Hasse has translated the works of many Chinese writers, including those of Mo and Lung Ying-tai. She said that despite never having translated any sci-fi books, she’s confident she could do it well.

    “My daughter is a physicist, my mother is a chemist and my father is an engineer. So if there is anything that I don’t understand, I can consult them. I can also phone the army for information I need.”

    Hasse said that her translated version of the book would be different from the English version, which cut some parts of the novel to cater to English readers.

    “The German version would stick to the original work, in content and in the style of language. The world he created in his books is fantastic. I mean, it has reality, but it is never reality. So I think it would be better not to change a thing about it.”

    Hasse said that Liu is currently working on a new book, and that Liu said he’s quite interested in the military. “I promised to take him to the German military museum when he comes to Germany next time; I hope I can see him soon in Germany.”

    “The Three-Body Problem” is the first book of Liu’s “Three Body” sci-fi trilogy. The English version of “The Three-Body Problem” won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.(SD-Agencies)