The Three-Body Problem

Trisolaris is a world with 3 suns, which creates such massive climactic changes as a result of unpredictable gravitational effects ('the 3-body problem'), that civilization has a difficult time progressing through its various evolutionary stages. It eventually happens, however, and first contact is made with Earth. There are many engaging SF elements in the book, all of which work great -- nanotechnology, AI, virtual reality, quantum mechanics and extra-dimensional realities, the socio-political effects of first contact even BEFORE the aliens are engaged, etc. The way it is all balanced together makes the book memorable and award-worthy.

The characterization could improve a little, but perhaps some of this is lost in translation (literally, since is translated from Chinese). But this doesn't detract. Very much look forward to the sequels in the trilogy.