The Dark Forest

Shi Qiang is one of the primary characters of the novel and acts as a sidekick and bodyguard to Luo Ji. He works to protect Luo Ji in both the early days of the conflict and in the future, after both awake from their respective hibernations. Shi Qiang is fiercely loyal and protective of Luo Ji. At first out of a sense of duty and then as a friend and colleague after they awaken in the future. In the early days of the Wallfacer Project, as Luo Ji wastes resources and others question his motives, Shi Qiang defends him staunchly. He doesn’t question Luo Ji and does everything in his power to be his loyal supporter, occasionally enabling him in immoral decisions, such as finding the fantasy girl.

Shi Qiang is Luo Ji’s main protector throughout the novel, but it is not until after they wake from hibernation that he must use his skills consistently. Shi Qiang proves himself repeatedly in this capacity, adopting a bodyguard role in the narrative. Shi Qiang remains a constant in Luo Ji’s life, being a static character whose unwavering loyalty to him makes his survival possible. Shi Qiang is not always obligated to protect Luo Ji, but he does so anyway, showing his consistent loyalty at every turn. He is a key member of the narrative whose calm support and physical skill helps the protagonist reach his goal of saving humanity.

Alongside the Trisolarans and the Wallbreakers, Zhang Beihai is the closest to a single antagonist in The Dark Forest. His views and actions are not inherently evil, but he works against the decided goal of the various international governments of the future. He begins the book as a staunch triumphalist. Zhang Beihai consistently asserts that the military must retain an undying faith that they will triumph, and that this is the only way that they will defeat Trisolaris. And yet, his motives are never made clear, and he even takes subversive action, killing three scientists in order to change the trajectory of scientific research related to space travel. He frequently references his father and the plans that they made but they do not become apparent until the latter half of the novel, where in the future, Zhang Beihai commits treason.

After being known and trusted as a triumphalist, Zhang Beihai reveals himself to be a committed Escapist, hijacking Natural Selection to preserve some part of humanity from its coming extinction.

Zhang Beihai’s role is to posit alternative theories of survival which help the novel to present the conflict of ideas. The revelation of his true beliefs provides a plot twist and also allows his character to be used to represent the opposite ideology from before: that this antagonist expresses both sides fanatically is important to the novel’s positive presentation of the moderate, middle way. Zhang Beihai insists that humanity’s preparations to fight the Trisolarans are meaningless and that the only way forward is to preserve humanity elsewhere in the universe. He reveals that he always held this belief and even killed those scientists to ensure that space travel technology developed in a way to support deep-space travel. He rebels against the established strategy, following what he believes to be best for humanity, and though he succeeds in escaping, he is killed in the Battle of Darkness as the ships of Spaceship Earth turn on each other because of an impending resource crisis. Despite his demise, he himself was planning to turn on the others as well and the motives behind the battle are in keeping with his philosophy.

The Wallfacers are deemed humanity’s last hope against the Trisolar invasion. With the sophon block on technological advancement and constant espionage, these men are tasked with making secret plans that are only to exist in their minds while also making other plans to act as cover. The formulation of these various plans and counter-plans enables the novel to present a number of science fiction theories of technology and science, while also exploring the ambitious and competitive side of human nature.

Each of these three men are renowned leaders, scientists, and strategists and each of their secret plans reveal a different approach to the crisis. These men are supposed to be heroes for humanity, but each in turn finds themselves cast as a villain as their antagonists, the Wallbreakers, reveal their secret plans to the public. Through them, the novel explore the negative side of humanity: the mob, rough justice, and scapegoating. Their failure makes them foils to Luo Ji, while warning of what will happen if he, too, fails, creating narrative tension.

Much of The Dark Forest follows characters deeply involved in the Trisolaran Crisis and very rarely includes ordinary people living through it. In the first two parts of the novel, there are three characters that offer this perspective. All three are older, retired men living in the same apartment building in Beijing. Zhang Yuanchao once worked in a chemical plant while Yang Jinwen is a retired military teacher and Miao Fuquan is a former coal boss from Shanxi, now living with his mistress in the building. The three are static characters who play no major role in the novel but do offer insights into what it is like for everyday people living through the crisis. They debate the merits of defeatism and Escapism and squabble over the future.

Zhang Yuanchao is the one to express this sentiment and highlights the divide between them. Miao Fuquan is rich and can afford to escape while Yang Jinwen’s son is an academic whose knowledge will qualify him to leave while Zhang Yuanchao possesses neither. This highlights the anxieties and divisions that lie in society in the face of the impending crisis.