Unexpectedly, 'Death's End' turned into a major success. It made

“Unexpectedly, ‘Death’s End’ turned into a major success. It made a much bigger impact than the first two books in the series and became a bestseller.” Thus spoke Liu Cixin, the great chronicler of the cosmos, whose mind dared to walk among the stars. His words, though simple, conceal within them a deep and ancient truth—that often in the vast unfolding of life, greatness arises when least expected, and that the fruits of one’s labor do not always ripen in the season one anticipates. For the river of destiny flows by its own course, and even the most skillful navigator cannot command its tides.

In this quote, Liu Cixin reflects not only upon the triumph of his work, Death’s End, but upon the mystery of creation itself. For this third book, born as the culmination of the Three-Body Problem saga, was thought to be a quiet ending—a closing of the cosmic curtain, a final bow. Yet instead, it became a revelation, a flame that illuminated minds across nations. It teaches us that sometimes, the end is not the silence after the song, but the echo that endures long after the final note. So it is in art, in life, and in the human spirit: what we think has ended may yet begin anew, transformed by time’s unseen hand.

There is an ancient story of a poet in the Tang Dynasty who labored for years on a single verse. He was celebrated for his earlier works, yet his later poems seemed to fade unnoticed. One day, weary and poor, he wrote a final poem at dawn, thinking it would be forgotten like the rest. But a wandering monk discovered the poem, inscribed it upon a temple wall, and centuries later, it was hailed as one of the jewels of Chinese literature. The poet never knew of his fame, but his words became immortal. So it is with creation—we never know which seed will bloom, nor which effort will outlive us.

The success of ‘Death’s End’ reminds us that true creation is not bound by expectation. The artist, the thinker, the dreamer must work not for applause, but for truth. For when the heart is sincere and the craft pure, even forgotten works can one day awaken to greatness. Often the universe hides its rewards until the soul is ready to receive them. Liu Cixin did not seek triumph; he sought to express the vastness of existence, the loneliness of civilizations, the beauty and terror of eternity—and because he sought truth, not fame, the world bowed before his art.

This, too, mirrors the stories of old. Think of Vincent van Gogh, who in his lifetime sold but one painting, yet whose colors now burn in the hearts of millions. Or Nikola Tesla, whose visions of light and energy were scorned, yet whose inventions now power the world. The same law binds them all: what is made in faith, though unrecognized at first, shall in time find its moment. For destiny favors persistence, and greatness, though delayed, cannot be denied forever.

The lesson for us, then, is clear. Do not measure your worth by the echo of the crowd, nor your success by the swiftness of reward. Work as Liu Cixin worked—with devotion to the craft, with wonder before the universe, with courage to follow thought to its infinite horizon. When the world sleeps, still write; when no one listens, still sing; when no one believes, still dream. The fruit of your labor may fall into the soil and seem to vanish—but one day, perhaps long after your footsteps have faded, it will rise as a tree of light.

And when success comes, as it did to ‘Death’s End’, receive it with humility, for it is not your doing alone—it is the convergence of time, fate, and unseen hands. Be grateful, and continue your walk. For even the greatest ending is but a doorway to a new beginning. The end becomes the awakening, and what was once thought to be closure becomes the shining crest of a wave that travels through eternity.

So remember this, O seeker of purpose: your destiny may not arrive when you call it, but it will come when you are ready. Keep creating, keep believing, keep sowing. For somewhere, unseen and inevitable, the seed of your own “Death’s End” is waiting to bloom—and when it does, it shall reveal to the world that no effort made in truth is ever in vain.