“The Three-Body Problem,” an apocalyptic trilogy about humanity’s reactions to a coming alien invasion that sold millions of copies in Chinese and more than a dozen other languages, is one of the best-known Chinese novels in the world published in the past few decades.

For fans of The Three-Body Problem, which features an alien civilisation and is set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, the parallels were clear.

"At least we know that Xu Yao and Lin Qi have read The Three-Body Problem thoroughly. Lose your humanity and you lose a lot; lose your animal nature and you lose everything," said one comment on China's Weibo.

The Three-Body Problem is the first book in a trilogy called Remembrance of Earth's Past, by Chinese author Liu Cixin.

Yoozoo also owns rights to the Chinese television series Three-Body, which premiered last year, as well as animation and stage adaptations of The Three-Body Problem.