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kdawn999's review against another edition
5.0
I came to this collection from loving the movie Arrival and after hearing a podcast interview of the author. Each story is mindbendingly insightful. I’m also not sure I’ve ever read contemporary sci fi set in Babylonian or Victorian times, where even science is reinvented. I’m also surprised by the Judeo-Christian, religious mindfulness in several stories here. Yep, I’m going to need to read everything Chiang writes.
gunslinger's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
froggymog's review against another edition
Will continue, only read first 2 short stories
stevenrouk's review against another edition
5.0
Another incredible collection from Ted Chiang. It's honestly not very often that I come across completely new ideas or treatments of ideas, yet Ted Chiang has surprised, impressed, and provoked thought with practically every one of his pieces, in big ways and small. Ted Chiang has changed how I will see the world.
carli096's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kmclellan's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ashtronomic's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Every single story in this book is thought provoking. Ted Chiang is an incredibly talented author, with inarguably interesting ideas.
As is the case with most collections of short stories, I expected to discover a variety of quality; some impactful, some mediocre. However, I can honestly say that every piece of writing in this book is as intriguing as the last. Chiang has invented concepts that are new to me, and I was eager to explore them in depth. I was on a week-long road trip when I read the book, and it often provided fascinating conversation topics for me and my passengers.
Despite their short length, the science is dense. The book feels like hard sci-fi, but is actually incredibly approachable. There are moments which focus on mathematical equations and linguistics, but they are well balanced with reflections on human emotions.
The only thing which lets the book down is that three stories with quite similar ideas and plot are in succession. These chapters are early on in the collection and had me seriously worried about monotony throughout the entire book. Each story in that set of three were progressively less interesting solely due to their similarity to their predecessor.
As is the case with most collections of short stories, I expected to discover a variety of quality; some impactful, some mediocre. However, I can honestly say that every piece of writing in this book is as intriguing as the last. Chiang has invented concepts that are new to me, and I was eager to explore them in depth. I was on a week-long road trip when I read the book, and it often provided fascinating conversation topics for me and my passengers.
Despite their short length, the science is dense. The book feels like hard sci-fi, but is actually incredibly approachable. There are moments which focus on mathematical equations and linguistics, but they are well balanced with reflections on human emotions.
The only thing which lets the book down is that three stories with quite similar ideas and plot are in succession. These chapters are early on in the collection and had me seriously worried about monotony throughout the entire book. Each story in that set of three were progressively less interesting solely due to their similarity to their predecessor.
bamboobones_rory's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"Story of your life" was my favorite in this collection- about grief and loss and thinking out of linear time and all at once. And if you already know what will happen, what is language for? Ritual and actualization is the answer given here. A story of a parent losing a child in a freak accident, a parent who also spent time learning an alien language from a species that forms their whole sentences and thoughts at once instead of in a linear way. Reminded me of the prophets/wormhole aliens in Star Trek Deep Space 9, and their relation with Captain Sisko and his processing of grief. Some of the other stories were just so-so to me, very hit or miss, but I expect that in a short story collection.
zeldaspellman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0