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scmiller's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate," which touches on how people react to the possibilities of time travel and its ability to calm fears and regrets.
"Exhalation," which discusses a world built on air pressure reaching equilibrium and how this discovery effects an individual.
"What's Expected Of Us," a short but powerful story about free will and what happens when we stop believing we have free will.
"The Great Silence," about how humanity's quest for extraterrestrial life stops it from connecting with other species on Earth.
"Omphalos," about a world where the creation of man is proven by science and how faith is shaken by discoveries in the solar system.
"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom," which looks at what would happen if branching worlds were able to talk to one another and how people would take advantage of this technology.
Each of Chiang's stories is accompanied by a note at the end of the collection discussing what inspired the story and what Chiang is exploring in the story. I love this as a way to peek behind the curtain of stories that are clearly so carefully thought-out. If you are looking for contemplative stories based on science and technology that delve into psychology and larger questions of the universe then you must pick up 'Exhalation.' A truly superb collection.
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship
kylieqrada's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, and Car accident
juliatsang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
mlewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, and Murder
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
Extinction and apocalyptic events in multiple stories. Dissection, though with visuals of machinery rather than flesh ("Exhalation"). Mentions of bestiality, discussion of sentient sex dolls, cruelty to and dehumanization of AIs/robots, emotional infidelity ("The Lifecycle of Software Objects"). Mentions of natural disasters, manipulation/extortion ("Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom").rnbhargava's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The triggers above are all treated as extremes, they’re not confined, those showing preference for those are all ultimately less than savoury even if they’re our point of view character. Most of the tales have a good amount of intellectual curiosity and whimsy in at least a portion of them