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scmiller's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Drug abuse, and Grief
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: Grief, Death, Violence, and Toxic friendship
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Colonisation, Addiction, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Sexism, Ableism, Child abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, and Misogyny
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: Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Body horror, Grief, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Car accident, Classism, Colonisation, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Slavery, and Terminal illness
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