“Exhalation”, Ted Chiang
Published May 7, 2019
THE UNIVERSE BEGAN AS AN ENORMOUS BREATH BEING HELD.
In these nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories, Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity's oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine.
In "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate," a portal through time forces a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past mistakes and second chances. In "Exhalation," an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with ramifications that are literally universal. In "Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom," the ability to glimpse into alternate universes necessitates a radically new examination of the concepts of choice and free will.
There is something about Ted Chiang’s writing that gives prime Black Mirror or my favorite podcast, The Big Loop. Every plot is ingenious and intricate, a treat for fans of speculative science fiction. I would love to know the way his mind works because how in the world can one man think up this many intriguing stories. Granted this is a collection of stories printed in different publications between 2005 - 2015, but still…
It’s been a while since Ted Chiang published a collection, but when he does release a third, it will be an auto-buy for me.
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A fabric merchant in medieval Baghdad discovers a shop that houses an arch that serves as a gateway into the future.
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A scientist, who belongs to a race of air-driven mechanical beings, dissects his own brain to investigate why their brains are computing more slowly.
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A remote control device called the Predictor proves that free will is a myth.
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A former zookeeper develops a bond with an intelligent digital entity that was created to be a virtual pet. However, the company goes bankrupt and the technology becomes obsolete.
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An inventor argues that a mechanical nanny is far superior to a human one when it comes to raising a child…until his invention malfunctions and causes the death of a child.
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An unnamed journalist in the future recounts his experience with a device that grants eidetic memory to its user.
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A Puerto Rican parrot describes the Arecibo radio telescope and how it broadcasted a message from humanity into deep space.
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In an alternate 20th century, young Earth creationism and absolute space are held true. A pious archaeologist discovers that the creation of humanity was not part of a divine plan.
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A device allows limited communication between two parallel timelines. The story follows two POVs—a woman who works in a shop selling these devices, and a psychologist who treats people struggling with this technology.
Content Warnings
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of content and trigger warnings.
grief • death • addiction
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Owned: thrifted paperback