Ted Chiang

[stoutfellow]

One of the books I bought on New Year's Eve was a collection of stories by Ted Chiang, "Stories of Your Life and Others". I'd read and enjoyed his "The Life Cycle of Software Objects", which won a Hugo a few years back, and I've seen "Arrival", which was based on "Story of Your Life", in this collection. I had high expectations for this book, and so far they've been met. I've read three stories, and am in the midst of "Story of Your Life". "Tower of Babylon", about what the builders found at the top; "Understand", about two hyperintelligent men, their responses to the growth of their intellects, and the consequences of their meeting (I kept thinking about "Flowers for Algernon", but that is not this story); "Division by Zero", about a brilliant mathematician who makes a soul-shattering discovery; "Story of Your Life", about a linguist's attempt to communicate with some very different aliens... Sensawunda out the wazoo, and discussion of some of my favorite subjects without condescension or stereotyping. Wonderful stories, so far.

Comments

[filkferengi]

I'm glad you're having fun. Also, good to know.