About this ebook
‘A science fiction genius . . . Ted Chiang is a superstar.’ – Guardian
With Stories of Your Life and Others, multiple-award-winning author Ted Chiang deftly blends human emotion and scientific rationalism in eight remarkably diverse stories, all told in his trademark precise and evocative prose.
The science fiction novella 'Story of Your Life' is the basis for the Academy Award nominated film Arrival.
From a soaring Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth with the firmament above, to a world where angelic visitations are a wondrous and terrifying part of everyday life; from a neural modification that eliminates the appeal of physical beauty, to an alien language that challenges our very perception of time and reality, Chiang’s rigorously imagined fantasias invite us to question our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
‘United by a humane intelligence that speaks very directly to the reader, and makes us experience each story with immediacy and Chiang’s calm passion.’ – China Miéville
With Stories of Your Life and Others, multiple-award-winning author Ted Chiang deftly blends human emotion and scientific rationalism in eight remarkably diverse stories, all told in his trademark precise and evocative prose.
The science fiction novella 'Story of Your Life' is the basis for the Academy Award nominated film Arrival.
From a soaring Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth with the firmament above, to a world where angelic visitations are a wondrous and terrifying part of everyday life; from a neural modification that eliminates the appeal of physical beauty, to an alien language that challenges our very perception of time and reality, Chiang’s rigorously imagined fantasias invite us to question our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
‘United by a humane intelligence that speaks very directly to the reader, and makes us experience each story with immediacy and Chiang’s calm passion.’ – China Miéville
Ratings and reviews
4.6
68 reviews
Ellan Aldryc
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June 15, 2020
A lot of people will be drawn to this because of arrival, but I'd wager all of the stories in this book are better. There's a lot to think about, and argue about with this book, which makes it a good one.
2 people found this review helpful
Sourabh
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November 26, 2016
In a word, Mind blowing! This is a collection of short stories which explore various themes, ranging from Linguistics (I dare not say more) to our inherent lookism ! In the short story 'Story of Your Life', he explores the concept very scientifically which makes us realise the philosophical implications, which are truly profound. In 'Liking What You See' he follows the classic science fiction trope of introducing a hypothetical scientific device and then exploring the impact on human psyche and our society as a whole. He dissects the bias we have towards better looking people. This is extremely relevant in todays media savvy world and will make you think about yourself. I must confess, these are the only two stories I read but I expect the others to be of the same standard. Hopefully more people will be convinced to buy this book especially after watching the movie 'Arrival' which is based on the short story 'Story of Your Life'. Must read.
15 people found this review helpful
Lasma Lu
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March 4, 2017
Smart, extremely well written and very captivating. Perfect science fiction book.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Ted Chiang was born in Port Jefferson, New York, and currently lives outside Seattle, Washington. In 1990 he won the Nebula Award for his first published story, 'Tower of Babylon'. Following this triumph, his stories have won him numerous other awards, making him one of the most honoured writers in contemporary SF.
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