Thought-provoking SF - each story asks ‘What if?’ and constructs a detailed world of consequences. While Chiang’s imagination is incredibly vivid, the short story format sometimes leads to narratives heavy on exposition, but, as a collection, it’s remarkably strong with a couple of standout pieces that make it well worth the read.
Tower of Babylon (1990) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A mining team is hired to climb the tower of Babylon and break through the vault of heaven. What will they find on the other side?
Understand (1991) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A medical procedure unlocks accelerating post-human abilities. With enlightenment within his reach, what could stop him?
Division by Zero (1991) ⭐⭐⭐
A mathematician has a crisis of faith when her reality is tested by a mathematical proof.
Story of Your Life (1998) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story that the film Arrival was based on. An alien contact story, given heft by a poignant parallel tale of loss.
Seventy-two Letters (2000) ⭐⭐⭐
A lexical basis for genetics is proposed. Feels like it’s trying too hard at the worldbuilding and outstays its welcome.
The Evolution of Human Science (2000) ⭐
A plot-free slice of life in a few pages. Not my thing.
Hell is the Absence of God (2001) ⭐⭐
God, Heaven, and Hell are all very tangible to humans. A man’s attempt to join his wife in Heaven runs up against an uncaring God. A bit heavy on the religious theme and message for my taste.
Liking What You See: A Documentary (2002) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A technology has made the perception of beauty optional. The documentary format felt heavy on exposition, but it finished on a high note as the next escalation in this technology was revealed.
