These read almost like fairy tales, with simple characters, but clever ones nonetheless. The alchemist then precedes to tell our merchant several stories of people who have gone through this gate and what befell them. He is then shown a second gate with a time difference of 20 years – essentially, a time travel portal. At least not immediately, but only a few seconds later. One whose right side precedes the left by a few seconds – meaning if you stick your hand in, it won’t come out the other side. The opening story is one that, after two or three pages, made me ask myself why I have waited so long to read Ted Chiang!Ī merchant in Baghdad visits an alchemist’s shop where he is shown two gates. And, each in its own way, the stories prove that complex and thoughtful science fiction can rise to new heights of beauty, meaning, and compassion. In this fantastical and elegant collection, Ted Chiang wrestles with the oldest questions on earth-What is the nature of the universe? What does it mean to be human?-and ones that no one else has even imagined. Also included are two brand-new stories: ” Omphalos ” and ” Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom.”
And in ” The Lifecycle of Software Objects ,” a woman cares for an artificial intelligence over twenty years, elevating a faddish digital pet into what might be a true living being.
In the epistolary ” Exhalation ,” an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with ramifications not just for his own people, but for all of reality. 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 the temptation of second chances.
This much-anticipated second collection of stories is signature Ted Chiang, full of revelatory ideas and deeply sympathetic characters. Opening line: O mighty Caliph and Commander of the Faithful, I am humbled to be in the splendor of your presence a man can hope for no greater blessing as long as he lives. His first story collection Stories of Your Life and Others is already on my e-reader and I cannot wait to read that as well.
Instead of just reading the nominated novella and novelette, I decided to read the entire collection. I am so happy Ted Chiang is nominated for two Hugo Awards this year because that gave me the necessary push to finally read something by him.
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