Length: 350 pages
Genre: Science-fiction, short stories
In this collection of nine short stories by author Ted Chiang, a merchant in ancient Baghdad uses a time portal to try to fix past mistakes; an investigation into a seemingly small oddity causes an alien doctor to stumble upon a secret which could threaten the entire universe; a novelty device puts the entire question of free will into question; a new type of virtual pet develops intelligence and self-awareness; a Victorian robot nanny produces unexpected and disturbing side effects; a company develops software that could give an individual perfect recall of any event in their lives; the first contact with a non-human intelligence could come from much closer to home than anyone could guess; a scientist on a highly religious alternate Earth makes a discovery that could put all their beliefs into question; and a device that allows people to see into the lives of their counterpart in parallel universes leads to positive and negative outcomes.
This is the second volume of short stories by American author Ted Chiang, who is probably best known for his story "Story of Your Life", which was adapted as the film Arrival (2016). The stories in this volume deal with some well-known science-fiction concepts, but they are dealt with in a refreshingly unique way. The fantastical elements are well-rendered and intelligently realised, and the stories are more concerned with their impact on human nature. Chiang is a very good writer, who doesn't just craft intriguing and intelligent stories, but also deeply moving ones as well. There is a real humanity and compassion here. This is well recommended for anyone looking for great science-fiction, and also great contemporary fiction in general.
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