About this title: Ted Chiang's short stories invent impossible worlds and ask penetrating questions en route to mapping a future world obsessed with science and its consequences. Alternate histories overlap with arbitrary scientific systems in this collection of eight stories.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. 2003-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Orb Books
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780765304193ISBN:0765304198
Description: Good. Cover has some edge wear. Light soiling on sides of book and a few page edges. Slight corner creasing or wear. Notes on FF and contents page. Otherwise, pages are clean and unmarked. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: First Edition / First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Forge, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780765304186ISBN:076530418X
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Bright and tight with no internal or external markings. read more
Edition: First Edition (Stated)
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Tor Books
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780765304186ISBN:076530418X
Description: Very-Good in Near-Fine jacket. Ex-Library. 8vo. {012537} Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang. ISBN 076530418x. Published by Tor Books in 2002. HARD COVER 8vo Sci-Fi Ex-Library 333pp. First Edition (Stated) {Book Condition} VERY-GOOD {Jacket Condition} NEAR-FINE {Jacket Condition Details} light edge wear, library label, minor creasing, minor rubbing. {Book Condition Details} Binding: minor end bumping, Cover: minor edge wear, library tape, minor rubbing, End Papers: library marking(s) ... read more
Description: Good. 0765304198 Good condition. May have some markings & or shelfwear. All pages intact. Used items may not include extras such as infotrac, CD or other web access codes. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Tor Books
Date Published: 2004-02
ISBN-13:9781405041027ISBN:1405041021
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
""By this construction Yaweh's work was indicated and Yahweh's work was concealed." -from "Tower of Babylon" the first story in this collection. Perhaps this quote is only affecting in its context within the story, but I found it a striking example of Chiang's excellent prose. It also points to a recurring metaphysical theme in many of his stories. "Tower of Babylon," "Seventy-Two Letters," "Hell is the Absence of God" and "Exhalation" (a phenomenal story, but not in this collection) all deal with intricately constructed alternate worlds with protagonists trying to understand some fundamental part of their world and its creator. I found those worlds interesting, original and exploring them gave me a thrilling sense of discovery. These are my favorite of Chiang's stories, though the sentimentality of "Division by Zero" and especially "Story of Your Life" is also beautiful and touching. Not every story here matches those heights, but I think the best of them is well worth the effort of finding the book, especially for fans of science-fiction."
"This was a collection of short stories that was like nothing I'd ever read before. I'm still processing them, as I'm sure I will for time to come. What if the tower of Babel was real, and humans did reach all the way to heaven? What would they find when they broke through into heaven? The answer was surprising and elegant, but as satisfying as the ending was, the journey up the tower was worth the price of admission as well, with the descriptions of the tower, building it, and how the people lived there. This is how I found each of the short stories. The theme gave me more than enough to think about, but the way each story unfolded itself was beautiful. Some of the stories even impacted me in surprising ways, with tears or a deepened understanding of love.
"If Einstein could also write science fiction, he would have been a predecessor in spirit to Ted Chiang. I was first captivated by his short story "Understand", which I had read for free online, and his other works are just as brilliant. I think he's one of the most brilliant science fiction authors out there, and this short story anthology will be a definite fave for anyone who's not read him yet."
"Ted Chiang's short story describes a debate at fictional Pembleton College about enforcing the use of calliagnosia, a device that makes it impossible to users to prejudice against others based on facial beauty. Chiang turned down a Hugo nomination for his short story "Liking What You See" in 2003, on the grounds that the story was rushed due to editorial pressure and did not turn out as he had really wanted, and maybe the part about it not turning out the way he wanted is true, but I didn't think it was rushed at all. In fact, I thought it was fabulous, which is high praise considering I had to write a writing placement essay over "Liking What You See" for college.
I was thought science fiction could not be properly execute in short story format because they take a lot of time to set up and explain; however, Chiang manages to do it in less that twenty pages. The story is inventive, yet still related to our lives, and posses a lot of questions, but doesn't give a lot of answers.
I'm quite interested in reading more of his short stories, particularly the ones in Stories of Your Life and Others, where "Liking What You See" was originally published."
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