As the disturbing implications of the problem begin to hit home, she goes further down the psychological rabbit hole, and her obsession takes its toll on her reality. “Division by Zero” is a harrowing tale of a mathematician who encounters a problem that she can’t solve - the first in her career.After outgrowing everyone around him in terms of intellect and the ability to synthesize information, he finally meets his match. “Understand” takes us through the evolution of Leon from an average guy into a superintelligent test subject of a new treatment who far exceeds the expectations of the doctors and scientists.The engrossing narrative takes the reader alongside Hillalum to the top of the Tower, where he makes a discovery about the world that changes him completely and breathes life into his stale outlook. “Tower of Babylon” tells the story of Hillalum, a resident of ancient Assyria who gets called to work on the Tower of Babylon.Chiang’s masterful use of the English language paired with his knowledgeability in a diverse range of subjects makes for a supremely stimulating read. He presents fantastical and speculative worlds in such a way that the reader can imagine actually living in them, and has curated a seamless presentation of stories that incite thoughtful consideration and imagination in the reader. First published in 2002, this collection was republished by Vintage Books in 2016, the year of the motion picture Arrival. The film is based on Story of your Life, included in this volume and first published in Starlight 2 in 1998.įrom ancient Mesopotamia to a future where regular humans are all but obsolete, Chiang’s stories imagine various ways that scientific phenomena could affect the way we live, relate to each other, and perceive the world around us. Chiang uses expert finesse and imaginative storytelling to tie together physics, mythology, magic, linguistics, and biology in the eight short stories in this book.
Ted Chiang’s Stories of Your Life and Others is a remarkably enjoyable collection of short stories which give the reader a glimpse into several fantastic yet eerily familiar worlds.
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