Todd Mason sent me a link to the LOCUS lists of the best SF ever published. You can find those lists here. Todd mentioned that Ted Chiang managed to garner six spots on those lists that included Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, and other giants of Science Fiction Land. I had read Ted Chiang’s The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate but nothing else. So I quickly acquired Stories of Your Life and Other Stories published in 2002 and Life Cycle of Software Objects published in 2010.
“Tower of Babylon” plays with the premise that miners could enter the Vault of Heaven from a tower that takes a year to climb. I loved “Understand,” a story about a man who takes the secret Hormone K and becomes super-intelligent. I did not like the ending and wish I could write a sequel that would set things right. “Division by Zero” explores the implications that arithmetic isn’t correct (I’ve secretly believed this for years). “The Story of Your Life” shows how humans process time is affected by using an alien language. “Seventy-Two Letters” is about golems. “The Evolution of Human Science” shows what happens when metahumans publish their advanced research that mere humans can’t process. “Hell Is the Absense of God” is my least favorite story. It involves angels. “Liking What You See: A Documentary” is a series of reactions by various characters to a chip that cancels out the human brain’s ability to recognize beauty or ugliness. As you can see, Chiang writes about a variety of topics.
Life Cycle of Software Objects tells what happens when a company sells virtual pets that may or may not have artificial intelligence. Like the other stories Chiang has published, there is little or no humor in these works. Chiang is big on science, mathematics, and linguistics. Do Chiang’s stories approach the classic stories of Asimov and Heinlein? This stories are good, but they’re not great. GRADE: B+
I guess he was chosen by people that value expertise in technology more than a gift for humor or perhaps great writing.
You’re probably right, Patti. Ted Chiang has talent and technique to burn. But, his stories (to me anyway) come off as cool and distant.
I have only read a couple of Chiang’s stories and I cannot recall off the top of my head which those are, but I do remember liking them very much. He certainly has skill. I don’t mind a cool, distant SF story if it is well told. I wouldn’t want to read several of them back to back, however.
I will definitely read everything Ted Chiang publishes, Carl. I just don’t have the fondness for his work that I have for Asimov’s or Heinlein’s.
I might try that first book but it will have to wait. If you’re looking for stories – a couple even science fiction – I’m almost done with Brendan DuBois’s excellent DEATH OF A GEMINI & Other Military Mysteries.
He’s one of my favorite current short story writers.
DEATH OF A GEMINI (and coincidentally, I am one) is on order, Jeff. I’m always looking for good, new short story writers.
I tried Lifecycle of Software Objects, from the library, and only read about 40 pages and returned it. Something about it just turned me off.
Rick, you probably had the same reaction that I had to Chiang’s chilly writing style. I couldn’t get into the human characters.
A newer short story author who I am really enjoying is Ken Liu. He is very prolific so I suspect a collection will be in the works, hopefully sooner rather than later. He’s got some of his work on the Lightspeed website for free review.
I’m going to seek out Ken Liu’s work, Carl. Thanks for the recommendation!
If you head over to the Lightspeed Magazine website you can search for him and you’ll find some stories. I also think he has his stories linked on his blog that are available free online. My favorite thus far, Mono no aware, is unfortunately not but if you can grab a copy of The Future is Japanese from the library it is worth reading.
Will do, Carl! Thanks for the info!