63. Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

Mar 1, 2020

In this discussion, Christy, the general manager at a London space startup, dives into Ted Chiang's acclaimed collection, exploring its intricate narratives. She highlights Chiang's scientific precision and emotional depth, particularly in 'Story of Your Life,' contrasting it with Ursula Le Guin. The conversation touches on the book’s philosophical themes and how its complex structure reflects heptapod perception. Christy also shares insights on how sci-fi can challenge human assumptions, making it a rich topic for book clubs. Tune in for great reading recommendations!

37:33

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Methodical, Idea-First Writing

Ted Chiang writes slowly but produces highly polished, idea-driven stories that feel like timeless artifacts.
His work blends rigorous scientific thought with literary craft to explore big questions.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Polarised Reader Reactions

Some readers praise Chiang's incandescent imagination while others find his prose tedious and full of unnecessary science.
The hosts recount polarised Amazon reviews to show how divisive his style can be.

insights

INSIGHT

Precise Science, Reserved Emotion

Ed compares Chiang to Asimov and Harlan Ellison, noting Chiang's precision and scientific grounding.
That precision creates a textbook-like voice that some readers find cold and characters incidental.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Rocket Scientists' Roles at CEN

01:30 • 1min

chevron_right

Chiang's Style, Rarity, and 'Story of Your Life'

02:43 • 1min

chevron_right

Reader Reactions: Praise and Criticism of Chiang

04:00 • 1min

chevron_right

Chiang's Precise, Scientific Writing Style

05:15 • 2min

chevron_right

Arrival's Source: Language, Emotion, and Balance

06:48 • 1min

chevron_right

Emotional Resonance and Scientific Notes

08:10 • 2min

chevron_right

Evaluating Chiang's Scientific Accuracy

09:52 • 2min

chevron_right

Believability, Perspective, and Motherhood Lens

11:28 • 1min

chevron_right

Babel, Angels, and Speculative Storytelling

12:56 • 1min

chevron_right

Structure of 'Story of Your Life' Explained

14:20 • 2min

chevron_right

Philosophy, Parenting Metaphors, and Book Club Talk

15:56 • 2min

chevron_right

72 Letters: Golems, Automata, and Office Politics

17:29 • 2min

chevron_right

Self-Replication, Office Politics, and Sci‑Fi's Influence

19:32 • 2min

chevron_right

Speculation's Power: Tweaking Humanity's Assumptions

21:31 • 2min

chevron_right

Mid‑Century Sci‑Fi's Mirror and Exploration

23:03 • 1min

chevron_right

Readers' Experience: Challenging, Intellectually Ambitious Fiction

24:22 • 1min

chevron_right

Book Club Tips: Read One Chiang Story Deeply

25:36 • 2min

chevron_right

Recommend: This Is How You Lose the Time War

27:08 • 1min

chevron_right

Time War Novella and Wally Funk Recommendation

28:28 • 1min

chevron_right

Wally Funk and the Mercury 13 Story

29:40 • 2min

chevron_right

Ed's Recommendations: Pavan and Classic Authors

31:13 • 1min

chevron_right

James Blish, Cities in Flight, and Seedling Stars

32:25 • 1min

chevron_right

Accessible Sci‑Fi Picks and Underland Recommendation

33:40 • 1min

chevron_right

Underland: Deep‑time Journeys and Future Responsibility

Wally Funk's Race for Space

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

This is How You Lose the Time War

Amal El-Mohtar

Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War is an epistolary novel that follows agents Red and Blue as they travel through time, altering history on behalf of their warring empires. Despite their initial adversarial relationship, they develop a romantic connection through secret messages. The story explores themes of conflict, love, and resistance, with a poetic and sharp prose style. The book has won several awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and British Science Fiction and Fantasy awards.

#10789

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

• Mentioned in 50 episodes

Slaughterhouse-five

Kurt Vonnegut

This novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a chaplain's assistant in the U.S. Army during World War II. Billy becomes 'unstuck in time' and experiences his life out of order, including his time as a prisoner of war in Dresden during the Allied firebombing. The book is a powerful anti-war statement, blending Vonnegut's own experiences with science fiction elements, such as Billy's abduction by aliens from Tralfamadore. It explores themes of post-traumatic stress, the absurdity of war, and the human condition, using Vonnegut's characteristic black humor and fatalistic tone.

#2808

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Stories of Your Life and Others

Ted Chiang

This collection includes eight short stories by Ted Chiang, each exploring unique and thought-provoking themes. Stories such as 'Tower of Babylon' and 'Story of Your Life' delve into concepts of time, space, and human perception, while 'Understand' and 'Division by Zero' examine the consequences of advanced knowledge and the breakdown of mathematical principles. The collection also includes 'Hell Is the Absence of God,' which probes the nature of belief and faith in a world where divine entities are real. Chiang's stories are known for their rigorous imagination, sharp intelligence, and ability to raise profound questions about the nature of reality and humanity.

#4559

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

In this groundbreaking novel, Ursula K. Le Guin delves into the society of Gethen, a planet where the inhabitants are androgynous and only enter a state of sexual arousal once a month. The story follows Genly Ai, an envoy from the Ekumen, as he navigates the complexities of Gethenian culture and politics. The novel is a profound exploration of gender, identity, and the human condition, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.

#2810

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Exhalation

Stories

Ted Chiang

Exhalation is a collection of nine stories by Ted Chiang, each tackling different aspects of human existence, science, and philosophy. The stories range from 'The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,' which involves time travel and regret in ancient Baghdad, to 'Exhalation,' where an alien scientist discovers the universal implications of his people’s mechanical existence. Other notable stories include 'The Lifecycle of Software Objects,' which explores the ethics of artificial intelligence, and 'Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom,' which examines choice and free will through alternate universes. Chiang’s writing is characterized by its elegance, precision, and deep sympathy for his characters, making this collection a must-read for fans of science fiction that challenges the mind and evokes a sense of wonder.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang clocked in at number 80 on The Guardian's list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. Barack Obama's a fan too. But what about Laura's book club? What did they make of this mesmerising collection of eight stories, one of which formed the basis of the film Arrival starring Amy Adams?

Real-life rocket scientists Kristy and Ed join the discussion and weigh in on the big questions. Like, will reading Chiang make you more intelligent? Do you have to be a sci-fi devotee to enjoy these stories? And finally, did the book make for a good book club discussion? All this, plus some great book recommendations for your next read.

•

Find us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast

on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod

email thebookclubreview@gmail.com

Please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you’ll never miss an episode.

•

Books mentioned

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Wally Funk's Race for Space: The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer by Sue Nelson

Pavane by Keith Roberts

Ed's author recommendations: John Brunner, James Blish ('Cities in Flight' and 'The Seedling Stars' [with the puddle story 'Surface Tension'] among others), and Algis Budrys

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books