Stories of Your Life and Others
by Ted Chiang (2002)
2024 reads, 19/22:
“Despite knowing the journey and where it leads, I embrace it and welcome every moment”
Maybe closer to 3.5 stars, but my score might surprise people with this one. Stories of Your Life and Others is a collection of science fiction short stories written by Ted Chiang from 1990 to 2002, compiled and published in 2002. The most famous story is, of course, Story of Your Life, for which Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 movie Arrival is based on. This story was my favorite too, a solid 5 stars for this one.
But the rest of them didn’t quite hit for me. Their premise was intriguing, as the subject matter drastically ranged from one story to the next; each one asking a different “what if?” question. And then of course, within the story, even more “what ifs” are posited. They branch out from science fiction, incorporating elements of fantasy, math, technology, and dystopia. Some just meandered a little bit before getting to the plot, but it didn’t turn me away from finishing them. Just how certain ideas were presented came off a little slow.
But don’t let the score deter you if you are into sci-fi; this is a highly acclaimed collection, and I’m in the minority here. They all made me think, which is the minimum requirement for solid sci-fi.
“‘Well if you already know how the story goes, why do you need me to read it to you?’ ‘‘Cause I wanna hear it!’”