The stories of ordinary citizens of the former USSR, who went through multiple political upheavals, which shaped their minds and lives. From idealism to just wishing to escape the system, people had different hopes. Quite a brutal read, but well worth it.
The world has seen five big extinctions in the last 500 million years, each of which led to the decimation of more than 75% of the species. But for the first time in history, we have a species which is capable of not just causing an extinction but being aware of it as well. I loved the book for the curiosity it evoked and adding a sense of romanticism in science.
Goffman uses the metaphor of a theatrical performance to explore the nuances and interplay that occur in practically every interaction we have. Stages, props, audiences, and all of us actors, working on “impression management”. Not an easy read, but well worth the time.
The lockdown gave me the time to explore an old favourite. While I have read the strips online and offline, reading it in one stretch makes the contexts and narrative arcs clearer, and also allows one to dwell on personalities and their nuances. Just amazing stuff!
Ted Chiang is master of speculative fiction and the nine stories are an example of his abilities – not just the imagination, but the ability to articulate it. There is profound insight in all the stories, irrespective of its length, and across multiple streams – from artificial intelligence to free will. An absolute must-read.