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.
In eleven stories and 150 pages, the author showcases how words are worlds. The subjects range from mythology, fantasy and social media influencers to murder, sexuality and horror. You’re sure to find a few favourites!
Sublime, in terms of writing and characters. When Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is sentenced to house arrest (“house” here being the Hotel Metropol) on 21st June 1922, it’s difficult to imagine the remaining 400+ pages being anything other than depressing. But the Count is probably a living embodiment of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, and the story that follows shows “that by the smallest of one’s actions one can restore some sense of order to the world.” An absolutely wonderful read, and in my list of all-time favourites.
A political novel written in 1935 that’s prescient about how an authoritarian regime could actually take power in the United States. Though it begins with a democratic victory, it soon becomes a “corporatist” regime with its own paramilitary force called Minute Men. Through the struggles of Doremus Jessup, a liberal, we see the journey downhill. The references to real life personalities might require some research, but a great read nevertheless.
The first part of The Dandelion Dynasty trilogy, this is silkpunk’s attempt at Game of Thrones. What works for the book are the interesting characters, the plot twists and the unflagging pace. But it’s better to go in without the level of expectations set up by the author’s other book The Paper Menagerie.