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After I read about this collection of stories in a few places, I decided it was time to give it a read. One, “Story of Your Life,” was familiar because I watched and enjoyed the film “Arrival” about a linguist who helps the government communicate with aliens who have set up ships around the world. I thought the movie was smart and fascinating, and that describes this story and the whole book as well. While I knew what was going to happen in this story (which is more narrowly focused than the film), I still appreciated it, and if you know anything about either the movie or the story, you’ll appreciate consequently that that statement is quite apropos.
While the collection is roughly slotted into the science-fiction category, these eight tales range widely in topic and in tone. Two are based on Jewish folklore: “Tower of Babylon” is an exploration of the lives of workers who contributed over centuries to a tower of Babel that was so tall it took months to climb. The second blends biology and reproduction with the creation and use of golems, and Chiang says in his story notes that he was interested in the concepts of the creative power of language and the old and obviously debunked theory of preformation, that “organisms exist fully formed in the germ cells of their parents.”
How people interpret their religions, or faith, when it comes to the existence of suffering in the world is the theme of “Hell Is the Absence of God,” a story that some could choose to interpret as being dismissive of religion and simplistic views of the faithful. I don’t believe it is; it does explore the logic system that on the outside of faith appears flawed. It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek. I found it clever and thought-provoking.
Many books and stories dig into the problems that humans’ over-attention to physical beauty cause, with sci-fi and dystopian plots exploring ways to mitigate the inequality and pain that result because we are so swayed by attractive appearance. Chiang produces a story in “documentary” form, “Liking What You See,” interviewing teens, young adults, their parents and educators about their opinions on whether a procedure that prevents people from seeing beauty should be adopted for more people. Should we level the playing field so appearance, such a superficial thing, has no impact on our judgments, or let nature take its course?
I’m not sure if I fully comprehended all that could be gleaned from the stories; a couple didn’t really speak to me. But they are the product of a brilliant mind that clearly has explored many fields of study and has integrated a variety of what he’s learned and is curious about into thought-provoking stories. I am in awe.
Rated: Mild. There are just a handful of instances of mild profanity and a few uses of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content is limited to a couple lying in bed together, and an occasion of them referring to making a baby. Drugs/alcohol use include a woman trying to commit suicide with pills and a teen drinking. Violence includes an accidental death by falling, a killing by mind control (essentially), a murder and torture of a man (few details given), and another man having his fingers broken.
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