Stories of Your Life and Others

2025 Reading Challenge ~ [1/12]

My first read of the year turned out to be a delightful surprise. “Stories of Your Life and Others” strongly reminded me of Borges, both in style and intellectual ambition, which was definitely a bonus point for me.

Chiang truly shines when he ventures into religious, philosophical, or metaphysical territory. The way he describes impossible places and objects is just a joy to experience. “Tower of Babylon,” a perfect example of this, is hands down one of the best short stories I've ever read.

His stylistic versatility is also quite refreshing. Each story has its own well-defined tone, particular rhythm, and unique character that makes it quickly distinguishable from the others in the collection. For the reader, this translates into more variety and, consequently, more entertainment.

When it comes to “hard” science fiction, I have mixed feelings, though this might be due to my limited experience with the genre. At times it gets dense and perhaps a bit too obsessive with technical details. I get the commitment to accuracy, but it can be overwhelming.

All in all, this is an excellent collection and a wonderful gateway into the work of an author who, I'm sure, has plenty to offer to lovers of fantasy and science fiction with philosophical and metaphysical approaches.