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71 pages 2 hours read

Ted Chiang

Stories of Your Life and Others

Ted ChiangFiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 2002

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Introduction

Teacher Introduction

Stories of Your Life and Others

  • Genre: Collection; fiction; science fiction; speculative fiction
  • Originally Published: 2002
  • Reading Level/Interest: College/adult
  • Structure/Length: 8 stories; approximately 304 pages; approximately 10 hours and 23 minutes on audiobook
  • Protagonist/Central Conflict: This collection of short stories features different protagonists and conflicts in each tale, from a mathematician who communicates with aliens in “Story of Your Life” to a golem creator and his discovery in “Seventy-Two Letters.” The conflicts often arise from the intersection of science, philosophy, and human experience.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Varies by story; may include language, violence, and complex scientific and philosophical concepts

Ted Chiang, Author

  • Bio: Born 1967; American speculative fiction writer; known for his thoughtful and meticulous exploration of science, technology, and philosophy in his stories; works as a technical writer in the software industry
  • Other Works: The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate (2007); The Lifecycle of Software Objects (2010); Exhalation: Stories (2019)
  • Awards: Locus Award for Best Collection (2003); British Fantasy Award (2005); the story “Hell is the Absence of God” won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards; “Story of Your Life” won the Nebula award and was the basis for the film Arrival (2016)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

  • The Ethics of New Scientific Discoveries
  • Combining the Real With the Metaphorical or Fantastical
  • The Danger of Superintelligence
  • Cultural Paradigms in Alternative Realities

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