Reviews

Arrival (Originally published as Stories of Your Life and Others) by Ted Chiang

scollier81's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

connor1736's review against another edition

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3.0

This short story collection has a ton of brilliant ideas. They're basically all speculative fiction stories. Some of them are about some new technological innovation, while others are about what would happen if some religious figure/concept was undeniably real. Most of them deal with the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. I think that the ideas and worlds that Chiang presents here are just amazing. However, I found the execution of the stories to be a bit hit-or-miss.

Tower of Babylon: 3/5.

Understand: 1/5. What the hell did I just read?

Division: 0/5 (DNF). Got about halfway through this one before giving up. I just did not enjoy reading it.

Story of your life: 5/5. Thank goodness this is the one that was made into a movie. Or maybe I liked this story more because I saw the movie? Dunno.

Seventy-Two Letters: 4/5.

The Evolution of Human Science: 3/5.

Hell is the Absence of God: 5/5. Ok wait this one was actually so good.

Liking What You See: A Documentary: 4/5

willdanchico's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

laurenb's review against another edition

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Ok when it takes me 2 months to get through a book, I know I’m just not that into it. No rating because I didn’t get far enough.

susytore's review against another edition

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4.0

Per una essere una che non apprezza molto il genere fantascientifico, direi che è stata comunque una buona esperienza di lettura. Alcuni racconti (direi soprattutto i primi "la torre di Babele" e "capisci") mi hanno fatto arrabbiare perché avevano una splendida intuizione iniziale che però si guastava sul finale. I racconti preferiti sono stati nell'ordine "storie della tua vita", 'l'inferno è assenza di Dio" e "divisione per zero". Ottimi spunti di riflessione e ottima scrittura.

davegri's review against another edition

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5.0

Ted's short stories are as close to perfect as I can imagine - nobody packs this much heart and imagination so efficiently

breakfastgrey's review against another edition

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4.0

I think my sky high expectations hurt my enjoyment of this book a bit. I absolutely adored Exhalation and Arrival is possibly my all time favorite movie. Unfortunately, I felt this collection was weaker on the whole than Exhalation and, although I really enjoyed the titular short story, I... thought the movie was better. Grab the pitchforks. Still, I'd argue that at least half of the short stories included are excellent. Not every book can be life changing brilliant. Some of them are just really good.

lijennyt's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

algorithm0392's review against another edition

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4.0

Shoutout Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville NC — if all science fiction was like Ted Chiang’s, I would be very happy.

manboyangel's review against another edition

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5.0

A very strong collection of sci-fi short stories with really interesting angles exploring the impact on life as we know it from extraterrestrial contact, advanced wearable/embedded technology and even, an outlandish religious breakthrough.

With elaborate narratives, each story triumphs not just in taking us to Chiang's ingenious premises but in plumbing the full depth of human emotions and thoughts as the characters respond to their circumstances. Although these are short stories, overall character development is profoundly well done and for me, even some minor characters stood out as cause for wonder.