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A review by alexandrapierce
The Best of Subterranean by William Schafer
5.0
Oh Ted Chiang. I love your brain and I love your words and I love this story.
Chiang tells two stories. One, a man reflecting on the introduction of technology that seeks to/threatens to/offers to replace/supplement human memory, and what that means for human interactions and human development. He also reflects on technology that means people don't actually write any more: they dictate. The stuff about memory, and how we use and change and develop from our memories, I found immensely powerful and fascinating. This is all illuminated via occasional insights into his relationship with his daughter.
The second story is about the experiences of the Tiv, in West Africa, and their interactions with white folk. This too brings discussion around ideas of memory - which are intimately bound up with writing, for white people - and ideas of what it is right to remember, and say.
I adored this story.
Chiang tells two stories. One, a man reflecting on the introduction of technology that seeks to/threatens to/offers to replace/supplement human memory, and what that means for human interactions and human development. He also reflects on technology that means people don't actually write any more: they dictate. The stuff about memory, and how we use and change and develop from our memories, I found immensely powerful and fascinating. This is all illuminated via occasional insights into his relationship with his daughter.
The second story is about the experiences of the Tiv, in West Africa, and their interactions with white folk. This too brings discussion around ideas of memory - which are intimately bound up with writing, for white people - and ideas of what it is right to remember, and say.
I adored this story.