Audio

摘要

Chiang's (The Lifecycle of Software Objects) 2002 collection of stories mixes vivid characters, real science, and believable settings with wild speculation, to great effect. Each story takes a conceit from social or natural science, or even theology, and follows it to its logical effects on humanity. A mother deals with loss by way of the effects of alien language on human memory; a college campus disputes the ethics of deactivating students' neural responses to beauty; a widower in a world where angels physically appear, causing miracles and catastrophe, tries to join his wife in the afterlife. Stories are narrated by Todd McLaren and Abby Craden, whose low-key readings suit the meticulous and dignified language. VERDICT Fans of Michael Swanwick will appreciate Chiang's style; this title will also be a hit with those who enjoy both magical realism and convincing science in their sf.