Book Mention: Exhalation by Ted Chiang

 Ted Chiang, the author behind the short story that would ultimately be adapted into the 2016 movie Arrival, is back with another book of short stories, and as you might expect, it's really good.  If there's a central theme to this collection, it is that it takes various ideas seriously and explores how they would play out in the real world.  Non-contradictory time travel, robots who don't know that they're robots, offloaded human memories, Fermi's paradox, young-Earth creationism, and communication between time-lines in a many-worlds universe – these ideas and their implications get a thorough exploration through fiction.

The stories each develop slowly and naturally, and flow forth from the mind of the author at an appropriately leisurely pace.  This might be off-putting to some readers, but fortunately there is a chapter of story notes at the end of the book.  For many (myself included), these notes were helpful in getting oriented into each story; others may wish to save the notes for reading after completing the collection.

Finally, I have to compare this book to a caffeine source.  If something like Weir's Project Hail Mary is like a cup of strong black coffee, then Chiang's Exhalation is more like a subtle cup of fine tea.  Each should be enjoyed on its own terms.  Don't expect slam-bang space action in this collection; rather, expect a slow contemplation of ideas in the most human of ways.