Exhalation

The new collection “Exhalation” from the distinguished Ted Cheng, author of “The Story of Your Life and Other Stories,” is a collection of nine wonderfully original, provocative, and insightful stories. These deep, emotional stories are sure to change the way you think, understand, and experience the world. In “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,” a cloth merchant in ancient Baghdad is given a chance to right the wrongs of his past through a time portal. In the title story, “Exhalation,” an alien scientist makes a sensational discovery with consequences that have literally global implications. Another standout story, “The Life Cycle of Software Objects,” is a captivating and thought-provoking account of artificial intelligence and the moral aspects of creating life. Each story in “Exhalation” demonstrates Cheng’s signature ability to craft narratives that are both artistic and scientific. With his characteristic simplicity and accuracy, the author illuminates the eternal questions of humanity and new dilemmas that only he could invent.