Ted Chiang
17 jun 2023
Through this compendium of short stories the author explores different futuristic or technological scenarios. In general it helps us explore the philosophical, psychological and anthropological implications of new tech through interesting stories.
To what extent has writing affected our memory, and our ability to tell stories?
To what extent can and should we love virtual conscious beings?
How would your life change if you could talk to a you that choose differently at some point in your life. And what if you could see the impact those little changes have in the rest of the world?
If we were to discover that we can send messages back in time, but they couldn't alter the outcomes, what would the social and individual implications be?
In general I would recommend some of the stories, I wouldn't recommend it as an entire book. Having said that, It does give a lot from which to question our way of life. It deals with ideas such as time travel and determinism, memory and technology advancement, the rights of Al, and the risks of knowing there are other realities in which you chose a different path.