Book Review
Sep. 27th, 2010 03:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowynightCharlie Chan Is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Fiction
I have longed to find this book since I have heard about it, and finally I found it in a public library. The title is a response to the racist yellow-facing stereotyping in Charlie Chan films, and I think it does a great job. The characters are so real. They are not some gentle souls, but rather people with real concern. It truly expresses the pain, joy confusion and struggle in Asian American life. Very good read.
Stories of Your Life: and Others by Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang is a slow sci-fi writer but it is worth the wait. I will review the stories I am most impressed with.
"Tower of Babylon" (1990) A very interesting take of the tale of Babel Tower. It explores the psychology of people who would like to ascent to Heaven and gives a twist to the tales of miners' ascent to the Heaven.
"Understand" (1991) A thriller about enhanced human intelligence,. high paced and exciting.
"Division by Zero" (1991) What would be like when you find that the fundamental principle of your world view is void? The math is beyond me, but I really feel the horror here.
"Story of Your Life" (1998) A linguist tries to decipher alien communication. The story is told in a non-linear fashion and it serves the purpose. I have a weakness for aliens which are truly beyond comprehension and the thoughtful reflective voice.
"Seventy-Two Letters" (2000) The writer imagines an alternative Victorian world that runs on golems and the power of words. The science is well thought out, and it doesn't hesitate to expose the darker side of the Victorians.
"Hell is the Absence of God" (2001) An alternative world where you can see angels and demons in day light, and Hell and Heaven can be seen by naked eyes. The relationship with God here is clearly abusive, but not listed as such. I have reservation about the story because I am never sure it is intended to be ironic.
"Liking What You See: A Documentary" (2002) As an Amazon commenter states, "A story about beauty and its perception and influence." I am very interested in the neural modification applied here.
I have longed to find this book since I have heard about it, and finally I found it in a public library. The title is a response to the racist yellow-facing stereotyping in Charlie Chan films, and I think it does a great job. The characters are so real. They are not some gentle souls, but rather people with real concern. It truly expresses the pain, joy confusion and struggle in Asian American life. Very good read.
Stories of Your Life: and Others by Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang is a slow sci-fi writer but it is worth the wait. I will review the stories I am most impressed with.
"Tower of Babylon" (1990) A very interesting take of the tale of Babel Tower. It explores the psychology of people who would like to ascent to Heaven and gives a twist to the tales of miners' ascent to the Heaven.
"Understand" (1991) A thriller about enhanced human intelligence,. high paced and exciting.
"Division by Zero" (1991) What would be like when you find that the fundamental principle of your world view is void? The math is beyond me, but I really feel the horror here.
"Story of Your Life" (1998) A linguist tries to decipher alien communication. The story is told in a non-linear fashion and it serves the purpose. I have a weakness for aliens which are truly beyond comprehension and the thoughtful reflective voice.
"Seventy-Two Letters" (2000) The writer imagines an alternative Victorian world that runs on golems and the power of words. The science is well thought out, and it doesn't hesitate to expose the darker side of the Victorians.
"Hell is the Absence of God" (2001) An alternative world where you can see angels and demons in day light, and Hell and Heaven can be seen by naked eyes. The relationship with God here is clearly abusive, but not listed as such. I have reservation about the story because I am never sure it is intended to be ironic.
"Liking What You See: A Documentary" (2002) As an Amazon commenter states, "A story about beauty and its perception and influence." I am very interested in the neural modification applied here.
