From an award-winning science fiction writer (whose short story 'The Story of Your Life' was the basis for the Academy Award-nominated movie Arrival), the long-awaited second collection of stunningly original, humane, and celebrated short stories.

‘Ted Chiang is one of the most exciting writers in science fiction . . . These parables are filled with hope and humanism.’ – The Daily Telegraph

From the acclaimed author of Stories of Your Life and Others – the basis for the Academy Award-winning film Arrival – comes a groundbreaking second collection of short fiction.

'Will make you think, grapple with big questions, and feel more human. The best kind of science fiction' – Barack Obama

A portal through time forces a fabric-seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past errors and the temptation of second chances; an alien scientist makes a shocking discovery with ramifications not just for his own people, but for all of reality; a newfound ability to glimpse into alternate universes forces a radical re-examination of the concepts of choice and free will.

In Exhalation, Ted Chiang addresses the most fundamental of issues – What is the nature of the universe? What does it mean to be human? – alongside others that no one else has even imagined. And, each in its own way, the stories prove that complex and thoughtful science fiction can rise to new heights of beauty, meaning, and compassion.

‘Deeply beautiful stories' – The New York Times 'The 10 Best Books of the Year'

‘Chiang’s writing . . . inspires awe for the natural properties of the universe; it renders the fundamentals of science poignant and affecting.’ – Economist

‘A scintillating cavalcade of ideas’ – Financial Times, 'Books of the Year'

"One of the most exciting writers in science fiction . . . Although dark in premise, these parables – threaded through with references to ancient mythology and folklore – are filled with hope and humanism: a balm for anxious souls." - The Daily Telegraph

"Deeply beautiful . . . This book is as generous as it is marvelous, and I’m left feeling nothing so much as grateful for it." - The New York Times

"Chiang’s writing . . . inspires awe for the natural properties of the universe; it renders the fundamentals of science poignant and affecting." - The Economist

"A scintillating cavalcade of ideas . . . Chiang breathes new life into well-worn SF themes such as time travel, artificial intelligence and parallel universes." - Financial Times

"Ted Chiang is a superstar . . . Every sentence is the perfect incision in the dissection of the idea at hand." - The Guardian

"Chiang is a virtuoso of short fiction . . . This collection is a stunning achievement in speculative fiction, from an author whose star will only continue to rise." - Los Angeles Review of Books

"Breaks down what it really means to be human" - TIME

"Meticulously crafted and innovative short fiction . . . Masterful and striking . . . plucks both heartstrings and gray matter in equal measure" - The Washington Post

"A beguiling mix of compassion and awe, worthy of comparisons to the work of Philip K. Dick . . . An immensely pleasing book" - San Francisco Chronicle

"Each of his devastating stories mines little pieces of humanity from unexpected points of view." - Vulture

"Chiang is a master. . . . The Alice Munro of science fiction" - LitHub

"[Chiang] is so good that this book qualifies as an event." - Newsday

"Ted Chiang has long been one of science fiction’s best-kept secrets." - GQ