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Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom
The story is about a future technology called “prisms.” “In colloquial terms, the prism created two newly divergent timelines … and it allowed communication between the two.” The ability to talk to one’s doppelgänger in an alternate timeline has a massive and complex impact on society and individuals, including an epidemic of existential crises: “Many worried that their choices were rendered meaningless because every action they took was counterbalanced by a branch in which they had made the opposite choice.”
106 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2019
About the author
Ted Chiang
115 books11.5k followersTed Chiang is an American science fiction writer. His Chinese name is Chiang Feng-nan. He graduated from Brown University with a Computer Science degree. He currently works as a technical writer in the software industry and resides in Bellevue, near Seattle, Washington. He is a graduate of the noted Clarion Writers Workshop (1989) and has been an instructor for it (2012, 2016). Chiang is also a frequent non-fiction contributor to the New Yorker, where he writes on topics related to computing such as artificial intelligence.
Chiang has published 18 short stories, to date, and most of them have won prestigious speculative fiction awards - including multiple Nebula Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, and British Science Fiction Association Awards, among others. His short story "Story of Your Life" was the basis of the film Arrival (2016). He has never written a novel but is one of the most decorated science fiction writers currently working.
Chiang's first eight stories are collected in "Stories of Your Life, and Others" and the next nine, in "Exhalation: Stories".
Chiang has published 18 short stories, to date, and most of them have won prestigious speculative fiction awards - including multiple Nebula Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, and British Science Fiction Association Awards, among others. His short story "Story of Your Life" was the basis of the film Arrival (2016). He has never written a novel but is one of the most decorated science fiction writers currently working.
Chiang's first eight stories are collected in "Stories of Your Life, and Others" and the next nine, in "Exhalation: Stories".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 30, 2021
A good story about probabilility and parallel lives. What if there was a consumer gizmo, operating via some semi-plausible quantum principle, that let us talk to alternate versions of ourselves? Would we make better decisions. Would our lives be better? SPOILER ALERT: nope
This is a good story, but not particularly gripping. Felt padded to me, compared to the pared-down Niven! Not one of his very best, but certainly worth reading. 3+stars. Nominated for the 2020 Best Novella Hugo award. Online copy: https://onezero.medium.com/anxiety-is...
And the classic story this one nods to is by Larry Niven: "For a Foggy Night". Which IB is online too? Apparently not, but here are the reprints: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...
"All the Myriad Ways" is a terrific collxn if you can find a copy. "Foggy Night" is one of his very best, which is saying a lot. Don't miss!
This is a good story, but not particularly gripping. Felt padded to me, compared to the pared-down Niven! Not one of his very best, but certainly worth reading. 3+stars. Nominated for the 2020 Best Novella Hugo award. Online copy: https://onezero.medium.com/anxiety-is...
And the classic story this one nods to is by Larry Niven: "For a Foggy Night". Which IB is online too? Apparently not, but here are the reprints: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...
"All the Myriad Ways" is a terrific collxn if you can find a copy. "Foggy Night" is one of his very best, which is saying a lot. Don't miss!
January 14, 2021
probably one of my favorites, if not my absolute favorite from exhalation. I cannot explain how deeply this one resonated with me and how thought-provoking it was. I love this one.
February 6, 2025
Sometimes, late at night, you stand at the edge of something vast—an ocean, a city, a dream you can’t quite remember. And in that moment, you understand: that freedom is not about having no limits. It’s about finding meaning inside them. Even in a world of infinite possibilities, you still have to choose.
Chiang’s story hums with this quiet, unsettling truth. We like to believe our lives move forward, step by step, in a straight line. But reality is more like a jazz piece—improvised, looping back on itself, sometimes dissolving into silence. The multiverse isn’t just a theory; it’s the shape of our longing. Every version of you exists somewhere, walking down some other road, drinking coffee in some other café, saying something different to someone you once loved. But that doesn’t make this version of you—this particular breath, this particular thought—any less real. If anything, it makes it matter more.
And maybe that’s why anxiety follows us, like a stray cat that refuses to leave. It isn’t an enemy. It’s the weight of possibility pressing against our ribs. Kierkegaard called it dizziness, but maybe it’s more like standing at a train station, knowing that every door you step through means leaving another behind. The trick isn’t to chase certainty. It’s to accept the uncertainty, the strangeness of being alive at all.
In the end, meaning isn’t something waiting for us on the other side of doubt. It’s something we create, moment by moment, in the small choices we make. To get up in the morning. To take a step forward. To love, even when it hurts. That’s the paradox of being human: we are both fleeting and infinite, lost and found, wandering and exactly where we’re meant to be.
Chiang’s story hums with this quiet, unsettling truth. We like to believe our lives move forward, step by step, in a straight line. But reality is more like a jazz piece—improvised, looping back on itself, sometimes dissolving into silence. The multiverse isn’t just a theory; it’s the shape of our longing. Every version of you exists somewhere, walking down some other road, drinking coffee in some other café, saying something different to someone you once loved. But that doesn’t make this version of you—this particular breath, this particular thought—any less real. If anything, it makes it matter more.
And maybe that’s why anxiety follows us, like a stray cat that refuses to leave. It isn’t an enemy. It’s the weight of possibility pressing against our ribs. Kierkegaard called it dizziness, but maybe it’s more like standing at a train station, knowing that every door you step through means leaving another behind. The trick isn’t to chase certainty. It’s to accept the uncertainty, the strangeness of being alive at all.
In the end, meaning isn’t something waiting for us on the other side of doubt. It’s something we create, moment by moment, in the small choices we make. To get up in the morning. To take a step forward. To love, even when it hurts. That’s the paradox of being human: we are both fleeting and infinite, lost and found, wandering and exactly where we’re meant to be.
September 19, 2021
We read The Midnight Library for book club and almost universally hated it. One person recommended this story as a much better version of that book, and they were right. Just read this one.
April 24, 2023
n!/n!
A smol story, just a smol story about people in a speculative future dealing with quantum mechanics, fractal timelines, existential morality, determinism, and le human condition dealing with exponential increase in information + choice; all compressed into a 70 page masterpiece.
A smol story, just a smol story about people in a speculative future dealing with quantum mechanics, fractal timelines, existential morality, determinism, and le human condition dealing with exponential increase in information + choice; all compressed into a 70 page masterpiece.
October 21, 2025
no one does it for me quite like ted chiang.
December 9, 2023
✨philosophy✨
March 24, 2021
Een kort verhaal (maar 20.000 woorden ofzo), maar echt heel erg goed. Een fascinerend concept met parallelle universums dat je echt aan het denken zet. Het concept is goed uitgedacht, en in ieder geval plausibel genoeg dat het verhaal verbazingwekkend realistisch voelde. De hoofdpersoon is verbazingwekkend diep voor zo'n kort verhaal.
April 7, 2024
Follows several people in a world where you can talk to yourself from a parallel universe to see how things would have gone if you'd made a different choice. I found the stories here moving and the way they intertwined was wonderfully done.
January 22, 2025
LOVED this one
One review called it a better version of the midnight library and yeah, I can see that. Also reminded me of Counterpart, which is always a plus.
One review called it a better version of the midnight library and yeah, I can see that. Also reminded me of Counterpart, which is always a plus.
January 13, 2022
This is one of Chiang’s “Black Mirror except deeper, more nuanced, and with better-developed characters” stories, and it has a premise similar to the recent TV show Counterpart: scientists develop the Prism, a device in which the decay of a single particle causes a switch to turn a light red in one reality, and green in one simultaneously-created reality. Although this light is the only difference between realities, the butterfly effects of this small difference eventually spiral out into greater divergences. Meanwhile, the device also allows for communication between realities, although this communication lasts only so long as the device’s finite memory is not used up.
Chiang explores the impact this discovery has upon human behaviour – many people decide that since there is proof they act differently in other realities, their actions and the consequences thereof do not really matter; others understand that since they cannot physically travel between realities, their choices in this one matter as much as ever. The story’s central narrative looks at people who take advantage of cross-dimensional communication to make a buck from those mourning recently deceased loved ones who are still alive in other realities, which they can access – for a limited time. The main character has to decide what sort of person she wants to be, and what the Prism can tell her about her own morality. Chiang is, as usual, excellent at making sure his science-fiction thought experiment serves the development of believable and complicated characters.
Chiang explores the impact this discovery has upon human behaviour – many people decide that since there is proof they act differently in other realities, their actions and the consequences thereof do not really matter; others understand that since they cannot physically travel between realities, their choices in this one matter as much as ever. The story’s central narrative looks at people who take advantage of cross-dimensional communication to make a buck from those mourning recently deceased loved ones who are still alive in other realities, which they can access – for a limited time. The main character has to decide what sort of person she wants to be, and what the Prism can tell her about her own morality. Chiang is, as usual, excellent at making sure his science-fiction thought experiment serves the development of believable and complicated characters.
February 23, 2025
Life-changing. Have to re-read this regularly.
January 16, 2022
4.5/5
A fantastic exploration of a world in which we could view and interact with alternate versions of ourselves who made different choices at key moments in our lives. Well, that's a bit of a simplification of a story that is rooted in complicated quantum mechanics and computer "pads" with limited lifetimes - but it makes for a fascinating read nonetheless.
We follow Nat, one half of a "data broker" duo with her partner Morris, and an experienced young therapist Dana. Both characters have issues in the past that they are yet to properly confront, but their existing lifestyles propagate them through each day without much challenge. This changes when the more financially opportunistic (see: shady) Morris tries to raise money for their suffering branch, concocting a scheme that involves two halves of a celebrity couple grieving after a car crash kills their partner.
Whilst the plot may sound simple, there is a lot of great world-building done between each story point, including realistic scientific experiments and a look at how this invention affects wider society. The Prism is one of those inventions that just upon hearing of it one can imagine how radically it can change our entire world, and further how unhinged it would be to have constant access to what are effectively our alternate lives. The group therapy mechanism and mental health discussion was the right avenue to approach this idea, yet Chiang does not forget about the real-world traumas that push people to these places such as drugs and violence.
The conclusion of the story is highly satisfactory, uplifting and realistic. Chiang postulates that our character is not made of moments in isolation, but rather the continual choices we make each day that push us in one direction or another. It not only perfectly cleared my conscience of the slight distress this story was causing, but tied up all the plot points from the story itself.
A fantastic exploration of a world in which we could view and interact with alternate versions of ourselves who made different choices at key moments in our lives. Well, that's a bit of a simplification of a story that is rooted in complicated quantum mechanics and computer "pads" with limited lifetimes - but it makes for a fascinating read nonetheless.
We follow Nat, one half of a "data broker" duo with her partner Morris, and an experienced young therapist Dana. Both characters have issues in the past that they are yet to properly confront, but their existing lifestyles propagate them through each day without much challenge. This changes when the more financially opportunistic (see: shady) Morris tries to raise money for their suffering branch, concocting a scheme that involves two halves of a celebrity couple grieving after a car crash kills their partner.
Whilst the plot may sound simple, there is a lot of great world-building done between each story point, including realistic scientific experiments and a look at how this invention affects wider society. The Prism is one of those inventions that just upon hearing of it one can imagine how radically it can change our entire world, and further how unhinged it would be to have constant access to what are effectively our alternate lives. The group therapy mechanism and mental health discussion was the right avenue to approach this idea, yet Chiang does not forget about the real-world traumas that push people to these places such as drugs and violence.
The conclusion of the story is highly satisfactory, uplifting and realistic. Chiang postulates that our character is not made of moments in isolation, but rather the continual choices we make each day that push us in one direction or another. It not only perfectly cleared my conscience of the slight distress this story was causing, but tied up all the plot points from the story itself.
September 3, 2022
Collected in Exhalation, this novella was nominated for the 2020 Hugo, Locus and Nebula is some of the best written big idea, high concept, philosophical science fiction (hence the nominations). A technology called "prisms" enable human beings to communicate with their multiverse counterparts, and the story follows the lives of several characters where the ramifications of this technology play out.
Ideally, technology in itself is neutral, with any resulting good or bad consequences due to the user of the technology. The impact of being able to talk to one’s doppelgänger (para-self) in an alternate timeline could be good, bad or a strange and neutral, depending on the person.
🤗 Good - Learn from and avoid mistakes each para-self makes. Heal from grief. The best example of this is probably this clip from Spider Man No Way Home (don't click if you haven't seen the movie), that made a bunch of us kinda tear up at the theaters.
🤬 Bad - Exploit others. Maybe never heal from grief as the person is unable to move on.
😱 Mixed or other - some end up having an existential crisis because every choice they made might be cancelled out on other worlds, meaning nothing matters anymore? Does it? Really? That's the question.
This was interesting as the story came out a long time before the very surprisingly heartwarming movie Everything, Everywhere, All At Once where the protagonist confronted exactly this kind of situation, but resolved it instead of pondering existential matters to the point of going nuts (which was a real possibility).
I honestly liked the ending, but I can see why some might not.
Ideally, technology in itself is neutral, with any resulting good or bad consequences due to the user of the technology. The impact of being able to talk to one’s doppelgänger (para-self) in an alternate timeline could be good, bad or a strange and neutral, depending on the person.
🤗 Good - Learn from and avoid mistakes each para-self makes. Heal from grief. The best example of this is probably this clip from Spider Man No Way Home (don't click if you haven't seen the movie), that made a bunch of us kinda tear up at the theaters.
🤬 Bad - Exploit others. Maybe never heal from grief as the person is unable to move on.
😱 Mixed or other - some end up having an existential crisis because every choice they made might be cancelled out on other worlds, meaning nothing matters anymore? Does it? Really? That's the question.
This was interesting as the story came out a long time before the very surprisingly heartwarming movie Everything, Everywhere, All At Once where the protagonist confronted exactly this kind of situation, but resolved it instead of pondering existential matters to the point of going nuts (which was a real possibility).
I honestly liked the ending, but I can see why some might not.
December 22, 2022
Hugo 2020 Best Novella: Nominee
Locus 2020 Best Novella: Nominee
Nebula 2020: Best Novella: Nominee
This gem of a book is lost to Time War in all awards so my expectation to the latter will skyrocket. Because Dizziness is awesome.
This tells a story about a device which you can use to contact yourself in other universe. Imagine having a face time with yourself from a place you called "if I chose this path back then". I've got two amazing insights from this story (you see, it's more reflective than scientific for me):
1. It's possible to envy yourself. Say, that time of the year you are faced with the dilemma whether you change your job or not. You end up quit your job and choose that new opportunity, only it doesn't look like what you imagine. You call yourself which stays in the old job and they are getting promoted. Bummed! What do yo think? Will you resent yourself for this?
2. Most valuable insight is that, as it turns out, whatever you choose will not affect your path, basically. You can choose to be at law school, but end up being mediocre lawyer, then you wonder whether you'll do better if you'd chosen english major. In other universe, yourself who chose English major and be mediocre translator wonders as well whether you'll do better if you chose law school. So, there's no point in regretting your choices.
mind. blown.
Locus 2020 Best Novella: Nominee
Nebula 2020: Best Novella: Nominee
This gem of a book is lost to Time War in all awards so my expectation to the latter will skyrocket. Because Dizziness is awesome.
This tells a story about a device which you can use to contact yourself in other universe. Imagine having a face time with yourself from a place you called "if I chose this path back then". I've got two amazing insights from this story (you see, it's more reflective than scientific for me):
1. It's possible to envy yourself. Say, that time of the year you are faced with the dilemma whether you change your job or not. You end up quit your job and choose that new opportunity, only it doesn't look like what you imagine. You call yourself which stays in the old job and they are getting promoted. Bummed! What do yo think? Will you resent yourself for this?
2. Most valuable insight is that, as it turns out, whatever you choose will not affect your path, basically. You can choose to be at law school, but end up being mediocre lawyer, then you wonder whether you'll do better if you'd chosen english major. In other universe, yourself who chose English major and be mediocre translator wonders as well whether you'll do better if you chose law school. So, there's no point in regretting your choices.
mind. blown.
April 20, 2023
4.5 Stars
A thoughtful examination of life, divergent realities, the consequences of our actions... and what our actions say about us.
Here we follow the only passingly interconnected lives of two women--one a therapist, the other an ex-addict who is currently functioning as a semi-reluctant con woman.
In this version of reality, a means has been invented for people to interact with other presently existing versions of themselves within the multiverse--although, to a far more limited capacity than is usually envisioned in speculative fiction that indulges in this plot device. (Chiang admits to being something of a multiverse agnostic in his end explanation.)
This novelty allows people to inquire of their other selves as to the outcome of past decisions, both long past and recent. The result is that some become obsessive about what might-have-been, though this doesn't ultimately seem to offer much benefit to their future. The story presents some engaging what-ifs without really delving into anything as sticky as time-travel.
I loved the ending. Chiang pulled the two character arches together in such a concise and satisfying way. I'd even say it presented readers with a heartening moral--though Chiang has previously declared he doesn't write fables. To this reader's understanding, this story did indeed have something valuable to teach.
A thoughtful examination of life, divergent realities, the consequences of our actions... and what our actions say about us.
Here we follow the only passingly interconnected lives of two women--one a therapist, the other an ex-addict who is currently functioning as a semi-reluctant con woman.
In this version of reality, a means has been invented for people to interact with other presently existing versions of themselves within the multiverse--although, to a far more limited capacity than is usually envisioned in speculative fiction that indulges in this plot device. (Chiang admits to being something of a multiverse agnostic in his end explanation.)
This novelty allows people to inquire of their other selves as to the outcome of past decisions, both long past and recent. The result is that some become obsessive about what might-have-been, though this doesn't ultimately seem to offer much benefit to their future. The story presents some engaging what-ifs without really delving into anything as sticky as time-travel.
I loved the ending. Chiang pulled the two character arches together in such a concise and satisfying way. I'd even say it presented readers with a heartening moral--though Chiang has previously declared he doesn't write fables. To this reader's understanding, this story did indeed have something valuable to teach.
September 11, 2022
"'We like the idea that there's always someone responsible for any given event, because that helps us make sense of the world. We like that so much that sometimes we blame ourselves, just so that there's someone to blame. But not everything is under our control, or even anyone's control.'"
Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom takes place in a world where everyone can easily access a prism that allows them to speak to parallel versions of themselves and how people can become obsessed with the different branches that come into existence based on decisions that they make. At first, I was expecting this to be very much a Twilight Zone / Black Mirror episode, and though the concept does fall into that, I absolutely loved how Chiang wrote this. Nat and Dana's journey of determining whether their decisions can lead to different fates or if certain fates are inevitable is so incredibly written. Truly thought provoking and ingeniously told, even if the premise isn't unique in itself.
"'By becoming a better person, you're ensuring that more and more of the branches that split from this point forward are populated by better versions of you.'" UGH. Just too good.
Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom takes place in a world where everyone can easily access a prism that allows them to speak to parallel versions of themselves and how people can become obsessed with the different branches that come into existence based on decisions that they make. At first, I was expecting this to be very much a Twilight Zone / Black Mirror episode, and though the concept does fall into that, I absolutely loved how Chiang wrote this. Nat and Dana's journey of determining whether their decisions can lead to different fates or if certain fates are inevitable is so incredibly written. Truly thought provoking and ingeniously told, even if the premise isn't unique in itself.
"'By becoming a better person, you're ensuring that more and more of the branches that split from this point forward are populated by better versions of you.'" UGH. Just too good.
May 17, 2023
Going back to this story of parallel universes and how the characters in this world deal with the weight of choices, they are trapped in a cycle of regret and identity crisis. Chiang's speculative tales always feel comforting even when the subject matter at hand smashes through big philosophical questions.
In this universe, a company created a tech called Prism that allows the consumer to converse with a parallel self for example if you had a job offer and your current reality accepts it you can sort out another version of you that declined the offer and gauge the emotional outcome. This small device as with the introduction of new tech brings forth an extensional crisis that forms new mental strain, con artist and many other issues that stagnate the character's lives. We primarily follow a support group recovering from the use of the device, some therapy sessions with struggling individuals and those taking advantage of the device for profit. The world is thought out and the morals explored the land perfectly. I will read anything this man publishes.
In this universe, a company created a tech called Prism that allows the consumer to converse with a parallel self for example if you had a job offer and your current reality accepts it you can sort out another version of you that declined the offer and gauge the emotional outcome. This small device as with the introduction of new tech brings forth an extensional crisis that forms new mental strain, con artist and many other issues that stagnate the character's lives. We primarily follow a support group recovering from the use of the device, some therapy sessions with struggling individuals and those taking advantage of the device for profit. The world is thought out and the morals explored the land perfectly. I will read anything this man publishes.
September 23, 2023
Finally got around to reading this after having the Exhalation collection for a few years. Easily is one of my favourite Chiang stories now and one I'll be revisiting. My recent Twitter thread:
21 Sep
I've anxiously avoided reading Anxiety Is The Dizziness Of Freedom because I worry I won't love it as much as Chiang's other great stories, and because I have so many endless other options I could choose instead. 🤦 😂
21 Sep
This is my 🧠 on neuroticism
21 Sep
Okay, I took the plunge and started reading. Only 3-4 pages in and I already know I like it! Feels like it did with Merchant And The Alchemist's Gate 😌🤗
23 Sep
Finished it last night. 🔥🔥🔥Enjoyed the unexpected parallels with Hell Is The Absence Of God in the group meetings, and the echoes of What's Expected Of Us with the tech shaking people's sense of free will. Also loved it exploring fixation, envy, remorse, longing, acceptance.
21 Sep
I've anxiously avoided reading Anxiety Is The Dizziness Of Freedom because I worry I won't love it as much as Chiang's other great stories, and because I have so many endless other options I could choose instead. 🤦 😂
21 Sep
This is my 🧠 on neuroticism
21 Sep
Okay, I took the plunge and started reading. Only 3-4 pages in and I already know I like it! Feels like it did with Merchant And The Alchemist's Gate 😌🤗
23 Sep
Finished it last night. 🔥🔥🔥Enjoyed the unexpected parallels with Hell Is The Absence Of God in the group meetings, and the echoes of What's Expected Of Us with the tech shaking people's sense of free will. Also loved it exploring fixation, envy, remorse, longing, acceptance.
June 3, 2025
4.5/5
This one would be a 5/5 if written by someone other than Chiang, but -0.5 Purely because ey have done even better
Read as a part of
This one had a lot of science science concepts in it. Chiang doesn't bother explaining more detail than what is necessary for you to understand the story, but if you know more, there are some details for you. It's really cool to see many concepts like the . This is absolutely Hard Sci-Fi and to me seems actually plausible in the future.
Chiang also covered the human side of the story really well. (Actually leaned into it a slight bit too much for my personal taste). I think that if Prisms were real, Chiang would've predicted most of what would happen to society.
This one would be a 5/5 if written by someone other than Chiang, but -0.5 Purely because ey have done even better
Read as a part of
This one had a lot of science science concepts in it. Chiang doesn't bother explaining more detail than what is necessary for you to understand the story, but if you know more, there are some details for you. It's really cool to see many concepts like the . This is absolutely Hard Sci-Fi and to me seems actually plausible in the future.
Chiang also covered the human side of the story really well. (Actually leaned into it a slight bit too much for my personal taste). I think that if Prisms were real, Chiang would've predicted most of what would happen to society.
January 14, 2026
I’ve been searching for a story exactly like this for a week. Right down to the subdued science fiction aspects. I am thrilled that I found this story, and I am even more thrilled that it succeeded my expectations all the way.
A wonderful character study of people living through unprecedented technology. The prisms represent curiosity, envy, free will, and luck, or the absence of it. I was so enamored by the explanations of the system and the psychology behind it. Chiang fully understands how to explain the technical aspects for a general audience, and he certainly knows how to grapple with different themes that work to weave a realistic portrayal of humanity.
I skipped every other story in Exhalation with the purpose of reading this one alone, but I realized very quickly that I would have to go back and read everything else. Very obsessed with what I found in this story, as well as the fact that there’s even more of the book to read. Wow.
Five stars without a second thought!
A wonderful character study of people living through unprecedented technology. The prisms represent curiosity, envy, free will, and luck, or the absence of it. I was so enamored by the explanations of the system and the psychology behind it. Chiang fully understands how to explain the technical aspects for a general audience, and he certainly knows how to grapple with different themes that work to weave a realistic portrayal of humanity.
I skipped every other story in Exhalation with the purpose of reading this one alone, but I realized very quickly that I would have to go back and read everything else. Very obsessed with what I found in this story, as well as the fact that there’s even more of the book to read. Wow.
Five stars without a second thought!
August 20, 2025
I saw this recommended on a management blog of all places. It's about if a friend is making bad decisions at work and someone is worried they gave bad advice.
And a commenter recommended this story where (minor spoiler but didn't ruin my reading) a character "ruined a friend's life". But in every timeline — where one was caught, one got away, both were caught, both got away — the friend made poor choices afterwards and blamed her friend.
The point being: If people are going to make bad choices, sometimes nothing you do is going to help them. You should always try to do your best (as the characters in this story discover) to make a positive impact on the universe and on your OWN timeline, but stop trying to change other people's behaviors.
Also, hell yes I love multiverse theory.
And a commenter recommended this story where (minor spoiler but didn't ruin my reading) a character "ruined a friend's life". But in every timeline — where one was caught, one got away, both were caught, both got away — the friend made poor choices afterwards and blamed her friend.
The point being: If people are going to make bad choices, sometimes nothing you do is going to help them. You should always try to do your best (as the characters in this story discover) to make a positive impact on the universe and on your OWN timeline, but stop trying to change other people's behaviors.
Also, hell yes I love multiverse theory.
June 30, 2024
The novella's name quotes a proverb by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard in his work The Concept of Anxiety and the story opens with a quote about anxiety as well. Setting the scene and pace of what's to come in the story. For me, it just made me think "What the hell am I about to read?"
The story is narrated from the view of two women: Nat, who works in a shop selling "parallel reality" access devices, and Dana, a psychologist who treats people struggling with this new technology. It is an interesting concept again and one that I really haven't put thought into too much. It did raise some interesting existential questions of my own and will with anyone who wants a chance to decode it.
The story is narrated from the view of two women: Nat, who works in a shop selling "parallel reality" access devices, and Dana, a psychologist who treats people struggling with this new technology. It is an interesting concept again and one that I really haven't put thought into too much. It did raise some interesting existential questions of my own and will with anyone who wants a chance to decode it.
April 17, 2024
For most of the story, it seemed like a waste. Why have this whole parallel set of worlds where you could talk to your alternate self, just to examine all the ways people can be petty. Petty criminals. Envious of their alternate lives. Pondering whether their alternate selves not committing a crime means they’re off the hook, so to speak. It was a well-described world, but it just seemed so small.
It eventually dived a bit deeper into morality, which then tied everything back together a bit better, but this was only a so so read. I think without the neat worldbuilding this would’ve been a miss.
It eventually dived a bit deeper into morality, which then tied everything back together a bit better, but this was only a so so read. I think without the neat worldbuilding this would’ve been a miss.
July 11, 2022
If the multiverse is a reality, do individual choices matter? Imagine that every choice you make splits off the universe into two parallel realities, and the same goes for every choice of every person that has ever lived. Does it matter that you choose to do the "right thing" in this one particular branch of reality? This story convinced me that it does. Simply put, your "right choice" in this particular branch forms the root node for the multitude of branches that inevitably stem from it. The moral weight of your choice is not lessened by the reality of the multiverse.
January 13, 2026
As someone who often fantasizes about the what-ifs and what-could've-beens in parallel universes, this book made me reflect on fate and choices. I found Dana comforting and enlightening with her words of wisdom (or I just really need a therapist).
I don't usually read sci-fi and lean more towards emotional books, but this has been a perfect introduction to the genre, as the philosophy embedded in the story was interesting. I will definitely check more of the author's work.
I don't usually read sci-fi and lean more towards emotional books, but this has been a perfect introduction to the genre, as the philosophy embedded in the story was interesting. I will definitely check more of the author's work.
February 22, 2024
Like “The Lifecycle of Software Objects,” I’m highlighting this novella found within Chiang’s “Exhalation” short story collection. I loved this story, but I personally don’t think I would care much if the technology existed to know what my life would be like in parallel branches of time. Feels like it would just be another smartphone-like distraction.
December 11, 2025
I wasn't sure I liked reading short stories but I have been absolutely loving Ted Chiang's work. This is no exception, this story grapples with free will but also with a very real modern problem we all have with our need to constantly compare ourselves and think about what could've been. Very interesting and utterly inspiring. Highly recommend.
January 5, 2026
I can't say I well understood the idea of communicating with ones parallel world self, either a moment ago or a week month year ago. Not from the future just from a self which made a different "decision' (as QM decides this is Anything). So, IMO this story is a just a bit stupid even with a bright author. QED
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