Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang
Ted Chiangis an American science fiction writer. His Chinese name is Chiang Feng-nan...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
CountryUnited States of America
experience fiction formative impact reading science stands trilogy twelve
Probably the most formative experience was reading the 'Foundation' trilogy when I was about twelve years old. That wasn't the first science fiction I had ever read, but it's something that stands out in my memory as having had a big impact on me.
began breath enormous glad great until
The universe began as an enormous breath being held. I am glad that it did... until this great exhalation is finished, my thoughts live on.
lovely fundamentals levels
Physics admits of a lovely unification, not just at the level of fundamental forces, but when considering its extent and implications. Classifications like "optics" or "thermodynamics" are just straitjackets, preventing physicists from seeing countless intersections.
based hard others pure showing
There have always been arguments showing that free will is an illusion: some based on hard physics, others based on pure logic.
technology
We don't normally think of it as such, but writing is a technology.
hard home job recommend writers
I can't recommend technical writing as a day job for fiction writers because it's going to be hard to write all day and then come home and write fiction.
science sold stories
I started submitting stories for publication when I was about 15, but it was many years before I sold anything. I don't make my living writing science fiction, so in that sense, I'm still not a pro.
figured grew pan physicist science side
When I was a kid, I figured I would be a physicist when I grew up, and then I would write science fiction on the side. The physicist thing didn't pan out, but writing science fiction on the side did.