Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Ted Chiang

テッド・チャン

Teddo Chan

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Port Jefferson, New York, United States
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Bellevue, Washington, United States

Career

Occupations
Writer, Technical writer
Active Years
1990-
Influenced By
Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, John Crowley, Greg Egan, Karen Joy Fowler, Gene Wolfe

Education

Brown University
Computer Science
Period: 〜1989
Year of Graduation: 1989
Country: United States
Studied physics and computer science initially; graduated in computer science in 1989.

Awards

Nebula Award (Novella/Mid-length)
1991
Work: Tower of Babylon
Category: 中編
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award
1999
Work: Story of Your Life
Organization: Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award (Novella)
2000
Work: Story of Your Life
Category: 中長編
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Hugo Award (Short/Novella)
2002
Work: Hell Is the Absence of God
Organization: World Science Fiction Society (WSFS)
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award (Short)
2002
Work: Hell Is the Absence of God
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Locus Award
2009
Work: Exhalation
Category: 短篇
Organization: Locus Magazine
Result: 受賞
Hugo Award (Novella)
2008
Work: The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate
Category: 中編
Organization: World Science Fiction Society (WSFS)
Result: 受賞
British Science Fiction Association Award (BSFA)
2009
Work: Exhalation
Organization: British Science Fiction Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tower of Babylon

1990 Science fiction

A short story built around a thought experiment about the Tower of Babel and physical engineering; notable for its logical structure and use of physical concepts.

physicsmyth reinterpretationstructure and order
Translations
  • Tower of Babylon (translated into Japanese by Hisashi Asakura)

Story of Your Life

1998 Science fiction

A novella about linguistics and temporal perception: learning an alien language changes the narrator's perception of time, exploring memory, fate, and love.

linguisticstimefateparent-child relationship
Adaptations
  • [Film] Arrival / Denis Villeneuve (2016)
Translations
  • Story of Your Life (Japanese translation by Naruyuki Omote)

Hell Is the Absence of God

2001 Fantasy/Science fiction

Set in a world where angels visibly appear, this story examines faith, suffering, and recompense from a theological perspective; Chiang treats religious themes abstractly despite identifying as an atheist.

religionfaithsuffering and recompense

Exhalation

2008 Science fiction

A self-observational story addressing mechanical civilizations and questions of information and consciousness; the title piece of the collection of thought-experiment stories.

consciousnessinformation theorymechanical civilizations

The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate

2007 Science fiction

A time-travel tale that functions as an allegory, involving narrative structure and causal thought experiments.

timecausalitynarrativity

Understand

1991 Science fiction

A short story about enhanced intelligence and its ethical/social consequences; notable for logical construction and scientific ideas.

intelligenceethicsimpact of technology

Bibliography

  • Stories of Your Life and Others (2002)
  • Exhalation (2019)
  • Various short and mid-length stories (including magazine publications)

Adaptations

  • Film 'Arrival' (based on Story of Your Life)
  • Adaptation of 'Understand' announced (details unconfirmed)

Translations of Works

  • Story of Your Life (translated into Japanese by Kenji Ote, Hayakawa Publishing)
  • Many short stories have Japanese translations collected in Hayakawa short story collections

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Logically rigorous, tightly structured proseHard-SF thought-experiments centered approachNarrative techniques that manipulate perspective and time
Recurring Motifs
language and communicationtime and memoryreligion and faithmathematical and physical concepts

Legacy

Although exceptionally sparing in output, Ted Chiang has achieved international acclaim for tightly argued thought-experiment short fiction exploring philosophical themes. His works have won major awards and influenced popular culture, including film adaptations.

Academic Societies

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (associated)

Archives

  • Holdings in national libraries and library authority databases (various countries)

In Popular Culture

  • Wider recognition through the film 'Arrival'

Quotes

  • "I don't start writing unless I have an idea worth writing about."
    Source: Interviews (various)

Trivia

  • Notably sparse output; mainly short and mid-length works.
  • Works as a technical writer and has stated he does not intend to become a full-time fiction writer.
  • Of Taiwanese descent (family background).