Here at WIRED Book Club, we tend to read newer writers. Ted Chiang isn’t exactly that. Since publishing his first short story, “Tower of Babylon,” in 1990, he’s averaged less than a story a year, quietly cultivating a modest but devoted fan base that recognizes his work for what it is: sharp, spare, intensely thought-through science fiction. “Literary,” as some like to call it.

The latest in-depth coverage covering the intersection of technology and culture. WIRED’s award-winning journalism will help you make sense of a world in constant transformation. Join us as we explore the ways technology is changing our lives.