Exhalation

Which was your favorite story in the collection and why?

What themes unified the nine stories in this collection?

Do you typically read a lot of science fiction? How did the stories in "Exhalation" fit with your typical experience of science fiction and how were they different?

Were there any stories that you wished were longer? Any that you thought should have been shorter?

Did reading this story collection impact your views on the benefits or dangers of Artifical Intelligence in any way?

Chiang varies the formats of his stories: there are parables, first person narratives, daily prayers, and more. Why do you think the author varied his writing style in this way, and to what effect?

Several of the stories touch on the concept of free will. Do you believe that humans have free will? How would you personally react if you definitively found out that we do not?

Did you read the author's notes at the end of the book? What did this add to your understanding or enjoyment of the book?