Chapter 1: “EXHALATION” BY TED CHIANG, LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE

Let's start with a master of the science fiction short form. This is the title story for Chiang's stunning collection Exhalation: Stories, which released in 2019. The entire collection is worth the read, but "Exhalation" is a great entry-point. It follows an alien scientist investigating a curious incident that grows into an astounding discovery with universal consequences. I took from this story as a deep reflection on the loss of natural resources and the depletion of the environment. As with all of Chiang's work, this story will have you thinking about it, its philosophy, its explorations of self, long after you finish reading the last word.