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I have a headache so will be brief, but in case I don't get around the saying it later: "The Story of your life and other stories" by Ted Chiang is totally made of awesome and you all should read it. And this is from someone who doesn't like short stories. Admittedly, these are exactly the sort I like: idea rich, with engaging characters and plots but not that obsessive need to create an intense emotional reaction/twist so many short story authors have. I find most books of short stories equivalent to eating a handful of Jelly Bellies: every flavour may be nice individually but as a whole it's just blah.

If nothing else, you should read Seventy-Two Letters, a hard sci-fi story set in an alternate Victorian London about homunculi and golems and how they relate to the laws of thermodynamics, and how this affects the plight of the working class. I love when stories are tailored to my specific tastes like that :) (Though the main character is a bit of a Marty Stu. Also that's not an 100% accurate description but I didn't want to give any spoilers)

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