| | | You've spoken and we've heard you π | | "The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling" by Ted Chiang - 42% | | "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson - 36% | | "They're Made of Meat" by Terry Bisson - 21% | | We’re back for month two of Strange New Words, and we’re trading gothic hallways on Mars for something just as unsettling…our own memories. Thanks to those of you who survived October with us, and for sharing your thoughts on the story, including Anders Edwards on Bluesky saying: “Love 'Usher II'—Bradbury nailed creepy with a sci-fi twist, total inspiration as an author!” Be sure to keep the conversation going on socials! For November, your voting determined that we’re reading “Truth of Fact, Truth of Feeling” by Ted Chiang, a story about technology, memory, language and the delicate way our feelings shape the world we remember. In this issue you’ll find: πA link to the story π§ A set of discussion questions to break your brain further π
Your chance to vote on December’s story (we recommend ‘They’re Made of Meat’ but that’s just us) π₯Bonus sci-fi reading recs and stories to warm up with as the nights get colder Thanks for joining us, and see you again at the end of the month with community reflections and our sci-fi roundtable! - Kenna Hughes-Castleberry (Content Manager) and Ian Stokes (Entertainment Editor) Reminder: Strange New Words beams into your inbox on the first and last Wednesdays of the month. Add spacestrangenewwords@smartbrief.com to your contacts so we avoid your event horizon, aka, spam folder. | | | | This Month's Short Story, | Chiang’s story spans two worlds and two eras: one where near-future tech lets us recall every moment of our lives with precision, and another where a young man learns written language for the first time. Across both, one question shines through: Do we live by what happened — or by what we believe happened? If you love reflective sci-fi that hits like a philosophy seminar mixed with a therapy session, you're in for a treat. Disclaimer: All stories linked through this club are hosted on their original publishers’ websites. We do not reproduce or host the stories ourselves. Links are provided solely for readers’ convenience and discussion purposes. Copyright and all rights remain with the original authors and publishers. | | | Because half the fun of reading isn't just turning the pages, it's what happens when we start talking about them. So below are a few questions to think about while you're reading the story. We'll also be walking through a few of these in our wrap up newsletter on this story. - If you could replay any moment of your life with perfect accuracy, would you want to? Which moment goes first?
- What’s more reliable: facts or feelings? And which do you trust more?
- Which fictional universe would handle perfect memory tech the worst? (Black Mirror? The Sims? Star Wars?)
- If past-you and present-you sat down to debate your life choices, who wins?
Share your answers with us — we’ll feature our favorites in the next newsletter | | | | Vote For Next Month's Story | | See below for your three choices to vote on | | | If You Like That Story, Try This Book! | | | NATIONAL BESTSELLER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories--two published for the very first time--all from the mind of the incomparable author of Stories of Your Life and Others Tackling some of humanity's oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic, revelatory. | | | From monsters to fungi to paranoia, our roundup of science fiction horror books is sure to give you the chills. | | | | The physics-based Martian rover simulator rides out of early access, offering tons of creative tools and impeccably chill vibes. | | | | Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. | | | | | | | | | Future US LLC © | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036 | | | |
