
The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, written by Ted Chiang, is a mesmerizing short story that blends elements of history, science, and fantasy in a Middle Eastern setting. The story revolves around time travel and Eastern fatalism, with intricate storytelling reminiscent of Arabian Nights. Ted Chiang's writing style is described as emotionally rich, formally playful, and containing nested stories within stories, akin to Scheherazade's 1001 Nights.
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From The Publisher:
In medieval Baghdad, a penniless man is brought before the most powerful man in the world, the caliph himself, to tell his story. It begins with a walk in the bazaar, but soon grows into a tale unlike any other told in the caliph's empire. It's a story that includes not just buried treasure and a band of thieves, but also men haunted by their past and others trapped by their future; it includes not just a beloved wife and a veiled seductress, but also long journeys taken by caravan and even longer ones taken with a single step. Above all, it's a story about recognizing the will of Allah and accepting it, no matter what form it takes.
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1 comment(s)
Absolutely amazing. Enough said.
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