"the merchant and the alchemist's gate"

[sergebroom]

My name is Fuwaad ibn Abbas, and I was born here in Baghdad, City of Peace. My father was a grain merchant, but for much of my life I have worked as a purveyor of fine fabrics, trading in silk from Damascus and linen from Egypt and scarves from Morocco that are embroidered with gold. I was prosperous, but my heart was troubled, and neither the purchase of luxuries nor the giving of alms was able to soothe it.

Thus begins Ted Chiang's story The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate. Still, in spite of what you may think, this is not a fantasy tale, but SF with a fantasy voice. It has tales within the tale, and tales that overlap, but they all serve to edify the narrator about traveling to Tomorrow or to Yesterday and about whether or not one can change what Was or what Will Be.

This is a wonderful story, and you can see for yourself here. I must now find further tales by Chiang...

Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.

Comments

[sajia.livejournal.com]

That was a lovely story. I wonder what I have to do to make the one I wrote as fine as that.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Me, I can't write my way out of a paper bag. That hasn't stopped me from wanting to give it one more shot.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Now, I've got to read it. Unfortunately, there's a ton of political theory in the way.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Begone, political theory! I banish thee! Otherwise, Fragano will never read this great story.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

You want me unemployed? I have a grad class in theory to teach and several articles to read or reread by six p.m. (several fewer now).

It turns out I had read the story back in September (I took a quick glance at it online). It is, indeed, a great story.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Of course we don't want an unemployed Fragano. We want one who is highly remunerated.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Highly remunerated? That, alas, is not I!

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I didn't think that you were currently highly remunerated, but I was wishing it were so. Of course, if my wishes could affect Reality...

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Thanks, from the bottom of my heart!