Exhalation

I listened to the audiobook version of this and found fascinating story ideas delivered in an almost textbook like fashion - devoid of emotion, tension, scares, or anything else that could have drawn me in. Perhaps it was the narration of the audiobook, which had a strange, almost robotic delivery to it. I found myself bored for the majority of it, setting it aside for weeks at a time before I forced myself back because “maybe the next one is better”. I finally made it 25% of the way through the final story and then bailed. I know Ted Chiang is a revered author, but for me this just didn't connect.