Argon and the Closed System in “Exhalation”

Chiang designed the world of “Exhalation,” with its argon air and closed system, as an allegory for the reader’s universe and the concept of entropy. Due to the extremely long times and distances involved, it is difficult for most people to imagine what the heat death of the universe might look like; the world of “Exhalation” provides a small-scale model for that idea. As a result, it captures the finite and fleeting nature of life, and demonstrates how life leads over time to its own end.

Neuroblast Digients in “The Lifecycle of Software Objects”

The Neuroblast Digients symbolize the inextricable connection between learning and feeling. Since Chiang depicts several different digients, all with their own personalities, thoughts, and dreams, they come to represent the fact that anything with the ability to learn and think creatively also has the ability...