Compare and Contrast of “Exhalation”, “Sentinel” and “Seed Stock”

"Exhalation" by Ted Chiang, "Sentinel" by Arthur C. Clarke and "Seed Stock" by Frank Herbert are very different stories with their own concepts in the science fiction genre. Comparing the three however shows that there are some commonalities in the stories themes and helps to identify other common devices and in the writings. These include a theme of exploration, a similar style of writing in their narration and the main characters outlook towards the future towards the end of the narratives.

In “Exhalation”, Ted Chiang introduces the reader to an interesting world that is not like our own and does not contain humans. The story is narrated by the main character who talks about an internal exploration of his brain. In contrast the “Sentinel” by Arthur C. Clarke talks about extraterrestrial exploration, specifically the moon. “Seed Stock” is also about extraterrestrial exploration however it focuses on a new world that humanity is attempting to colonize. The similarity in this theme is not just the exploration but the effect that exploration has on the characters and their thought processes of discovery and the doubts of others around them that they may be wrong. “you’ll be the laughing-stock of the expedition when we get back to Base.” (Clarke, 1951) is a direct approach of doubt towards the narrator’s discovery in “Sentinel” where in “Seed Stock” we see a more indirect notion as the thoughts of Kroudar imply doubt in thinking “Here was the thing the scientists would not admit. They were trying to make this place into another Earth. But it was not and could never be.” (Herbert, 1979). These characters are very different, the first a scientist and the second a fisherman but we can see that they share innovative thinking in finding answers to what they do not know about their surroundings.

The thought process of the characters is fluid throughout the narration of all the stories. That information is presented in similar ways, even though only “Sentinel” by Clarke and “Exhalation” by Chiang are written in a first-person recount of what had happened. In “Seed Stock” by Herbert we get a clear account of the main characters thought processes, “Kroudar held no illusions about why he had been brought on this human migration.” (Herbert, 1979) is a clear demonstration of how the author is concise in telling us what Kroudar is thinking and feeling. Similarly, Clarke writes “’That,’ I said with great dignity, ‘is as good a reason as any for going’” (Clarke, 1951) and conveys his own strong opinions and feelings, in this case regarding scaling a cliff. Chiang writes “I would not be satisfied by merely being the passive subject of such an operation. Auto-dissection was the only option.” (Chiang, 2014) with regards to his characters feelings about dissecting his own brain. These are all clear indications from different segments in their stories that the reader is always aware of the intention of the character and how they perceive what is happening at that time.

The perception of the characters towards the end of each story changes from what was immediately happening to one of that looks to the distant future. The characters evolve over the story based on what events and discoveries they make which causes them to have an epiphany about what may or will come. “Sentinel” has the most least specific outlook as Clarke writes “I can never look now at the Milky Way without wondering from which of those banked clouds of

stars the emissaries are coming.” (Clarke, 1951) as he refers to the fact that someday extraterrestrial beings will come to Earth. In “Exhalation”, Chiang writes “Because even if a universe’s lifespan is calculable, the variety of life that is generated within it is not.” (Chiang, 2014) which gives an optimistic view on a future discovered that will certainly be doom for the inhabitants of his chromium universe. The perception of Kroudar in “Seed Stock” is the most interesting as Herbert writes “Their descendants would change in ways that defied the hopes of those who planned this migration.” (Herbert, 1979) which is in relation to how the humans need to adapt to the new world they inhabit.

"Exhalation", "Sentinel" and "Seed Stock" are unique stories. Comparing the three shows that they share some commonalities in theme and it helps to identify other devices used in the writings. They all share a theme of exploration, similar style narration and the main characters outlook towards the future in the conclusion.

Sources

Chiang, T. (2014, March 29). Exhalation. Lightspeed Magazine. https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/exhalation/

Clarke, A. C. (1951). The Sentinel. Ten Story Fantasy.

Herbert, F. (1979). Seed Stock.