Short Story
Number of words : 6600
Percent of complex words : 15.5
Average syllables per word : 1.6
Average words per sentence : 25.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 16.5
Flesch : 44.6
Flesch-Kincaid : 13.4
PEOPLE
Unnamed Scientist
Fearless self-experimenter for truth.
TECHNOLOGY
Lungs
Refillable with air and necessary for life.
Air dispenser
Used for filling lungs.
Argon
A gas, otherwise known as air.
Cognition engine
In the brain.
Lattices
In the brain.
Cerebal regulators
Preserve the ability to operate with reducing air.
PLACES
Filling station
Where you can use air dispensers.
CONCEPTS
Horologists
Measurers of time.
Anatomists
Studiers of the body.
ORGANISATIONS
Reversalists
Group with flawed theory about fixing the air problem.
PLOT
After noticing flawed measurements of time, a researcher sets out to auto-dissect his own brain, to see if he can find out what is going on. These are literally a somewhat a mechanical people, it seems, so he has some success.
He discovers that their world, or universe, is running short of the air they need to survive, and eventually they will all slow down and freeze. However, he realises that the air they lose here may give life to others, elsewhere.
5 out of 5
http://escapepod.org/2009/04/10/ep194-exhalation/
http://www.nightshadebooks.com/Downloads/Exhalation%20-%20Ted%20Chiang.html
Tags: 5.0, other world, z short story
