Ted Chiang’s latest novelette, “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” appears in the September issue of F&SF. It was also published as a stand-alone hardcover by Subterranean Press. Yes, that is right, a stand-alone hardcover novelette. I bought a copy at World Fantasy. It cost me $20. Last time I looked it was going for $30 second hand on Amazon. This is not just any piece of short fiction, this is Ted Chiang. It is a time travel story done in the style of the Arabian Nights. I don’t think it is one of Chiang’s best, but I don’t expect that to stop it being a Hugo nominee this year, because even slightly below par Chiang is very good indeed.