Huh. I think of myself as a very character-focused reader, and I love (most of) Chiang's work. I'll admit that his characters aren't as deep as some other writers', but part of that is down to the fact that Chiang writes short fiction rather than novels, I think; anyway, I don't find his characterization nearly as flat as you do.
It may make a difference that my other favorite thing, along with characterization, is worldbuilding, and I think Chiang's worldbuilding (which includes his ideas) is gorgeous.
If you haven't read Chiang's The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate (http://web.archive.org/web/20080214145811/http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/fiction/tc01.htm), which won the 2008 Hugo and Nebula for Best Novelette, you might want to give it a try (the link goes to an archived full text). It's a bit more characterization-centered than some of Chiang's other work, as well as being an awesome idea-exploration.
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regna
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Date: 2010-03-24 01:52 (UTC)It may make a difference that my other favorite thing, along with characterization, is worldbuilding, and I think Chiang's worldbuilding (which includes his ideas) is gorgeous.
If you haven't read Chiang's The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate (http://web.archive.org/web/20080214145811/http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/fiction/tc01.htm), which won the 2008 Hugo and Nebula for Best Novelette, you might want to give it a try (the link goes to an archived full text). It's a bit more characterization-centered than some of Chiang's other work, as well as being an awesome idea-exploration.