Stories of Your Life and Others

Understand is a science fiction novelette by American writer Ted Chiang, published in 1991. It was nominated for the 1992 Hugo Award for Best Novelette, and won the 1992 Asimov's Reader Poll.

The story follows a man who is given an experimental drug to heal brain damage caused by anoxia after he nearly drowns. The drug regenerates his damaged neurons and has the unintended side effect of exponentially improving his intellect and motor skills. As he gets smarter and smarter, he is pursued by several government agencies and eventually receives a message from—and then enters into conflict with—another super-intelligent test subject.

Leon's superbrain learns phenomenally quickly and remembers faultlessly, so he can accomplish in hours what “normals” would struggle to achieve in weeks, months, or a lifetime. Everything is intuitive, without conscious learning, he's never indecisive, and “No matter what I study, I see patterns”. It's equivalent to time dilation.

He doesn't get physically stronger, but he is more co-ordinated and more aware and in control of his body. For example, her can control heart rate, kidney function and nutrient absorption. His ability to read body language, subtext, and pheromones seem telepathic.

Well written and thought provoking. Recommended.

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