Non-Humans & Empathy (Official @Myth.Ink Curation)
One of several Non-Humans & Empathy -themed lists by @Myth.Ink (See also: Fiction, GNs/Manga+, Non-Fiction, Youth Titles, & Creature Feature) | This list is the Official @Myth.Ink Curation edition aka, including real and fictional interactions and considerations of interactions between non-human beings of all types (from trees, animals, bugs, robots, ai, aliens, fantastical creatures and monsters, etc) and humans, empathy and lack thereof. | In my humble opinion, these are the best of the best of what I am personally familiar with | Suggestions are more than welcome.
created by Myth.Ink
last updated September, 2026
Comments
Introduction| Ever wonder what my Non-Humans & Empathy List would look like as a quest? This would be it! Made up of titles I've loved for now, I'll expand with the best of the best as I read more on this theme! Feel free to use this space for making recommendations directly to my TBR!
Companion Lists |
For 🔗NONFICTION
For 🔗CREATURE FEATURES, aka FANTASY NON-HUMANS
For 🔗YOUTH TITLES
For 🔗FICTION, Realistic
Notes on Included Anthologies and Non-Included Short Stories|
|Anthologies, the Short Stories|
Lifecycle of Software Objects – within Exhalation by Ted Chiang Arrival – within Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang The Sleep of Plants by Anne Ritcher – within Sisters of the Revolution by Anne VanderMeer
|Other short stories include|
The Neglected Garden by Kathe Koja
My Reviews of Each (linked as avaiable)| tk
So cool to see Exhalation on here!! I really enjoyed the discussions on empathy in those stories, particularly "The Life Cycle of Software Objects" (if I'm remembering the title correctly)
Yes indeed! I included notes on (some, I need to double check for additional) short stories from the anthology in the comments/notes! :D
It’s been a while since I read Exhalation, but this is the story that stuck out to me most.
This is such a cool list! I am here on my Ishiguro political agenda to recommend Klara and the Sun!
Myth.InkOP
loud and clear. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. Have you written a review? Maybe I'll go check that out. Definitely need convincing if it's going to happen sooner rather than later. 🤭🫡
Omg I’m so sorry I didn’t realize this was also you! I’m clearly an evangelist on this.
I read it before I was taking the time to write reviews, unfortunately :(
Myth.InkOP
Haha no apologies needed!! It was a good reminder, I've been meaning to get to it. Plus, it's now logged as an official TBR recommendation here, which is nice. :)
