Chiang, Ted. "Tower of Babylon"
What if: An older idea of cosmology were correct.
Summary: After centuries of work, the Tower of Babylon has reached the vault of heaven and stoneworkers now attempt to break through.
Published: In Omni, November 1990; The Year's Best Science Fiction, Eighth Annual Collection (ed. Gardner Dozois), St. Martin's 1991 (0312060092, 0312060084), SFBC 1991, v.t. Best New SF 5, Robinson 1991 (1854870912); Nebula Awards 26: SFWA'S Choice for the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year (ed. James Morrow), HBJ 1992 (0151649340BUY, 0156654725BUY); The Fantasy Hall of Fame (ed. Robert Silverberg), HarperPrism 1998 (0061052159BUY); and Stories of Your Life and Others, Tor/Forge 2002 (076530418XBUY).
Original in: English.
Translation: Italian by Corinna Augustoni as "La torre di Babilonia", in Supernovæ (ed. Gardner Dozois), Interno Giallo/Mondadori 1993 (8804377682), Mondadori 1996.
Awards: Winner: 1990 Nebula for best novelette. Nominee: 1991 Hugo for best novelette.