[flir]

I've read both, and honestly Chiang's on another level. Each story is a jewel constructed by a watchmaker, in the "change one parameter and think through the consequences" tradition of SF. I think you can see this most clearly in What's Expected of Us.

The Children novels are from another tradition - space opera. They focus on big canvases, rather than big ideas. That's not to imply the big ideas aren't there, but they're not the focal point in the same way. They're comparable to Alastair Reynolds or Iain Banks, not Ted Chiang.