Nominated for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award. Finalist of the Finnish Wandering Star Award. Finalist of the Locus and Hugo Awards. Fusing the incongruous in her stories, Hannu Ryaniemi skillfully juggles mythology and technology, glorifying the endless universe woven from bits, which is plowed by dark ships and dragons. Here, quantum spell-verses leap from the lips, turning into fleet-footed moose, human tragedy makes personal conversation with the deity possible, digital cathedrals rise, and stars are created by the effort of thought. How will human nature develop if creativity is the only limit of desire? What happens when the difference between humans and gods is as small as nanomachines or as large as the universe? These are just the main questions the author asks yourself – and the reader – on this fascinating journey into the depths of internal and external space. “Rajaniemi is without a doubt one of the smartest writers working in the genre of science fiction.” – Tor.com “A timely demonstration of how science fiction expands the possibilities of literature and the human experience.” – Geek Chocolate “Nano-powered superbeings, carnivorous emergent technologies, doors of perception wide open and nearly ripped off their hinges—put the barrel of Raianiemi’s fantasy in your mouth and blow your mind!” – Richard Morgan “In both reality and fiction, Rhaniemi is at the forefront.” – Interzone “Little gems of high-concept prose.” – Sci-Fi and fantasy Reviews “This book is not for your grandfathers. This book is not for Star Wars fans. This book is not for those who “just reads” SF. But if you've read Greg Egan, Charles Stross, Richard Morgan, Daniel Suarez and Vernor Vinge, grab it ASAP." – The Daily “A whirlwind where science and future weirdness meet, exploding with fireworks of bold ideas, complex narratives and damn good prose.” - My Biochemical Sky "The best and most original anthology since Angela Carter's Fireworks, published 40 years ago." - Wall Street Journal "This delightful journey into imaginary worlds brings a fresh perspective to timeless ideas." – Publishers Weekly “Rajaniemi writes post-singularity tales about a computer's romance with a dragon, technologically advanced cats and dogs, and haunted space stations. If you like sci-fi and the science part is a little outlandish, then this book is definitely for you." – Barnes & Noble Blog Bursting onto the science fiction scene with his debut novel The Quantum Thief, Hannu Rajaniemi quickly established a reputation as an author who combines extraordinary and cutting-edge science with beautiful prose, doing it all with wit, warmth and the joy of compelling storytelling. qualities are demonstrated in the collection of stories presented to the reader. Taken from anthologies, magazines, and online publications and collected for the first time in book form, these fantasy novellas range from the lyrical to the whimsical, from the elegiac to the mischievous. This is a collection that features one of the greatest new inventors in science fiction.