And Swanwick, like Sterling, was clearly greatly influenced by the early work of Samuel R. Delaney; This is especially clear in the nostalgia-inducing accompanying story, "The Blind Minotaur", which echoes Delaney's work, especially "Einstein's Crossing" - although here Swanwick, as always, has changed the melody, orchestration and fingering so that the material becomes his own, and only to him.