Since the eighties, almost any work by Michael Swanwick has become an event in science fiction literature. Hard science fiction, fantasy, cyberpunk - in any of these areas, the writer demonstrates the skill of a true artist, never deceiving the reader's expectations. This is always bright, strong and bold prose, each time opening up new possibilities for the genre. One might think that the writer’s mantel has already sagged under the weight of awards: his works have won all the most prestigious awards: Nebula, Hugo, World Fantasy Award, Theodore Sturgeon and John Campbell Memorial Awards, awards from Asimov, Locus magazines, "Analog", Science Fiction Chronicle. The stories featured in this anthology are award-winning gems that have won critical acclaim from readers and critics alike, but perhaps most importantly, they are hand-picked by the author himself as a source of his legitimate pride and a true delight for connoisseurs of good fiction.< /p>