The collection you are holding in your hands is a tribute to the remarkable American writer and great friend of our country Robert Sheckley (1928-2005). His books have become a real literary academy for domestic science fiction writers, where they teach writing skills, subtle irony, unbridled imagination and a special view of the world. The fantastic stories collected in this book are not imitation of the master’s works. These are original diploma works created by writers who graduated from the Sheckley Academy. In addition to texts by Russian-speaking authors, the collection includes new stories by foreign masters Ian Watson and Roberto Quaglia, donated to the collection as a sign of respect for the memory of the Master and Friend.