Description:

From a literary perspective, this will certainly be the best collection of the year in science fiction and fantasy. Gene Wolfe, of whom *The Washington Post* said, “Of all SF writers currently active none is held in higher esteem,” has selected the short fiction he considers his finest into one volume.  There are many award winners and many that have been selected for various Year’s Best anthologies among the thirty-one stories, which include: “Petting Zoo,” “The Tree Is My Hat,” “The Island of Dr. Death and Other Stories,” “The Hero as Werewolf,” “Seven American Nights,” “The Fifth Head of Cerberus,” “The Detective of Dreams,” and “A Cabin on the Coast.” Gene Wolfe has produced possibly the finest and most significant body of short fiction in the SF and fantasy field in the last fifty years, and is certainly among the greatest living writers to emerge from the genres.  This is the first retrospective collection of his entire career.  It is for the ages. Contents 11 • The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories • [Archipelago] • (1970) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 23 • Afterword (The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories) • essay by Gene Wolfe 25 • The Toy Theater • (1971) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 30 • Afterword (The Toy Theater) • essay by Gene Wolfe 31 • The Fifth Head of Cerberus • (1972) • novella by Gene Wolfe 76 • Afterword (The Fifth Head of Cerberus) • essay by Gene Wolfe 78 • Beech Hill • (1972) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 83 • Afterword (Beech Hill) • essay by Gene Wolfe 84 • The Recording • (1972) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 86 • Afterword (The Recording) • essay by Gene Wolfe 88 • Hour of Trust • (1973) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 112 • Afterword (Hour of Trust) • essay by Gene Wolfe 114 • The Death of Dr. Island • [Archipelago] • (1973) • novella by Gene Wolfe 158 • Afterword (The Death of Dr. Island) • essay by Gene Wolfe 159 • La Befana • (1973) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 162 • Afterword (La Befana) • essay by Gene Wolfe 163 • Forlesen • (1974) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 201 • Afterword (Forlesen) • essay by Gene Wolfe 202 • Westwind • (1973) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 208 • Afterword (Westwind) • essay by Gene Wolfe 209 • The Hero as Werwolf • (1975) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 221 • Afterword (The Hero as Werwolf) • essay by Gene Wolfe 222 • The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton • (1977) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 236 • Afterword (The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton) • essay by Gene Wolfe 237 • Straw • (1975) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 243 • Afterword (Straw) • essay by Gene Wolfe 244 • The Eyeflash Miracles • (1976) • novella by Gene Wolfe 291 • Afterword (The Eyeflash Miracles) • essay by Gene Wolfe 292 • Seven American Nights • (1978) • novella by Gene Wolfe 331 • Afterword (Seven American Nights) • essay by Gene Wolfe 333 • The Detective of Dreams • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 346 • Afterword (The Detective of Dreams) • essay by Gene Wolfe 347 • Kevin Malone • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 355 • Afterword (Kevin Malone) • essay by Gene Wolfe 356 • The God and His Man • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 360 • Afterword (The God and His Man) • essay by Gene Wolfe 361 • On the Train • [Redwood Coast Roamer] • (1983) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe 362 • Afterword (On the Train) • essay by Gene Wolfe 363 • From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton • (1983) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 367 • Afterword (From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton) • essay by Gene Wolfe 368 • Death of the Island Doctor • [Archipelago] • (1983) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 372 • Afterword (Death of the Island Doctor) • essay by Gene Wolfe 373 • Redbeard • (1984) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 377 • Afterword (Redbeard) • essay by Gene Wolfe 379 • The Boy Who Hooked the Sun • (1985) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 381 • Afterword (The Boy Who Hooked the Sun) • essay by Gene Wolfe 382 • Parkroads—A Review • (1987) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe 384 • Afterword (Parkroads—A Review) • essay by Gene Wolfe 385 • Game in the Pope's Head • (1988) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 390 • Afterword (Game in the Pope's Head) • essay by Gene Wolfe 391 • And When They Appear • (1993) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 408 • Afterword (And When They Appear) • essay by Gene Wolfe 409 • Bed and Breakfast • (1996) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe (variant of Bed & Breakfast) 426 • Afterword (Bed and Breakfast) • essay by Gene Wolfe 427 • Petting Zoo • (1997) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 431 • Afterword (Petting Zoo) • essay by Gene Wolfe 433 • The Tree Is My Hat • (1999) • novelette by Gene Wolfe 452 • Afterword (The Tree Is My Hat) • essay by Gene Wolfe 454 • Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon? • (1999) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 464 • Afterword (Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?) • essay by Gene Wolfe 466 • A Cabin on the Coast • (1984) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe 475 • Afterword (A Cabin on the Coast) • essay by Gene Wolfe