Story summaries written between 1995-1999.
Lucius Shepard. Salvador.
Originally in : The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1984.
A Nicaraguan vietnam-type scenario, with hallucinogenic drugs not helping the matter.
Jack McDevitt. Promises to Keep.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, June 1984.
A mission on Callisto goes badly wrong, and a heroic gesture by a heroine saves the rest of the crew.
Octavia E. Butler. Bloodchild.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, June 1984
A disturbing human-alien symbiotic relationship.
Connie Willis. Blued Moon.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, January 1984
An off-beat look at the laws of probability.
Richard Cowper. A message to the King of Brobdingnag.
Originally in : The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1984.
Experiments go terribly wrong, unleashing an unstoppable multiplying algae on the world.
Robert Silverberg. The Affair.
Originally in : Playboy June 1984
Telekinetic love story.
John Varley. Press Enter [].
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine
Victor Apfel is a fucked-up Vietnam veteran, leading a quiet life. All that changes when his next door neighbour, Kluge, is found dead, slumped at his computer terminal. It initially looks like suicide, but Kluge is somewhat out of the ordinary. Lisa Foo is brought in to sort out the hacking activities which Kluge was involved in. Like Apfel, she too has old, deep scars. Kluge, is transpires, had gone beyond normal hacking, to getting into some very deep waters, and those waters threaten to suck in Apfel and Foo.
William Gibson. New Rose Hotel.
Originally in : Omni, July 1984.
Cyberpunk with an oriental spice.
Gene Wolfe. The Map.
Originally in : Light Years and Dark
Fantasy – mysterious stranger with a map seeks a ship to take him along the river.
Molly Gloss. Interlocking Pieces.
Originally in : Universe 14
A senior politician receives a transplant from a patient in less favoured circumstances.
Michael Swanwick. Trojan Horse.
Originally in : Omni, December 1984.
Human-computer interfacing leading to god-like powers.
Jack Dann. Bad Medicine.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1984.
In an attempt to get rid of internal demons, old native American Indian medicine/magic is invoked.
Elizabeth A. Lynn. At the Embassy Club.
Originally in : Omni, June 1984
Love story set against a background of alien civilization and politics.
Rena Yount. Pursuit of Excellence.
Originally in : The Clarion Awards
The genetically enhanced are leaving the ‘norms’ behind. What price would a mother pay to ensure her in utero daughter has the best chance in life?
Frederik Pohl. The Kindly Isle.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, November 1984.
Hotelier tampers with the local seafood.
Pat Cadigan. Rock On.
Originally in : Light Years and Dark.
Ageing rock star feeds VR.
Bruce Sterling. Sunken Garden
Originally in : Omni, June 1984
Terraforming as a sport.
Nancy Kress. Trinity.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1984
Twins are used in an attempt to achieve a trance-like state necessary to summon God.
Ursula K. Le Guin. The Trouble with the Cotton People.
Originally in : The Missouri Review, VII (2)
A tale about trade.
Lewis Shiner. Twilight Time.
Originally in : Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1984.
Travels back in time to the 50s and meets the threat of BEMs.
Lucius Shepard. Black Coral.
Originally in : Universe 14
Caribbean alcoholic.
James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel. Friend.
Originally in : The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January 1984.
The difficulties of being a Friend – an Entertainment Officer-cum-Counsellor-cum-Mr-Fix-It.
Tanith Lee. Foreign Skins.
Originally in : Tamastara.
Colonial India, and a British wife succumbs to the Indian gods.
R.A. Lafferty. Company in the Wings.
Originally in : Heart of Stone, Dear
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Gene Wolfe. A Cabin on the Coast.
Originally in : The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February 1984
A young man makes a deal with the little folk to rescue his otherwise drown-dead love. But such deals are of course fraught with dangers.
Kim Stanley Robinson The Lucky Strike.
Originally in : Universe 14
An alternate history in which the pilot of the Enola Gay is unable to go through with his mission.
