Star Song and Other Stories (Five Star Speculatvie Fiction)
From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words ("Death and  the Librarian") to a never-before-published response to the  events of September 11 ("Ilion"), Friesner's 12 stories  illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in  the everyday world. Often cloaked in humor, these tales always  provide keen insights using sf and fantasy as vehicles. Known  primarily for his "Star Wars" novels, including Heir to the  Empire, Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and  memorable characters. Beginning with a tale of interstellar war  against a hive-mind ("Point Man") and ending with a novella that  combines space travel and music in a unique and surprising  fashion, Star Song's six pieces illuminate the author's  versatility and eclectic tastes. Zebrowski's many novels (e.g.,  Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard  sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a  benchmark of his creativity. From tales of the near future ("The  Water Sculptor") to those of the far future ("Between the  Winds"), the author expands his concept of the human condition  to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment  to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent  authors, these three volumes belong in most libraries where  short sf is popular.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.