When he came closer still, she saw the fine, radial scars around his eyes. A Void Dancer. A shudder passed through her. A Void Dancer. She’d never met one, but everyone knew what they did. Take a one-person jumpship and dive into the Wyrm at a velocity and angle of incidence nobody had ever tried before. Mapping the Universe by throwing darts, blindfolded, in an empty room.

In these nineteen stories Marcus maps out possible futures and theoretical pasts, crisscrossing reality with fantasy, and weaving intricate storylines in the process. His characters are frightened and fragile, facing brave new worlds whilst retaining their humanity. If you want to know what the future really looks like, then look here.

Love stories, every one. Dan Marcus knows the shape and sound of tomorrow. I ndeed , like Stross and Doctorow, he is one of its most literate creators. Seeing his edgy stories together, we discover that he's been working ancient ground with modern tools. This remarkable first collection from a veteran author is a treasure for readers.
Terry Bisson, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Theodore Sturgeon Awards

This is Science Fiction of the highest level. The stores ring with authenticity. The language is sharp and funny and unflinching. The science crackles. The characters are you and me: bold, lost, loving, haunted. Marcus writes with an apocalyptic vision and a humanist's heart.
Michael Blumlein, World Fantasy Award finalist and author of “The Healer” and “X,Y”

With an introduction by Carter Scholz

 

 

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