James Patrick Kelly

Twenty essays on writing science fiction and fantasy by leading speculative fiction writers. An enjoyable and informative read. On the Writing of Speculative Fiction - Robert A. Heinlein Living the Future: You Are What You Eat - Gardner Dozois Plotting - Isaac Asimov Dialog - Isaac Asimov You and Your Characters - James Patrick Kelly Seeing Your Way to Better Stories - Stanley Schmidt Turtles All the Way Down - Jane Yolen Learning to Write Comedy or Why It's Impossible and How to Do It - Connie Willis Good Writing is Not Enough - Stanley Schmidt The Creation of Imaginary Worlds: The World Builder's Handbook and Pocket Companion - Poul Anderson The Creation of Imaginary Beings - Hal Clement How to Build a Future - John Barnes Building a Starfaring Age - Norman Spinrad The Ideas That Wouldn't Die - Stanley Schmidt The Mechanics of Submission - Sheila Williams Revisions - Isaac Asimov Writing for Young People - Isaac Asimov New Writers - Isaac Asimov Authors vs. Editors - Stanley Schmidt Market Resources - Ian Randal Strock

Editors James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel have collected these nineteen stories to explore the supposed divide between mainstream literature and speculative fiction. They've written an eye-opening and informative introduction as well as compiled dozens of quotes by the individual authors on the subject of science fiction vs. literary fiction.

Set in a world that closely resembles our own, Burn is a story of redemption and betrayal, of family and sacrifice, which leads to the greatest question of all: how far would you go to save the ones you love? Fifteen years ago, Felix Paracel killed his mother with fire that shot from his hands. Since then, he has hidden from forces bent on exploiting him and his fire and wind Elemental abilities. But Felix’s world is about to change, because he is Findo Unum—the Split One—and his coming has been foretold for generations. Though Felix’s arrival brings great joy to the Elemental world, it also heralds a coming darkness. No one knows this better than Seven, the mysterious man who rescued Felix from that horrible fire years ago and then disappeared... who now has returned to claim what’s rightfully his: Felix’s heart. But even as Felix begins to trust Seven and his feelings about his place in the world, the darkness reveals itself, bringing consequences no one could have predicted.

"Wonders abound with the winter holidays. Yuletide brings marvels and miracles both fantastic and scientific. Christmas spirits can bring haunting holidays, seasonal songs might be sung by unearthly choirs, and magical celebrations are the norm during this very special time of the year. The best stories from many realms of fantasy and a multitude of future universes, gift-wrapped in one spectacular treasury of wintertime wonder"--Page 4 of cover. Introduction / -- Paula Guran The best Christmas ever -- James Patrick Kelly Go toward the light -- Harlan Ellison If dragon's mass eve be cold and clear -- Ken Scholes Pal o' mine -- Charles de Lint The Nutcracker coup -- Janet Kagan How the Bishop sailed to Inniskeen -- Gene Wolfe Dulce domum -- Ellen Kushner Julian : a Christmas story -- Robert Charles Wilson Loop -- Kristine Kathryn Rusch The Christmas witch -- M. Rickert Wise men -- Orson Scott Card The night things changed -- Dana Cameron Home for Chrstmas -- Nina Kiriki Hoffman A Christmas story -- Sarban A woman's best friend -- Robert Reed Christmas at Hostage Canyon -- James Stoddard The winters solstice -- Von Jocks Newsletter -- Connie Willis.

Glacier - novelette by Kim Stanley Robinson And Who Would Pity a Swan? - short story by Connie Willis The Tryouts - short story by Barry B. Longyear Still Time - short story by James Patrick Kelly The White Babe - novelette by Jane Yolen The Homesick Chicken - short story by Edward D. Hoch Empire State - novelette by Keith Minnion Profession - novella by Isaac Asimov The Band from the Planet Zoom - short story by Andrew Weiner The Web Dancer - novelette by S. P. Somtow [as by Somtow Sucharitkul] The Hob - novelette by Judith Moffett Why I Left Harry's All-Night Hamburgers - short story by Lawrence Watt-Evans

Thirteen short stories, from a HAL-like interstellar ship and a colorful group of pilgrims seeking new worlds, to a retelling of the Garden of Eden story from the serpent's view.