Sheila Finch

In the year 2345, humanity's descendents live in a utopia in peril. They reach back through time to the late 20th century for help to save the Earth. Teens from Earth's troubled times have a chance to become true heroes when they are "yanked" out of time. Tough-minded Nan and brainy Jerry have it hard enough in 1999. Then they find themselves yanked into the future to join with "team members" Ailee, from 2234, and Will, from 1579, on a mission to Oort One, a small scientific base on the edge of the solar system. The base is overrun with alien pests that cause mysterious electrical disturbances and threaten the station's very life-support systems. The Thogmags are furry, they're cute, they're no bigger than gerbils, and they're breeding like crazy. They might seem harmless, but with their strange mental effect on humans, they have the power to destroy everything -- even the Earth itself -- unless the team's final desperate plan turns out to be the cat's meow .... Show more Show less

The basic characteristics of birds are explained, and many different birds from all over the world, and their lifestyles, are described.

Strip-Runner – novelette by Pamela Sargent The Asenion Solution – short story by Robert Silverberg Murder in the Urth Degree – short story by Edward Wellen Trantor Falls – short story by Harry Turtledove Dilemma – short story by Connie Willis Maureen Birnbaum After Dark – short story by George Alec Effinger Balance – short story by Mike Resnick The Present Eternal – short story by Barry N. Malzberg PAPPI – short story by Sheila Finch The Reunion at the Mile-High – short story by Frederik Pohl Plato's Cave – novelette by Poul Anderson Foundation's Conscience – short story by George Zebrowski Carhunters of the Concrete Prairie – novella by Robert Sheckley The Overheard Conversation – short story by Edward D. Hoch Blot – novelette by Hal Clement The Fourth Law of Robotics – short story by Harry Harrison * The Originist – novella by Orson Scott Card Also contains prefaces by Ray Bradbury and Ben Bova and afterwords by Janet Asimov and Isaac Asimov

A homesick, 16 year-old Roman girl and her illegitimate child, exiled by the Emperor Nero to Britannia. A middle-aged Celtic king of an insignificant tribe, trying to find middle ground between Celtic tradition and Roman rule and making enemies on both sides. The shadow of martyred Queen Boudicca like a curse on the land. An old Legionary willing to give his life for a friend, and a former Greek slave with a secret past who rescues him. And an overbearing Roman architect trying to build a copy of one of the most glorious palaces in Rome in a backwater of the Empire - What could go wrong?