Maps in a Mirror: The Short Fiction of Ortson Scott Card

SynopsisMaps in a Mirror brings together nearly all of Orson Scott Card's short fiction written between 1977 and 1990. For those readers who have followed this remarkable talent since the beginning, here are all those amazing stories gathered together in one place, with some extra surprises as well.For the hundreds of thousands who are newly come to Card, here is chance to experience the wonder of a writer so versatile that he can handle everything from traditional narrative poetry to modern experimental fiction with equal ease and grace. The brilliant story-telling of the Alvin Maker books is no accident; the breathless excitement evoked by the Ender books is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience.In this enormous volume are forty-six stories, plus ten long, intensely personal essays, unique to this volume. In them the author reveals some of his reasons and motivations for writing, with a good deal of autobiography into the bargain. AnnotationThis book brings together nearly all of Card's stories, from his first publications in 1977 to work as recent as last year. 46 stories are divided into five sections encompassing a wide range of fiction, with commentary on each particular genre. Publishers WeeklyThis hefty, definitive collection contains all of Card's short fiction except for those in his common-theme book ( The Folk of the Fringe ) and those few he says he wants to bury. Which still leaves 46 tales of horror, fantasy, SF, philosophy and Mormon life. ``Dogwalker'' throws an electronic nod to the cyberpunk genre, while ``I Put My Blue Genes On'' is an early precursor to newly emerging biopunk. ``Lost Boys'' is a straightforward, most terrifying horror tale. The five stories with Mormon settings form a pastoral still-life contrasting with the justified cruelty of the rescued humans in the SF entry ``Kingsmeat.'' Available only in this hardcover edition (not due to be included in the later paperback version) are the pre-novel versions of the Nebula- and Hugo Award-winning author's Songmaster , Ender's Game and Prentice Alvin. A series of introductions and afterwords offering Card's thoughts on his life and his writing are as absorbing as the stories. BOMC and QPB selections. (Oct.) More Reviews and Recommendations BiographyWith a raft of science fiction awards and a dedicated following, Orson Scott Card writes imaginative and compelling novels that also explore questions about morality and religion. His Ender series is the most popular; but he also offers a fresh take on the Bible in his Women of Genesis books and has authored other history-based fantasy series.Book 1 The Hanged Man: Tales of Dread Introduction 3 Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory: Chrysalis 4, ed. Roy Torgeson (Zebra, 1979) 5 Quietus: Omni, August 1979 16 Deep Breathing Exercises: Omni, July 1979 26 Fat Farm: Omni, January 1980 31 Closing the Timelid: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1979 39 Freeway Games: Gallery, November 1979 (published title: "Hard Driver") 48 A Sepulchre of Songs: Omni, June 1981 (published title: "A Sepulcher of Songs") 57 Prior Restraint: Aboriginal SF, September 1986 74 The Changed Man and the King of Words: Omni, December 1981 82 Memories of My Head: (first publication) 103 Lost Boys: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1989 108 Afterword 121 Book 2 Flux: Tales of Human Futures Introduction 135 A Thousand Deaths: Omni, December 1978 140 Clap Hands and Sing: Best of Omni #3, ed. Ben Bova and Don Myrus (1982) 152 Dogwalker: Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, November 1989 160 But We Try Not to Act Like It: Destinies, August 1979 177 I Put My Blue Genes On: Analog, August 1978 189 In the Doghouse (with Jay A. Parry): Analog, December 1978 202 The Originist: Foundation's Friends, ed. Martin Harry Greenberg (Tor, 1989) 214 Afterword 263 Book 3 Maps in a Mirror: Fables and Fantasies Introduction 273 Unaccompanied Sonata: Omni, March 1979 277 A Cross-Country Trip to Kill Richard Nixon: Chrysalis 7, ed. Roy Torgeson (Zebra, 1979) 290 The Porcelain Salamander: Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories, Dial Press 1981 301 Middle Woman: Dragons of Darkness, ed. Orson Scott Card (Ace, 1981; as Byron Walley) 307 The Bully and the Beast: Other Worlds 1, ed. Roy Torgeson (Zebra Books, 1979) 310 The Princess and the Bear: Berkley Showcase 1, ed. Victoria Schochet (Berkley, 1980) 343 Sandmagic: Swords Against Darkness 4, ed. Andrew J. Offutt (Zebra, 1979) 363 The Best Day: Woman of Destiny, ed. Roy Torgeson (Berkley, 1984; as Dinah Kirkham) 374 A Plague of Butterflies: Amazing, November 1981 377 The Monkeys Thought 'Twas All in Fun: Analog, May 1979 390 Afterword 420 Book 4 Cruel Miracles: Tales of Death, Hope, and Holiness Introduction 433 Mortal Gods: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January 1979 440 Saving Grace: Night Cry 2:5, 1987 446 Eye for Eye: Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, March 1987 456 St. Amy's Tale: Omni, December 1980 491 Kingsmeat: Analog Yearbook, ed. Ben Bova (Baronet, 1978) 505 Holy: New Dimensions 10, ed. Robert Silverberg (Harper & Row, 1980) 512 Afterword 531 Book 5 Lost Songs: The Hidden Stories Introduction 539 Ender's Game: Analog, August 1977 541 Mikal's Songbird: Analog, May 1978 567 Prentice Alvin and the No-Good Plow (poetry): Sunstone, August, 1989 589 Malpractice: Analog, November 1977 601 Follower: Analog, February 1978 611 Hitching: Mountainwest, 1978 628 Damn Fine Novel: The Green Pages, October 1989 (as Noam D. Pellume) 635 Billy's Box: The Friend, February 1978 (as Byron Walley) 638 The Best Family Home Evening Ever: The Friend, January 1978 (as Byron Walley) 641 Bicicleta: The Friend, October 1977 (as Bryon Walley) 644 I Think Mom and Dad Are Going Crazy, Jerry: The New Era, May 1979 (as Byron Walley) 647 Gert Fram: The Ensign, July 1977 (as Byron Walley) 654 Afterword 663