Fictions Read online

  More, Solaris Rising 2, April 2013

  One, Tor.com, July 17, 2013

  . . . And Other Stories, Shadows of the New Sun, August 2013

  Migration, Beyond the Sun, August 2013

  Pathways, Twelve Tomorrows, October 2013

  Annabel Lee, New Under the Sun, November 2013

  Second Arabesque, Very Slowly, Dangerous Women, December 2013

  Frog Watch, Asimov’s Science Fiction, December 2013

  2014

  The Common Good, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2014

  Pretty Soon the Four Horsemen are Going to Come Riding Through, The End Is Nigh, March 2014

  Do You Remember Michael Jones?, Galaxy’s Edge, May 2014

  Eaters, The Book of Silverberg: Stories in Honor of Robert Silverberg, May 2014

  Outmoded Things, Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds, May 2014

  Sidewalk at 12:10 P.M., Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2014

  Someone to Watch Over Me, IEEE Spectrum, June 2014

  Yesterday’s Kin, Yesterday’s Kin, September 2014

  Angels of the Apocalypse, The End Is Now, September 2014

  2015

  Why I Hate Earth, 2015 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, January 2015

  Blessings, The End Has Come, May 2015

  Cocoons, Meeting Infinity, November 2015

  Machine Learning, Future Visions, November 2015

  2016

  Belief, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April, March 2016

  Pyramid, Now We Are Ten, July 2016

  2017

  Every Hour of Light and Dark, Omni, Winter 2017

  Collapse, seat14c.com, July 2017

  Canoe, Extrasolar, August 2017

  Dear Sarah, Infinity Wars, September 2017

  The Great Broccoli Wi-Fi Theft, 2018 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, December 2017

  2018

  Cost of Doing Business, Asimov’s Science Magazine, May/June 2018, May 2018

  2020

  Semper Augustus, Asimov’s Science Magazine, March/April, March 2020

  SHORT FICTION BIBLIOGRAPHY

  ALPHABETICAL

  A

  A Delicate Shade of Kipney, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, January-February 1978

  A Hundred Hundred Daisies, Asimov’s Science Fiction, October-November 2011

  A Little Matter of Timing, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, September 1982

  A Scientific Education, Crime Through Time, 1998

  Act One, Asimov’s Science Fiction, March 2009

  After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, April 2012

  Against a Crooked Stile, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1979

  Always True to Thee, in My Fashion, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 1997

  And No Such Things Grow Here, Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2001

  . . . And Other Stories, Shadows of the New Sun, August 2013

  And Whether Pigs Have Wings, Omni, January 1979

  And Wild for to Hold, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, July 1991

  Angels of the Apocalypse, The End Is Now, September 2014

  Annabel Lee, New Under the Sun, November 2013

  Arms and the Woman, The Chick is in the Mail, October 2000

  Ars Longa, By Any Other Fame, January 1994

  Art of War, The New Space Opera, June 2007

  B

  The Battle of Long Island, Omni, February-March 1993

  Beggars in Spain, Beggars in Spain, February 1991

  Belief, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March-April, March 2016

  Birth Luck, Liavek, July 1985

  Birthing Pool, Murasaki, May 1992

  Blessings, The End Has Come, May 2015

  Borovsky’s Hollow Woman, Omni, October 1983

  By Fools Like Me, Asimov’s Science Fiction, September 2007

  C

  Call Back Yesterday, Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2008

  Cannibals, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1987

  Canoe, Extrasolar, August 2017

  Casey’s Empire, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 1981

  Clad in Gossamer, Silver Birch, Blood Moon, March 1999

  Cocoons, Meeting Infinity, November 2015

  Collapse, seat14c.com, July 2017

  The Common Good, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2014

  Computer Virus, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 2001

  Craps, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, March 1988

  D

  Dancing in the Dark, Space Inc., July 2003

  Dancing on Air, Asimov’s Science Fiction, July 1993

  Deadly Sins, Asimov’s Science Fiction, October-November 2009

  The Death of John Patrick Yoder, Full Spectrum 4, Apr 1993

  Do You Remember Michael Jones?, Galaxy’s Edge [Issue 8], May 2014

  Down Behind Cuba Lake, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, September 1986

  Dreams and Nightmares, The Omega Egg [Part 3 of 17], June 2005

  E

  Eaters, The Book of Silverberg: Stories in Honor of Robert Silverberg, May 2014

  The Earth Dwellers, Galaxy, December 1976

  Ej-Es, Stars, August 2003

  Elevator, Eclipse Two: New Science Fiction and Fantasy, October 2008

  Eliot Wrote, Lightspeed, May 2011

  End Game, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April-May 2007

  Eoghan, Alternate Kennedys, July 1992

  The Erdmann Nexus, Asimov’s Science Fiction, October-November 2008

  Evolution, Asimov’s Science Fiction, October 1995

  Exegesis, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April-May 2009

  Explanations, Inc., The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1984

  F

  Fault Lines, Asimov’s Science Fiction, August 1995

  Feigenbaum Number, Omni, Winter 1995

  First Flight, Space Cadets, 2006

  First Principle, Life on Mars, April 2011

  First Rites, Jim Baen’s Universe, October 2008

  The Flowers of Aulit Prison, Asimov’s Science Fiction, October-November 1996

  Fountain of Age, Asimov’s Science Fiction, July 2007

  Frog Watch, Asimov’s Science Fiction, December 2013

  G

  Glass, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, September 1987

  Grant Us This Day, Asimov’s Science Fiction, September 1993

  Green Thumb, Terrors, July 1982

  H

  Hard Drive, Killing Me Softly, November 1995

  I

  Images of Anna, Fantasy Magazine, September 2009

  In a World Like This, Omni, October 1988

  In Memoriam, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, June 1988

  Inertia, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, January 1990

  J

  Johnny’s So Long at the Fair, Dying For It, October 1997

  JQ211F, and Holding, Forbidden Planets, May 2006

  K

  The Kindness of Strangers, Fast Forward 2, September 2008

  Knotweed and Gardenias, Starship Century: Toward the Grandest Horizon, August 2013

  L

  Laws of Survival, Jim Baen’s Universe, December 2007

  M

  Machine Learning, Future Visions, November 2015

  Making Good Time, Omni Online, January 1997

  Margin of Error, Omni, October 1994

  Marigold Outlet, Twists of the Tale, November 1996

  Martin on a Wednesday, Asimov’s Science Fiction, March 1993

  Migration, Beyond the Sun, August 2013

  Mirror Image, One Million A.D., December 2005

  Mithridates, He Died Old, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2013

  More, Solaris Rising 2, April 2013

  The Most Famous Little Girl in the World, Sci Fiction, May 8, 2002

 
The Mountain to Mohammed, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1992

  My Mother, Dancing, Destination 3001, January 2001

  N

  Nano Comes to Clifford Falls, Asimov’s Science Fiction, July 2006

  Night Win, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, September 1983

  O

  One, Tor.com, July 17, 2013

  Out of All Them Bright Stars, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March 1985

  Outmoded Things, Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds, May 2014

  P

  Patent Infringement, Asimov’s Science Fiction, May 2002

  Pathways, Twelve Tomorrows, October 2013

  Peace of Mind, When the Music’s Over, May 1991

  People Like Us, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, September 1989

  Philippa’s Hands, Full Spectrum, September 1988

  Phone Repairs, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, December 1986

  Plant Engineering, Death Dines at 8:30, 2001

  Pretty Soon the Four Horsemen are Going to Come Riding Through, The End Is Nigh, March 2014

  The Price of Oranges, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1989

  Product Development, Nature, March 16, 2006, March 2006

  Pyramid, Now We Are Ten, July 2016

  R

  Renaissance, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, Mid-December 1989

  The Rules, Asimov’s Science Fiction, December 2007

  S

  Safeguard, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2007

  Savior, Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2000

  Second Arabesque, Very Slowly, Dangerous Women, December 2013

  Semper Augustus, Asimov’s Science Magazine, March/April, March 2020

  Sex and Violence, Asimov’s Science Fiction, February 2008

  Sex Education, Intersections: The Sycamore Hill Anthology, January 1996

  Shadows on the Cave Wall, Universe 11, June 1981

  Shiva in Shadow, Between Worlds, August 2004

  Sidewalk at 12:10 P.M., Asimov’s Science Fiction, June 2014

  Sleeping Dogs, Far Horizons, May 1999

  Solomon’s Choice, Fast Forward 1, February 2007

  Someone to Watch Over Me, IEEE Spectrum, June 2014

  Spillage, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1988

  Stalking Beans, Snow White, Blood Red, January 1993

  State of Nature, Bending the Landscape, September 1998

  Steadfast, Black Swan, White Raven, June 1997

  Steamship Soldier on the Information Front, Future Histories, June 1997

  Stone Man, Wizards, May 2007

  Summer Wind, Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears, December 1995

  T

  Talp Hunt, Universe 12, June 1982

  Ten Thousand Pictures, One Word, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone Magazine, July-August 1984

  To Cuddle Amy, Asimov’s Science Fiction, August 2000

  To Scale, Xanadu, January 1993

  Touchdown, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1990

  Training Ground, Liavek: Wizard’s Row, September 1987

  Trinity, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1984

  U

  Unintended Behavior, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2009

  Unto the Daughters, Sisters in Fantasy, June 1995

  W

  The War on Treemon, Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2003

  We Can Do This, Arc 1.4/Forever Alone Drone, December 2012

  Wetlands Preserve, Sci Fiction, September 27, 2000

  Why I Hate Earth, 2015 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, January 2015

  With the Original Cast, Omni, May 1982

  Words Like Pale Stones, Black Thorn, White Rose, September 1994

  Writer’s Block, Rip-Off!, December 2012

  Y

  Yesterday’s Kin, Yesterday’s Kin, September 2014

  FICTION SERIES

  [O] = Omnibus

  [SF] = Short Story/Novelette

  Crossfire

  Crossfire (2003)

  Crucible (2004)

  David Brin’s Out of Time

  Yanked! (1999)

  Liavek

  Birth Luck (1985) [SF]

  Training Ground (1987) [SF]

  Oaths and Miracles/Robert Cavanaugh

  Oaths and Miracles (1996)

  Stinger (1998)

  Probability Universe

  The Flowers of Aulit Prison (1996) [SF]

  Probability Moon (2000)

  Probability Sun (2001)

  Probability Space (2002)

  Roger/Soulvine Moor Chronicles

  Crossing Over (2010)

  Dark Mist Rising (2011)

  A Bright and Terrible Sword (2012)

  Sleepless

  Beggars in Spain (1993)

  Beggars & Choosers (1994)

  Beggars Ride (1996)

  Beggars in Spain (1991) [SF]

  Sleeping Dogs (1999) [SF]

  Yesterday’s Kin

  Yesterday’s Kin (2014) [SF]

  Tomorrow’s Kin (2017)

  If Tomorrow Comes (2018)

  Terran Tomorrow (2018)

  Yesterday’s Kin Trilogy (2019) [O]

  1976

  THE EARTH DWELLERS

  The trouble with children, these days, is that they live in the future—and we parents are their past . . .

  THE SHUTTLE LAUNCHING was not very dramatic. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but surely more than this endless waiting, while disembodied mechanical voices crackled around her in painstaking last minute checks as the vibrant summer stars were slowly bleached by the coming dawn. She had felt obscurely cheated, as though the least they could have done was given her a spectacle intense enough to be worthy of all this pain.

  The lift-off came finally, two hours after the final kisses for Susan, Jay and Kevin. He had looked so unutterably, heartbreakingly small in his specially-built pressure suit that her resolve, despite weeks of careful buttressing, had crumbled and her lips were set grimly as she knelt down and crushed him to her. His new short haircut left bare the vulnerable little neck, baby plump still and smelling faintly of powder. A treacherous thought of Hecuba holding her grandson for the last time before his death had stabbed her, and she had stood up so hastily that the little boy had tumbled backward, laughing.

  “Final countdown.”

  “Standing by.”

  “Ten, nine . . .”

  The stars had faded now but the moon was still visible, a thin spiky crescent, fragile-looking and yet obscurely comforting, because that was where they would go first and it was a place she could at least see. There, they weren’t entirely beyond her. Not yet. Not until tomorrow or the next day when the Oregon set out from Moon Base III on its silent journey that would reach half light-speed, carrying like some enchanted floating castle its 200 dreaming passengers through their sixteen-year sleep until the spell should be broken by the hard pioneer life awaiting them as members of the new colony on Sirius V.

  The thin golden flame of the shuttle’s rockets faded and they were gone.

  Duncan waved away the reporters, who had scented emotion and were beginning to circle. His craggy face was as calm as ever, the shake of his head as assured. Nonetheless, something in the blue eyes must have flashed ominously, for the reporters backed off to hunt easier prey and left them huddled alone at the edge of the barren spacefield.

  “It’s always been like this, Rachel,” he said gently. “Always. You know that. Children grow up and go away. On ships or trains or covered wagons or spaceships or whatever; they go.”

  “But not so far!”

  “It seemed as far, then.”

  “But parents could write to them! A letter might take a year—five years!—but it got there eventually. But now, across space . . .”

  “Many never got there. Rachel, let it go. Accept it.”

  “I can’t!” she cried. �
�It’s easy for you! You just wall off your feelings and that’s that. I can’t do that!”

  He was too wise to take up the old argument. He put his arms around her, the dark head resting on his worn blue shirt, the shirt he liked because it was familiar and comfortable, like Earth. After a moment she said, subdued, “I’m sorry.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s just that we’ll never even know if they—if anything happens. And Kevin is so little. I’ve always wanted grandchildren and now I’ve only had him for two years. And Susan . . .”

  “Shhh.”

  He held her while she cried, and around him the ugly utilitarian structures of Logan Spacefield blurred, like children’s sandcastles dissolving in the rain.

  * * *

  They stayed three days more at the spaceport, watching by video the loading of passengers onto the Oregon, waiting for the final launching. Not that there was much to see. The colonists were placed in suspended animation as soon as they reached the moon; the project’s medical team wanted to observe the suspended state as long as possible. Rachel visualized them, each in his clear plastic chamber, being hefted aboard like so many tons of seeds, or food, or landing fuel. She had seen pictures of the compact suspended animation chambers, and now the idea tortured her that Kevin would look as if he were in a see-through coffin. The suspension drugs would even slow down his circulation so that his ruddy cheeks would have the cool paleness of death . . .

  Stop it, she told herself severely. You know better than that. But the image kept returning.

  They sat on hard chairs in a large bare room set aside for close relatives of the colonists and watched the video screen for three days. They didn’t talk much. At noon one of them would leave their air-conditioned vigil, walk through the oppressive heat to the building which housed the spaceport cafeteria, and bring back soggy sandwiches and tepid coffee. The Earth-moon communications, many of them incomprehensibly technical, ceaselessly assaulted the air around them. When it was all over, the Oregon safely started on her epic voyage, both of them secretly felt relieved. It was over. They could go home.

  * * *

  “The coffee’s ready.”

  “Be right in, Hon. I’m making a fire.”

  “Then I’ll bring it in there.”

  She got out her best silver tray, a wedding gift thirty-two years ago. She poured the coffee into wafer-thin china cups, dug around until she found the embroidered napkins Susan had made for her one long-ago Christmas, arranged them on the tray.