This collection of Greg Bear's major short fiction ably demonstrates why Bear is one of science fiction's most popular authors. The multiple Hugo and Nebula award winner offers here a feast of his most famous stories and novellas, accompanied by thoughtful introductions and afterwords that provide insight into the writer and his process. Standouts include "Blood Music," a precise and chilling tale of human cells that become individually intelligent; "The Wind from a Burning Woman," in which despair and anger inspire a young woman's terrible act of vengeance; "The White Horse Child," a loving look at the nascence of the creative impulse; and "Dead Run," in which the road to hell is paved with concrete, and not all intentions are good. This extensive collection is chock full of good stories told with Bear's characteristic intelligence and flair. While he examines big questions of science, politics and religion, Bear's driving force as a writer is his curiosity about the human spirit. --Roz Genessee

From Publishers Weekly
Fans will welcome The Collected Stories of Greg Bear, a hefty compendium of shorter fiction from the Hugo and Nebula awards winner. Introductions to each story, an illuminating general introduction and an appendix with Bear's commentary on his work enhance the package. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Bear's short fiction leans toward length, and Bear classics like "The Wind from a Burning Woman," "Blood Music," "The Fall of the House of Escher," and "Hardfought" have hefty word counts. Other especially notable long shorts are "Heads," on the pursuit of immortality; "Sleepside Story," a variation of Beauty and the Beast showcasing Bear's adeptness with female characters; and "The Way of All Ghosts," a homage to English dark fantasist William Hope Hodgson (1877-1918). At "normal" short story length, "Richie by the Sea," a horror offering, is worthy of anyone's contemplation and enjoyment. Bear also excels at very short length: witness "Through Road No Whither," a small alternate-history masterpiece, and "The Visitation," which reflects an awareness of religion that might grate on Jerry Falwell. Bear's introductions to the stories are some of the best ever done by an author for his own stuff, especially for what they impart about his literary roots. A mandatory acquisition for sf collections. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
“Greg Bear is one of our very best, and most innovative, speculative writers." —New York Daily News


Book Description
Greg Bear is one of the greatest science fiction writers of the late twentieth century. He has a powerful voice, combining the intense rationality of science with the intensely passionate characters that can only be created by a writer who loves humanity. Bear’s novel Moving Mars won the Nebula Award in 1994, and he did it again, in 2000, with Darwin’s Radio. He has been honored with Hugo and Nebula nominations for novel-length work eight more times.

But Greg Bear’s short fiction is even more astounding, as this powerful career retrospective demonstrates. This collection contains Bear’s earliest published fiction from the late 1960s and early 1970s as well his remarkable award-winning work from the ‘80s and ‘90s—stories like the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novella- length version of “Blood Music” and the Hugo and Nebula Award-winner “Tangents.”

This Collection is enhanced by brand-new introductions for each story, commentary, and reminiscences by Greg Bear.


About the Author
Greg Bear sold his first short story, at the age of fifteen, to Robert Lowndes's Famous Science Fiction. Since then, he has written some twenty novels. A winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, Bear is married to Astrid Anderson, and they, and their two children, live near Seattle, Washington.

FROM OUR EDITORS

This 708-page volume is the definitive collection of Greg Bear's short fiction. It includes all his major short works, including "Blood Music" and "Tangents," each of which won both the Hugo and Nebula, and the Nebula winner "Hardfought." Each story includes a fresh introduction by Bear that places the story within the context of his long and eventful writing career.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Greg Bear is one of the greatest science fiction writers of the late twentieth century. He has a powerful voice, combining the intense rationality of science with the intensely passionate characters that can only be created by a writer who loves humanity. Bear's novel Moving Mars won the Nebula Award in 1994, and he did it again, in 2000, with Darwin's Radio. He has been honored with Hugo and Nebula nominations for novel-length work eight more times.

But Greg Bear's short fiction is even more astounding, as this powerful career retrospective demonstrates. This collection contains Bear's earliest published fiction from the late 1960s and early 1970s as well as his remarkable, award-winning work from the '80s and '90s -- stories like the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novella-length version of "Blood Music" and the Hugo and Nebula Award winner "Tangents."

This collection is enhanced by brand-new introductions for each story, featuring commentary and reminiscences by Greg Bear.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly