Review

"From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (Death and the Librarian) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (Ilion), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."

-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20020615)

"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."

-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20050701)

"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them."

-- Library Journal (June 2002) (Library Journal 20050701)

"Gorman knows exactly how to keep the reader on the edge of his seat."

-- Science Fiction Chronicle (Science Fiction Chronicle )

"Gorman's writing is strong, fast, and sleek as a bullet. He's one of the best."

-- New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz

"In the title story, a solitary man's encounter with a ghost challenges his definitions of life and death, while in "Emma Baxter's Boy," a childless woman unexpectedly gives birth to something not human - and always hungry. From alien births to ghost stories to tales of horror and historical suspense, the 15 selections presented here span more than 25 years of superb story-telling by an International Fiction Award-winning writer whose cross-genre approach to suspense should appeal to readers of short stories in general and science fiction/horror in particular."

--Library Journal, July 2005 (Library Journal )

"This fourteen story suspense anthology from short story grandmaster Ed Gorman runs the gamut in terms of sub-genres to include Americana historical, western, science fiction, horror and of course contemporary. With one exception (written in 1968), the other thirteen contributions were published in an assortment of books or magazines so have never been contained within one compilation before. The tales are all well written and in spite of the relative size, each grips the audience who will not be able to guess what comes next. Because of the wide array of settings (past, present, and future), fans of a specialized genre will probably want to pass although those readers will miss out on a strong collection. Those readers who appreciate variety will especially enjoy Mr. Gorman?s latest, but will ask the author-editor one question: when next?"

--The Readers Guild, July 2005 (The Readers Guild )

Product Description

A mysterious and beautiful girl who teaches arrogant young men about true love, a lonely traveling salesman who learns that his passenger is death, children who can absorb the psychic pain of their parents, a desperately pursued serial killer who hides his face under gauze in a hospital room, and a woman who loves the alien infant nobody else wants. These stories and ten others make up this new collection by award-winning Gorman, stories that have earned him such accolades as, "One of the most original writers in crime fiction today" by Kirkus Reviews. Here you'll find the extraordinary range of storytelling skill and powerful emotions that won Gorman the prized International Fiction award.

Ed Gorman has written eighteen novels and published seven short story collections. He lives with his wife Carol in Cedar Rapids. (20021201)