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Eclipse Two


To observe an eclipse is to witness a rare and unusual event. Under darkened skies the sun becomes a negative image of itself, its corona transforming the landscape into a strange space where anything might happen, and any story may be true. . .

In the spirit of classic science fiction anthologies such as Universe, Orbit, and Starlight, master anthologist Jonathan Strahan (The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year) presents the non-themed genre anthology Eclipse: New Science Fiction and Fantasy. Here you will find stories where strange and wonderful things happen--where reality is eclipsed by something magical and new.

Following in the footsteps of the multiple-award-nominated Eclipse One, Eclipse Two delivers new fiction by some of the genre's most celebrated authors, including Alastair Reynolds's star-spanning saga of Imperial assassination and courtly intrigue; Stephen Baxter's tantalizing tale of impermanence and memory, as first contact with an alien artificial intelligence has very real consequences; Nancy Kress's claustrophobic fable of shared space, life delayed, and critical choices; and Ted Chiang's evocative story of an all-metal world, its argon-breathing inhabitants, and the scientist who performs the ultimate self-examination.

Contents:
Introduction - Jonathan Strahan
The Hero - Karl Schroeder
Turing's Apples - Stephen Baxter
Invisible Empire of Ascending Light - Ken Scholes
Michael Laurits is: Drowning - Paul Cornell
Night of the Firstlings - Margo Lanagan
Elevator - Nancy Kress
The Illustrated Biography of Lord Grimm - Daryl Gregory
Exhalation - Ted Chiang
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom - David Moles
The Rabbi's Hobby - Peter S. Beagle
The Seventh Expression of the Robot General - Jeffrey Ford
Skin Deep - Richard Parks
Ex Cathedra - Tony Daniel
Truth Window: A Tale of the Bedlam Rose - Terry Dowling
Fury - Alastair Reynolds

Praise for Eclipse One:

". . . it's refreshing to find an editor who is sanguine about short fiction, and who, moreover, can assemble a volume of fresh wonders to justify his optimistic stance. Such is the case with talented compiler Jonathan Strahan and his Eclipse One . . . This is a strong, non-thematic, non-programmatic assemblage of great stories that affirm the power of fabulation in a variety of voices. . . with luck, we'll experience more such volumes on a regular basis."
—Paul di Filippo, The Washington Post

Cover Art by Donato Giancola


ORDER Paperback

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, October 2008

ISBN-10: 978-1-5978-0136-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-59780-136-2

Copyright 2008 by Jonathan Strahan

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Night Shade Books Original
Night Shade Books
1423 33rd Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
http://www.nightshadebooks.com

Electronic version by Baen Books
http://www.baen.com


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