The Collected Stories of Greg Bear (Tom Doherty Associates Books)

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