The Best of Gene Wolfe · A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction

From a literary perspective, this will certainly be the best collection of the year in science fiction and fantasy. Gene Wolfe, of whom *The Washington Post* said, “Of all SF writers currently active none is held in higher esteem,” has selected the short fiction he considers his finest into one volume. 

There are many award winners and many that have been selected for various Year’s Best anthologies among the thirty-one stories, which include: “Petting Zoo,” “The Tree Is My Hat,” “The Island of Dr. Death and Other Stories,” “The Hero as Werewolf,” “Seven American Nights,” “The Fifth Head of Cerberus,” “The Detective of Dreams,” and “A Cabin on the Coast.” Gene Wolfe has produced possibly the finest and most significant body of short fiction in the SF and fantasy field in the last fifty years, and is certainly among the greatest living writers to emerge from the genres.  This is the first retrospective collection of his entire career. 

It is for the ages.

Contents

11 • The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories • [Archipelago] • (1970) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

23 • Afterword (The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories) • essay by Gene Wolfe

25 • The Toy Theater • (1971) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

30 • Afterword (The Toy Theater) • essay by Gene Wolfe

31 • The Fifth Head of Cerberus • (1972) • novella by Gene Wolfe

76 • Afterword (The Fifth Head of Cerberus) • essay by Gene Wolfe

78 • Beech Hill • (1972) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

83 • Afterword (Beech Hill) • essay by Gene Wolfe

84 • The Recording • (1972) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

86 • Afterword (The Recording) • essay by Gene Wolfe

88 • Hour of Trust • (1973) • novelette by Gene Wolfe

112 • Afterword (Hour of Trust) • essay by Gene Wolfe

114 • The Death of Dr. Island • [Archipelago] • (1973) • novella by Gene Wolfe

158 • Afterword (The Death of Dr. Island) • essay by Gene Wolfe

159 • La Befana • (1973) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

162 • Afterword (La Befana) • essay by Gene Wolfe

163 • Forlesen • (1974) • novelette by Gene Wolfe

201 • Afterword (Forlesen) • essay by Gene Wolfe

202 • Westwind • (1973) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

208 • Afterword (Westwind) • essay by Gene Wolfe

209 • The Hero as Werwolf • (1975) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

221 • Afterword (The Hero as Werwolf) • essay by Gene Wolfe

222 • The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton • (1977) • novelette by Gene Wolfe

236 • Afterword (The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton) • essay by Gene Wolfe

237 • Straw • (1975) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

243 • Afterword (Straw) • essay by Gene Wolfe

244 • The Eyeflash Miracles • (1976) • novella by Gene Wolfe

291 • Afterword (The Eyeflash Miracles) • essay by Gene Wolfe

292 • Seven American Nights • (1978) • novella by Gene Wolfe

331 • Afterword (Seven American Nights) • essay by Gene Wolfe

333 • The Detective of Dreams • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

346 • Afterword (The Detective of Dreams) • essay by Gene Wolfe

347 • Kevin Malone • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

355 • Afterword (Kevin Malone) • essay by Gene Wolfe

356 • The God and His Man • (1980) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

360 • Afterword (The God and His Man) • essay by Gene Wolfe

361 • On the Train • [Redwood Coast Roamer] • (1983) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe

362 • Afterword (On the Train) • essay by Gene Wolfe

363 • From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton • (1983) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

367 • Afterword (From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton) • essay by Gene Wolfe

368 • Death of the Island Doctor • [Archipelago] • (1983) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

372 • Afterword (Death of the Island Doctor) • essay by Gene Wolfe

373 • Redbeard • (1984) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

377 • Afterword (Redbeard) • essay by Gene Wolfe

379 • The Boy Who Hooked the Sun • (1985) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

381 • Afterword (The Boy Who Hooked the Sun) • essay by Gene Wolfe

382 • Parkroads—A Review • (1987) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe

384 • Afterword (Parkroads—A Review) • essay by Gene Wolfe

385 • Game in the Pope's Head • (1988) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

390 • Afterword (Game in the Pope's Head) • essay by Gene Wolfe

391 • And When They Appear • (1993) • novelette by Gene Wolfe

408 • Afterword (And When They Appear) • essay by Gene Wolfe

409 • Bed and Breakfast • (1996) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe (variant of Bed & Breakfast)

426 • Afterword (Bed and Breakfast) • essay by Gene Wolfe

427 • Petting Zoo • (1997) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

431 • Afterword (Petting Zoo) • essay by Gene Wolfe

433 • The Tree Is My Hat • (1999) • novelette by Gene Wolfe

452 • Afterword (The Tree Is My Hat) • essay by Gene Wolfe

454 • Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon? • (1999) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

464 • Afterword (Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?) • essay by Gene Wolfe

466 • A Cabin on the Coast • (1984) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe

475 • Afterword (A Cabin on the Coast) • essay by Gene Wolfe