Questionable practices
© 2014 by Eileen Gunn
This is a work of fiction. All events portrayed in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
“Chop Wood, Carry Water,” copyright 2013 by Eileen Gunn, appears here for the first time. | “No Place to Raise Kids,” copyright 2007 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Flurb: A Webzine of Astonishing Tales. | “Up the Fire Road,” copyright 2007 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Eclipse One, edited by Jonathan Strahan. | “The Trains that Climb the Winter Tree,” copyright 2011 by Michael Swanwick and Eileen Gunn. First published on Tor.com. | “Speak, Geek,” copyright 2006 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Nature. | “Hive Mind Man,” copyright 2012 by Rudy Rucker and Eileen Gunn. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction. | “Thought Experiment,” copyright 2011 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Eclipse Four, edited by Jonathan Strahan. | “To the Moon Alice,” copyright 2008 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. | “Shed That Guilt!” copyright 2008 by Michael Swanwick and Eileen Gunn. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. | “The Steampunk Quartet,” copyright 2010 by Eileen Gunn. First published on Tor.com. | “The Armies of Elfland,” copyright 2009 by Eileen Gunn and Michael Swanwick. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction. | “Michael Swanwick and Samuel R. Delany at the Joyce Kilmer Service Area,” March 2005, copyright 2007 by Eileen Gunn. First published in Foundation. | “Zeppelin City,” copyright 2009 by Michael Swanwick and Eileen Gunn. First published on Tor.com. | “Phantom Pain,” copyright 2013 by Eileen Gunn, appears here for the first time. All stories are used here by permission of the author and any co-authors.
Book design by John D. Berry. The typeface is Dolly Pro.
Cover illustration © Fu Wenchao/Xinhua Press/Corbis.
ISBN (print): 9781618730756
ISBN (ebook): 9781618730763
Small Beer Press
150 Pleasant St., #306
Easthampton, MA 01027
t/f: 413.203.1636
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Distributed to the trade by Consortium.
Printed on 50# 30% PCR recycled Natures
Natural paper by the Maple Press in York, Penn.
First edition: 2013
0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gunn, Eileen, 1945–
[Stories. Selections]
Questionable practices : stories / Eileen Gunn. — First Edition.
pages cm
Summary: “Stories from Eileen Gunn are always a cause for celebration. Where will she lead us? ‘Up the Fire Road’ to a slightly alternate world. Into steampunk’s heart. Never where we might expect.” — Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-61873-075-6 (paperback) — ISBN 978-1-61873-076-3 (ebook)
I. Title.
PS3607.U5477A6 2014
813’.6 — dc23
2013047730