Apocalypses and Apostrophes

Apocalypses and Apostrophes is also known as Apostrophes and Apocalypses.

A collection of stories from a master of modern sf, this volume will include a number of original stories alongside stories which have appeared in Asimov's and Amazing magazines but have never before appeared in book form. All the stories are hard sf or intelligent future extrapolation. Several of the published stories have received Nebula nominations and were published between 1987 and 1990. Barnes describes some of the stories as predictions for the end of the world – hence apocalypses – and others as apostrophes, speeches addressed to a non-existent being or to something which cannot understand speech. All are genre expanding, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining.

Contents:

WHILE YOU WAIT

• Two Cheers for Ned Ludd and One for Crazy Eddie
• Gentleman Pervert off on a Spree
• How to Build a Future
• Stochasm
• Under the Covenant Stars

FOR THE END

• Finalities Besides the Grave
• Restricted to the Necessary
• Enrico Fermi and the Dead Cat
• Empty Sky

LET US SPEND SOME TIME

• Why the Stars Are Always So Bright from Cousin Sid's Farm
• That Style Thingie
• Delicate Stuff
• Deep in the Heart of Genre
• Bang On!
• Hope Against Hope

TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THERE

• Information and Unfictionable Science
• Between Shepherds and Kings
• That Kid Watching His Shoes
• Digressions from the Second Person Future
• My Advice to the Civilized
• Kids Are All Right