by Wil McCarthy
First published 2002
Goldilocks drifts through the cosmos, searching for habitable worlds that might be just right for human colonization. She discovers three planets orbiting a distant star, each with its own challenges and surprises. Meanwhile, Sleeping Beauty lies in cryogenic suspension aboard a generation ship, waiting for the right moment to awaken as her vessel approaches its destination. These familiar characters navigate the vast emptiness between stars, where the rules of magic give way to the laws of physics. The collection transforms childhood stories into tales of exploration and survival. Each protagonist faces the same fundamental questions that drove their earthbound predecessors, but now the stakes involve entire civilizations and the future of humanity among the stars. The authors blend the comfort of familiar narratives with the wonder of space travel, creating stories where happily ever after requires overcoming the harsh realities of interstellar distances and alien worlds.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, space-opera
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Cosmos, Distant Star
Period: Future
320 pages · Mass Market Paperback · DAW