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The Collected Kessel


The Baen Ebook Edition of the collected short fiction of John Kessel is all new. First time in one volume.

A huge gathering of the collected short fiction of one of the most original voices in all of science fiction. Contains two Nebula winners and multiple nominees.

All-new story afterwords by the author.

Witty, sometime slap-your-knee funny, action-filled, moving, evocative, sad, hopeful, and always, always intelligent and thought-provoking: John Kessel’s science fiction stories have won a place as some of the best work in contemporary science fiction. These are stories that are deep and wide—and as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. Kessel loves science fiction, and it shows. The stories run the gamut from characters thrown into novels, historical events, or strange futures full of surprises to Kafkaesque twists on the metaphysical made very real (and often darkly amusing).

"Brilliantly intelligent, light-handed, and warm-hearted. . ." —Ursula K. Le Guin

"Kessel treats his characters with warmth and compassion even while he's putting them through the wringer." —The San Francisco Chronicle

Science fiction writer John Kessel is the winner of two Nebulas, and the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, among many others. He is professor of creative writing and American literature at North Carolina State University.

Cover Art by Ron Miller



This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, 2012

Printed in the United States of America

eISBN: 978-1-61824-932-6

Copyright 2012 by John Kessel

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

Electronic version by Baen Books
https://www.baen.com


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