Introduction: “It’s Dark Between the Stars” © 2013 by Hank Davis
“A Walk in the Dark” by Arthur C. Clarke first appeared in Thrilling Wonder Stories, August 1950 © 1950 by Standard Magazines, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Inc. for the author’s estate.
“Frog Water” by Tony Daniel appears here for the first time. © 2013 by Tony Daniel. Published by permission of the author.
”Lost Memory” by Peter Phillips first appeared in Galaxy, May, 1952. © 1952 by Galaxy Publishing Corp. Reprinted by permission of Andrew Dibbon, executor of the author’s estate.
“Dragons” by Sarah A. Hoyt appears here for the first time. © 2013 by Sarah A. Hoyt. Published by permission of the author.
“The Last Weapon” by Robert Sheckley originally appeared in Star Science Fiction Stories, © 1953 by Ballantine Books, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Donald Maass Literary Agency for the author’s estate.
“Mongoose” by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette first appeared in Lovecraft Unbound, Dark Horse Comics, 2009. © 2009by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette. Reprinted by permission of the authors.
“Medusa” by Theodore Sturgeon originally appeared in Astounding Science Fiction, February 1942. © 1996 by the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust. Reprinted by permission of the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust.
“The Searcher” by James H. Schmitz originally appeared in Analog, February 1966. © The Conde Nast Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Barry Malzberg for the author’s estate.
“The Rhine’s World Incident” by Neal Asher originally appeared in Subterfuge, NewCon Press, 2008. © 2008 by Neal Asher. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“Nothing Happens on the Moon” by Paul Ernst first appeared in Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1939, © 1939 by Street and Smith Publications, Inc. All attempts to locate the holder of rights to this story have been unsuccessful. If a holder will get in touch with Baen Books, payment will be made.
“Visiting Shadow” by Hank Davis appears here for the first time. © 2013 by Hank Davis. Published by permission of the author.
“The God of the Asteroid” by Clark Ashton Smith first appeared in an abridged version as “Master of the Asteroid” in Wonder Stories, October 1932. Reprinted by permission of William Dorman, executor of the author’s estate.
“Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin originally appeared in Omni, August 1979. © 1979 by Omni International, Ltd. Reprinted by permission of the author.