Includes stories by George R.R. Martin, John Varley, Orson Scott Card, Connie Willis, Larry Niven and Steve Barnes, Tanith Lee and Joanna Russ. Interesting stuff. ( )

Theme: Utopia
"The Way of Cross and Dragon" - Space-traveling Catholic high Inquisitor encounters a heretic faith that has made a saint of Judas Iscariot. His investigation may test even his own faith. -- A very interesting take on religion. Easy to believe. 4.5 stars.
"The Thirteenth Utopia" - Very similar to the previous story in that it has a space-traveling inquisitor and a faith-challenging discovery. However, this was much more fanciful and relied on some serious future technology instead of a mere evolution of human religion. -- I wanna dance in the sun. 5.0 stars.
"Options" - In a society where one can go back and forth between genders in a relatively inexpensive and painless process, one female-born person decides whether to make the change and how that will affect her family, particularly her marriage. -- The psychology and characterization in this short tale propels it to 5.5 stars (out of 5, so that's a lot.)
"Unaccompanied Sonata" - Everyone in this society is chosen at birth to do what they do best, but there are some pretty strict rules and some excessive consequences for breaking them. -- I've read this before, probably a couple of times. I always love Orson Scott Card, and it was not a burden to read again. 4.0 stars
"The Story Writer" - A man sits at a typewriter at a flea market and sells people their story at a dollar per page. A very interesting customer arrives and propels the tale into sci-fi territory. 3.5 stars
"Daisy, In the Sun" - Daisy's in a Train. Outside it appears to be snowing, but that's not really what's going on. I can't tell you what is, because the reveal is just too beautiful. That's all. 4.5 stars.
"The Locusts" - Earth's first colony arrives and begins to set up their new home. However, there's a problem with the babies. -- An interesting take on evolution and what the "next level" might be. 4.0 stars
"The Thaw" - Some cryogenically frozen folks are awoken. Hope there's no ill effects. Of course, there totally are. - Not a particular fan of this one. Not sure why. 3.0 stars.
"Out There Where the Big Ships Go" - Roger is a young boy at a tournament of The Game his mother is playing in. His encounter with the Master is life-changing for both of them. -- This was particularly beautiful. I want to play The Game (No, not that Game. Also, you lose.) 5.0 stars
"Can These Bones Live?" -- A woman awakens after remembering her death. She soon discovers she's mostly alone. She has an opportunity to ask for some company, but what does she do with this chance? -- A little boring, actually. Good ending, though.
"The Extraordinary Voyages" -- In the style of Verne, very French, very cozy. A man on a train platform nearly stumbles into an alternate universe, but is grabbed at the last second by a woman who's been traveling all over through this little portal. So sweet.
All together: 4.5 stars ( )

DAW Books is my favourite publisher, one that truly goes for quality not quantity. They’ve published several authors that I really enjoy or who are on my reading list. Among the anthology's authors are Steven Barnes, Tanish Lee, George R.R. Martin, and Orson Scott Card.

I found many of the stories thought provoking. Some completely blew me away. I think the best way to share this anthology is to share some of the questions it conjured. Wollheim asks:

"Will we break away from the deeply entrenched heritage of our millions-years ancestry? If so, how? How will men reconcile the philosophies of today with the conditions of a vast tomorrow?”

I highly recommend this anthology, any anthology, or any book that DAW‘s published for that matter. Among the 39 years-worth of fantasy and science-fiction, there’s bound to be something for everyone. ( )