This compilation features diverse science fiction stories from 2009, showcasing the evolving landscape of the genre. Several narratives explore alternate realities and histories, examining themes of conflict, societal structures, and individual struggles within altered timelines. Other stories focus on technological advancements and their consequences, including explorations of AI, consciousness transfer, and interstellar travel. Throughout the collection, there is a strong emphasis on character-driven plots and the human, or sometimes non-human, experience in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.