Introduction / Mike Resnick -- The black bird / David Barr Kirtley -- Intergalactic refrigerator repairmen seldom carry cash / Tom Gerencer -- Nucleon / David D. Levine -- Chicken Brain / Janis Ian -- Lifeblood / Michael A. Burnstein -- The faithful / Kage Baker -- Messenger / Mark M. Stafford -- 1-800-WICKED1 / Lisa Mantchev -- Different worlds / James Van Pelt -- Four-eyes / Tobias S. Buckell -- The book of faces / Kay Kenyon -- Extended family / by Shane Tourtellotte -- Flowers from Alice / by Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross -- Dressmaker to the princess / Robin Herrington.

Bubbles and boxes / Julie E. Czerneda -- Aphrodite on a bar stool / Barbara J. Galler-Smith -- Insubordination / Susan R. Matthews -- Nine-fingered Maria / Hilary Moon -- The echo of silence / Paul Crilley -- Custer's angel / Adrienne Gormley.