The Best of Gene Wolfe: A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction

The Short: I’ve been a fan of Gene Wolfe for a long time, although I have conflicted feelings. He is definitely one of the masters of speculative fiction writing over the last 50 years! I’m glad I read “The Best of Gene Wolfe: A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction“, 2009 Tor. My overall rating was 3.79/5, which I’m rounding up to “Great”. Strongly recommended for fans of Wolfe or those interested in his body of works.

The Full Story: I’ve been a fan of Gene Wolfe for a long time.

The oldest book of his in my collection is my 1976 Ace edition of his 1972 Charles Scribner’s Sons collection “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” . I don’t know when I purchased this, but probably in the 1970s.

The May 1973 Analog and all of my Wolfe paper books

I read his short story “How I Lost the Second World War and Helped Turn Back the German Invasion” in Analog May 1973 when I received and read that issue. Although it was a Nebula finalist, I don’t remember anything about it. Upon checking briefly, I can see it’s epistolary, so I will reread it. I suspect this is the first fiction by Wolfe I read. Looking back, it certainly took Ben Bova as editor to publish a Wolfe story in Analog, and this was the only one. I don’t know if he ever submitted a story to John W. Campbell, Jr, but I suspect strongly that Campbell would probably not have bought them.

I own and read avidly his “Book of the New Sun” books, starting with “The Shadow of the Torturer” 1980 Simon & Schuster. I suspect this is where my strong interest in him really blossomed.

I continued to read books and collections of his throughout the rest of his life, owning some and checking more than a few out of the library, including the 1989 collection “Endangered Species” (I loved it). The last Wolfe book I read before this collection was the 2015 “A Borrowed Man” (I had mixed feelings).

As I mentioned above, I have a somewhat complex and conflicted relationship with Wolfe and his works. While I recognize Wolfe as a master of speculative fiction, and of the unreliable narrator and other related writing devices, I continue to think that at times he is just too clever for himself and for me. Perhaps I’m just not smart enough to winkle it all out, or perhaps I just don’t care to work that hard. I have had people that I respect highly tell me how great some of his stories are, but that they really only got them after reading them three times. That’s beyond my patience level. I have not looked at this exhaustively, but I suspect he used these devices more than most writers. I admire him for doing what he wanted to do, especially early in his career, and for writing many important stories and novels, but I sure don’t want to read, or reread, some of them. Having said that, I do think he was a master of speculative fiction and I have loved a fair amount of his fiction.

I’ve read more than a few of his works of short fiction over the last few years as I have focused more on short speculative fiction. I have loved many of them, and really not liked some of them. This has perhaps clarified and reinforced how I feel about Wolfe and his works.

When I saw the 2009 “The Best of Gene Wolfe: A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction” on sale for the kindle last year, I knew I wanted to read it and update and round out my knowledge of Wolfe’s short fiction. Excepting some of the stories I had read in the last year or two, I read it between January and April 2023.

The Tor (US) edition of “The Best of Gene Wolfe” features 31 stories from 1970 to 1999, in 478 pages. This is a review of the Tor edition. There is no editor listed. Wolfe notes in the afterword to the last story, “A Cabin on the Coast”, that he selected all of the stories other than that story, which was a request by his agents. He was clear that he did not like all of his stories, but that he liked all of the ones included.

The scope of the collection is laid out clearly in the subtitle, “A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction”. While I might have some grumbles about whether Wolfe achieved that, I like a collection of this sort with a clear statement of intent.

There is no Introduction in the US Tor edition, but there are great and insightful afterwords by Wolfe for all of the stories that serve some of that function.

The UK edition by PS Publishing includes an Introduction by Kim Stanley Robinson, available online at https://www.nyrsf.com/2013/09/a-story-kim-stanley-robinson.html. This essay by Robinson is an extensive and well wrought discussion of Wolfe and his works. The UK edition also includes an additional story, “Christmas Inn” (a 2005 chap book from PS Publishing), and a Wolfe afterword for that story, and totals 490 pages.

I could be wrong, but the PS Publishing UK version does not appear to be in print or available in e-book version. Used copies are available sometimes. The US (Tor) edition does appear to be available in paper and e-book format. I did not find any audiobook versions.

Great Wolfe stories that I remembered reading included:

1. “The Fifth Head of Cerberus“, a novella, from “Orbit 10“, Damon Knight editor, 1972 G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
2. “Seven American Nights“, a novella, “Orbit 20”, Damon Knight, 1978 Harper & Row.
3. “The Eyeflash Miracles“, a novella, from “Future Power“, Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois editors, 1976 Random House.
4. “Petting Zoo“, a short story, from “Return of the Dinosaurs“, Martin H. Greenberg & Mike Resnick editors, 1997 DAW Books.
5. “The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories“, a short story, from “Orbit 7“, Damon Knight editor, 1970 G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Great Wolfe stories that I either had never read or did not remember reading included:

1. “Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?“, a short story, from “Moon Shots“, Peter Crowther editor, 1999 DAW Books.
2. “And When They Appear“, a novelette, from “Christmas Forever“, David G. Hartwell editor, 1993 Tor.
3. “Bed and Breakfast“, a novelette, from “Dante’s Disciples“, Peter Crowther & Edward E. Kramer editors, 1996 Borealis/White Wolf Publishing.
4. “The Death of Dr. Island“, a novella, from “Universe 3“, Terry Carr editor, 1973 Random House.
5. “The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton“, a novelette, from “Universe 7“, Terry Carr editor, 1977 Doubleday.
6. “The Tree Is My Hat“, a novelette, from “999: New Tales of Horror and Suspense“, Al Sarrantonio editor, 1999 Hill House Publishers & Cemetery Dance Publications.
7. “Westwind“, a short story, from Worlds of If, July-August 1973.
8. “Beech Hill“, a short story, from “Infinity Three“, Robert Hoskins editor, 1972 Lancer Books.
9. “Death of the Island Doctor“, a short story, from “The Wolfe Archipelago” collection, 1983 Ziesing Brothers.
10. “Forlesen“, a novelette, from “Orbit 14“, Damon Knight editor, 1974 Harper & Row.
11. “From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton“, a short story, F&SF June 1983.
12. “Parkroads—A Review“, a short story, Fiction International, Spring 1987 (Vol. 17, #1) (Larry McCaffrey, editor).
13. “Redbeard“, a short story, from “Masques“, J. N. Williamson editor, 1984 Maclay & Associates.
14. “The Detective of Dreams“, a short story, from “Dark Forces“, Kirby McCauley editor, 1980 The Viking Press.
15. “The Hero As Werwolf“, a short story, from “The New Improved Sun“, Thomas M. Disch editor, 1975 Harper & Row.
16. “The Recording“, a short story, F&SF April 1972.

The last stories published here are the 1999 “The Tree is my Hat” and “Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?”. Gene Wolfe died in 2019, and his last short fiction entry at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) is the short story “Incubator” from “Onward, Drake!“, Mark L. Van Name editor, 2015 Baen. ISFDB shows him with about 65 stories published from 1999 to 2015. I’m sure Wolfe had valid reasons for not including any post-1999 work; perhaps he felt there needed to be the fullness of time before they should be considered for inclusion.

However, he did have stories that were award nominated and reprinted after 1999, such as “Memorare“, a novella, F&SF April 2007, which as was “Special Gene Wolfe” issue. “Memorare” was a Hugo and Nebula Award finalist and the Locus and Sturgeon (a tie) Award runner-up, and it was reprinted in ” I need to read this. His 2012 short story “Dormmana“, from “The Palencar Project“, David G. Hartwell editor, 2012 Tor, would have been a great choice also. Clearly he felt his earlier works were a better choice for the collection.

Other Gene Wolfe stories not included here that I would have hoped to have seen include:

• “No Planets Strike“, a short story, F&SF January 1997.
• “Useful Phrases“, a short story, Tomorrow Speculative Fiction, January 1993, Pulphouse Publishing,
• “The Lost Pilgrim“, a novelette, from the Wolfe collection “Innocents Aboard: New Fantasy Stories“, 2004 Tor.
• “War Beneath the Tree“, a short story, Omni December 1979.
• “Counting Cats in Zanzibar“, a short story, Asimov’s August 1996.
• “”V. R. T.”, a novella, from the Wolfe collection/fix-up novel “The Fifth Head of Cerberus“, 1972 Charles Scribner’s Sons. (I wrote about this story and that collection here)

There were four stories in “The Best of Gene Wolfe” that I would not have included:

1. “Hour of Trust“, a novella, from “Bad Moon Rising“, Thomas M. Disch editor, 1973 Harper & Row.
2. “The God and His Man“, a short story, Asimov’s February 1980.
3. “The Boy who Hooked the Sun“, a short story, Cheap Street 1985.
4. “A Cabin on the Coast“, a short story first published in German, from “Tor zu den Sternen“, Peter Wilfert editor, 1981 Goldmann.

Wolfe was very clear that he chose all the stories, with one exception, and that he liked all of these. In looking at these choices and how I felt about them, I do think he could have used or listened to more editorial input with regard to story choice and inclusion.

Overall, I am really glad I read “The Best of Gene Wolfe” for a number of reasons, especially for getting a better idea of the breadth of Wolfe’s greatness as an author of speculative fiction and in enjoying Wolfe’s afterword commentaries. I did feel the story choice could have been better, but perhaps that is influenced by my preference for science fiction over fantasy.  It was great to encounter and enjoy many stories that were new to me, and to enjoy many that I knew already. For those either looking for an introduction to Wolfe’s short fiction or a survey of his short fiction that he loved, this is a great choice. My overall rating was 3.79/5, rounded up to “Great”. Strongly recommended.

Detailed Review/Comments – Spoilers!

“The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories“, a short story, from “Orbit 7“, Damon Knight editor, 1970 G. P. Putnam’s Sons. I enjoyed this fantasy about a child whose life comes to interact with several characters from literature, perhaps inspired by “The Island of Dr. Moreau” by H. G. Wells. Great on reread, a lot of fantasy and rather meta fiction, perhaps, and substantial drug abuse. I love Wolfe’s afterword, with the story of how Isaac Asimov mistakenly attempted to give him the Nebula when this story was a Finalist. Both Gardner Dozois and Richard Lupoff felt this short story should have won the Hugo Award. Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.

“The Toy Theater“, a short story, from “Orbit 9“, Damon Knight editor, 1971 G. P. Putnam’s Sons. A very good story of a marionette operator and his visit to the Master marionettist Stromboli in outer space. Rated 3.7/5, or “Very good”.

“The Fifth Head of Cerberus“, a novella, from “Orbit 10“, Damon Knight editor, 1972 G. P. Putnam’s Sons. This is where I show my shallowness as a reader of SF. For me, this leans rather more towards the literary end of SF. Great writing here, interesting characters and setting, and a very gradual (but hinted) reveal on the clones. I did enjoy “Mr. Million”. At the same time, I found the story dragging a bit. I found the drugged interviews rather opaque in terms of why they were happening, although I agree that the search for identity was in play. This is definitely where Wolfe first showed what a great writer he would be but the story is not among the best of all time for me. Reread. I love the mention of “…The Mile-Long Spaceship, by some German)…” (Kate Wilhelm!). Followed shortly by”…a crumbling volume of Vernor Vinge’s short-stories that owed it’s presence there, or so I suspect, to some long-dead librarian’s mistaking the faded V. Vinge on the spine for Winge.” I find it very interesting that this mention of Vernor Vinge is very, very early in Vinge’s career. I also loved realizing this is an epistolary story, which I had forgotten. Finally, I really loved this story more on what must be at least my third read over the last 50 years, twice in the last few. I am upgrading my rating to 4.1, or “Superlative”.  It’s a Nebula, Hugo and Locus Award finalist, and was reprinted in “The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2“, Terry Carr editor, 1973 Ballantine Books. Rich Horton and Gardner Dozois both felt this should have won a Hugo Award, see my “Hugo Award Hindsight” post.

“Beech Hill“, a short story, from “Infinity Three“, Robert Hoskins editor, 1972 Lancer Books. I enjoyed the mood and feel of this story a lot. It seems to include a man who lives an ordinary life and one week of the year goes to Beech Hill, where perhaps he is something he is not the rest of the time. Wolfe says it is based upon the Milford Writer’s Conference and a man Wolfe knew, who was both a pompous fraud yet knew his stuff. I am not sure if this is or is not genre. I guessed it as appearing in FS&F; it was “Infinity Three”. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“The Recording“, a short story, F&SF April 1972. Another perhaps non-genre story that I really loved, of a boy who cajoles his uncle into buying him a record of his own. His uncle feels very ill, and asks the boy to fetch the doctor. The boy essentially blackmails the uncle into giving him the money and that he will fetch the doc when he runs to the record store. He returns, and his uncle is dead. Only many years later does he play the record! This one was in FS&F, which makes sense. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Hour of Trust“, a novella, from “Bad Moon Rising“, Thomas M. Disch editor, 1973 Harper & Row. Interesting story of the conflict between a disintegrating US and business interests, with the business interests a bit hapless. Wolfe notes in the afterword that he borrowed the plot from a story by Damon Runyon, but not one of Runyon’s better ones (“A Light in France”). I’ll agree that this is genre, but that’s all. As I noted above, I think this one could have been omitted. Rated 3.6/5, or “Very good”.

“The Death of Dr. Island“, a novella, from “Universe 3“, Terry Carr editor, 1973 Random House. A great story, from a comment by John Jakes from when Isaac Asimov mistakenly announced Wolfe as a Nebula award winner for “The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories”. Jakes said, “You know, Gene, if you’d just write ‘The Death of Doctor Island’ now, you’d win”. The protagonist is a therapy patient in the outer system who has been transported to a satellite where therapy will occur. He meets two other patients and Doctor Island, an AI. One of them dies to heal the other, and the protagonist is very changed. This is quite a story; I don’t see how I missed reading this before. Locus and Nebula winner, and Hugo runner-up, and reprinted in “The Best Science Fiction of the Year #3“, Terry Carr editor, 1974 Ballantine Books. Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.

“La Befana“, a short story, Galaxy January-February 1973. Interesting story of aliens and old people on an alien world with humans as refugees with a Christmas story told that seems more allegorical. On reread, still a very good story and I’m glad I reread it. I enjoyed the Wolfe afterword about the story and the Legend of La Befana. Reprinted in “Best SF: 1973“, Brian W. Aldiss & Harry Harrison editors, 1974 Berkley Medallion, and “The Best from Galaxy, Volume II“, Editors of Galaxy, 1974 Award Books. Rated 3.7/5, or “Very good”.

“Forlesen“, a novelette, from “Orbit 14“, Damon Knight editor, 1974 Harper & Row. A great story, perhaps of a life lived in a long and somewhat meaningless life. As noted by Wolfe, a tribute to men who work their lives at a Fortune 500 company while making no difference. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Westwind“, a short story, from Worlds of If, July-August 1973. A great story of a rather struggling man, whose face is scarred and disfigured. He reluctantly finds lodging in a crummy inn, where he meets a blind woman who is also struggling. Towards the end, we find that he is an agent of the ruler. Ultimately, we find the blind woman and everyone else are also agents of the ruler. I know I have read this before, but I have no idea where. In his afterword, Wolfe tells us he realized G. k Chesterton used a variant of this, with a group of plotters who are all agents for other powers and God the leader, in “The Man Who Was Thursday“. I have not read “The Man Who Was Thursday”, although I have read more than a few of Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries, so I’ll take Wolfe’s word for this. He does not say if he feels that he emulated Chesterton. Rated 3.9/5, or Great.

“The Hero As Werwolf“, a short story, from “The New Improved Sun“, Thomas M. Disch editor, 1975 Harper & Row. This is Wolfe’s werewolf story, kind of, and it’s a great story. Looking into the title and Wolfe’s use of “Werwolf”, WolfWiki notes, “Wolfe’s spelling, Werwolf, is a variant that goes back to the etymological root in Anglo-Saxon, where wer meant ‘man,’ thus ‘werwolf’ == ‘man-wolf.’” I had no idea; I was wondering if it was a misprint. It was reprinted in “The Best Science Fiction of the Year #5“, Terry Carr editor, 1976 Ballantine Books, so others thought it was great also. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“The Marvelous Brass Chessplaying Automaton“, a novelette, from “Universe 7“, Terry Carr editor, 1977 Doubleday. A great story of a future chess playing automaton after a fall of civilization, or is it? Loved the plot and characters. Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.

“Straw“, a short story, Galaxy January 1976. A very good alternate universe story of balloons and other technology in the Middle Ages, with the mercenary balloon traveling free company always on the lookout for food, straw for the balloon, and work. In the afterword, Wolfe states that he does not agree with the concept of steam-engine time, believing random chance is more powerful. Rated 3.7/5, or “Very good”.

“The Eyeflash Miracles“, a novella, from “Future Power“, Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois editors, 1976 Random House. This is one hell of an interesting story. A little boy is blind and on the road. He meets Nitty and Mr. Parker. Miracles occur around him at times, and sometimes he is somewhere else and can see. His father reappears to him and he hears that he may be the result of genetic modification. Very interesting style and content , with great characters. Nebula and Locus Award finalist, and reprinted in “The Best Science Fiction of the Year 6“, Terry Carr editor, 1977 Del Rey/Ballantine. Rich Horton and Gardner Dozois both felt this should have won a Hugo Award, see my “Hugo Award Hindsight” post. Rated 4/5, or “Great”.

“Seven American Nights“, a novella, from “Orbit 20“, Damon Knight, 1978 Harper & Row. A great story of an Iranian visiting a ruined US, after it’s downfall. He has an affair with an American actress, but realizes she may be deformed or horrific as well. The story is framed as a partial diary (so it’s an epistolary story, which I love) of his visit to the US, delivered to his family who still hope he is alive. Rich Horton and Gardner Dozois both felt this should have won a Hugo Award, see my “Hugo Award Hindsight” post. It’s a Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award finalist, and was reprinted in “Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year: Eighth Annual Collection“, Gardner Dozois editor, 1979 E. P. Dutton and “The Best Science Fiction Novellas of the Year #1“, Terry Carr editor, 1979 Del Rey/Ballantine. Rated 4/5, or “Great”.

“The Detective of Dreams“, a short story, from “Dark Forces“, Kirby McCauley editor, 1980 The Viking Press. While I loved this story of the Detective of Dreams, I might not have guessed the Dream-Master as Jesus without a tip in the afterword. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Kevin Malone“, a short story, from “New Terrors“, Ramsey Campbell editor, 1980 Pan Books. A man and wife, newly wed, are out of work and becoming desperate. They get a job, and then lose it after asking to meet their employer. Wolfe calls this his dream story. Reprinted in “The Year’s Best Fantasy Stories: 7“, Arthur W. Saha editor, 1981 DAW Books. Rated 3.7/5, or “Very good”.

“The God and His Man“, a short story, Asimov’s February 1980. This felt a little light to me, or maybe I missed the point.  I would not have included it. Rated 3.3/5, or “Good”.

“On the Train“, a Redwood Coast Roamer short fiction, from The New Yorker, May 2, 1983. This short short is more of an idea or impression than a story, of a man whose life is only on a train. It seems very much of an impression, and the descriptions reminded me of a Turing Machine as a train. Wolfe notes that this is his first sale to New Yorker, and he was quite happy about that. Rated 3.7/5, or “Very good”.

“From the Desk of Gilmer C. Merton“, a short story, F&SF June 1983. I love this epistolary story of a speculative fiction author and his agent. His name changes and his career takes off, in some ways. Lots of allusions to speculative fiction figures with similar names. In the afterword, Wolfe Wolfe mentions that this was his editor’s favorite. although he does not mention who that is. He also states there is absolutely no connection between the publisher/editor Saul Hearwell in the story and David G. Hartwell. It’s also interesting to me that this was printed in the same issue of F&SF as Ian Watson’s great “Slow Birds“. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Death of the Island Doctor“, a short story, from “The Wolfe Archipelago” collection, 1983 Ziesing Brothers. I loved this story of a rather eccentric professor well past a desired retirement age, with an obsession about islands, and especially the characters. The third in his cycle based on “The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories”. There is magic in an island, of a sort. Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Redbeard“, a short story, from “Masques“, J. N. Williamson editor, 1984 Maclay & Associates. A great story of a small town mass murderer. Wolfe’s afterword explains how he and his wife lived in a very inbred small town with a ruined house, and how that stayed with him.  Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“The Boy who Hooked the Sun“, a short story, Cheap Street 1985. A good enough story, but not really my thing. I might be an outlier here, Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling liked, as it’s reprinted in “The Year’s Best Fantasy: Second Annual Collection“, 1989 St. Martin’s Press. Rated 3.5/5, or “Good”.

“Parkroads—A Review“, a short story, Fiction International, Spring 1987 (Vol. 17, #1, Larry McCaffrey, editor). A wonderful epistolary review of a rather avant garde imaginary 6 reel movie about a mythical Chinese family that moves to the US. Wolfe explains in the afterword that this story, which first appeared in a university literary magazine (Fiction International, then at San Diego State University), had prompted many inquiries to that magazine by people wanting to see the movie.   Rated 3.8/5, or “Great”.

“Game in the Pope’s Head“, a short story, from “Ripper!“, Susan Casper & Gardner Dozois editors, 1988 Tor. A very good story of mass murder and a board game. In the afterword, Wolfe notes that he has known three murder victims, and has considered designing a board game involving mass murder. Reprinted in “The Year’s Best Fantasy: Second Annual Collection“, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling editors, 1989 St. Martin’s Press. Rated 3.6/5, or “Very good”.

“And When They Appear“, a novelette, from “Christmas Forever“, David G. Hartwell editor, 1993 Tor. A rather horrific story of Christmas, and a young boy left alone by the death of his parents, and ghosts. Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.      

“Bed and Breakfast“, a novelette, from “Dante’s Disciples“, Peter Crowther & Edward E. Kramer editors, 1996 Borealis/White Wolf Publishing. A great, powerful story of a bed and breakfast near Hell, and a demon, and a man, and perhaps a woman. Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.

“Petting Zoo“, a short story, from “Return of the Dinosaurs“, Martin H. Greenberg & Mike Resnick editors, 1997 DAW Books. After being raised by an antisocial young man, a tyrannosaurus rex returns as Barney in a zoo. Wolfe’s afterword notes, “Animals in zoos (we are told) believe that their bars protect them. We Americans have forged our own bars, built our own cage, and live in it more or less content as long as someone feeds us.” Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.

“The Tree Is My Hat“, a novelette, from “999: New Tales of Horror and Suspense“, Al Sarrantonio editor, 1999 Hill House Publishers & Cemetery Dance Publications. A great story of fantastic horror on a remote Pacific islands, and an ex-wife, and an old god. As Wolfe mentions here in the afterword, there are several things in the story that are true. I also love the story of the radio play. It was reprinted in “The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror: Thirteenth Annual Collection“, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling editors, 2000 St. Martin’s Griffin.  Rated 3.9/5, or “Great”.  

“Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?“, a short story, from “Moon Shots“, Peter Crowther editor, 1999 DAW Books. A great story about a strong man who is not very smart, and a friend, with “a thinly fictionalized version of Raphael Aloysius Lafferty” (to quote Wolfe in the afterword) or R. A. Lafferty. Wolfe’s afterword also states that “One of life’s principal lessons is that intelligence is a  minor virtue.” I love this story. Rated 4/5, or “Great”.  

“A Cabin on the Coast“, a short story first published in German, from “Tor zu den Sternen”, Peter Wilfert editor, 1981 Goldmann. A man, the son of an Irish immigrant politician, has run away with a woman his father may not approve of. He is an experienced swimmer in a dangerous area to swim. He sees a mysterious ship. She disappears, perhaps taken by the fairies. He swims to the mysterious ship, where he agrees to serve them for 20 years elapsed time but no time in his world. He does, but when he returns to her he has aged and she thinks he is the father. Not a favorite. The afterword notes that Wolfe did not plan to include this story, but his agents asked him to. He picked the rest of the stories. I would have been ok with it not being included. After being published in English for the fist time in F&SF February 1984, it was a 1985 Locus and Nebula Award finalist, and was reprinted in “The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection“, Gardner Dozois editor, 1985 Bluejay Books and “The Year’s Best Fantasy Stories: 11”, Arthur W. Saha, 1985 DAW Books. I am probably an outlier on this story. Rated 3.6/5, or “Very good”. 

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