Many of Mr. Melko’s previous stories are about young protagonists, and his skill in depicting them is quite impressive. His heroes come across as neither too adult nor too juvenile, but with just the right mix of mischief, defiance, and empathy. A great read.

"Nano Comes to Clifford Falls" by Nancy Kress is an interesting take on the old curse, "May all your wishes come true." In this case, wish-fulfillment comes not from magic but from nanotechnology. The town acquires the machines that can manufacture anything, from food to diapers to cars to houses. Any reader can guess that things are about to go wrong, and indeed they do, but Ms. Kress does more than just depicts the downfall of the decadent and the spoiled. The story presents an interesting split between those who willfully resist the new technology and those who fall into it. Even though I didn’t especially like the narrator, I found the story well worth a read for the interesting examination of the familiar theme.

"The World and Alice" by L. Timmel Duchamp is a lovely, profound tale of a woman who doesn’t feel grounded in the world. It is a very moving story, and the speculative element, while pronounced, works mostly to illuminate the complexities of the character, and her struggle to belong to the world. With its echoes of Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut, "The World and Alice" rings both strange and familiar, and the reader feels a strong sense of identification with the protagonist (especially if this reader had once had a grandmother who was their whole world.)

"Impossible Dreams" by Tim Pratt is another twist on an old idea—Pete, a movie buff and a bit of a recluse, finds a strange video store, where he discovers many unexpected treasures—"I, Robot" written by Harlan Ellison, and the director’s cut of "The Magnificent Ambersons," with all lost footage restored, and with commentary by Orson Welles. But this story is a bit more than just a magic shop that appears and disappears at will; Mr. Pratt creates a fascinating twist on parallel universes, the technological incompatibilities they create, and alternate movie history. If you love movies, this story will have you giggling and sighing at the presented possibilities. At the same time, this is a story of two people from different worlds, whose love of movies is greater than the rift between their universes.

"Bitterseed" by Ted Kosmatka is another off-world story, and an interesting variation of the Cain and Abel myth. Two twins, jealous Eli and favored Marc, work on a planet dedicated mostly to maiza—a genetically improved corn. Eli abandons Marc one day, and the story of Marc’s search to return back to the base and his reminiscences on his relationship with his brother constitute the bulk of the story. While I found characterization to be a bit predictable, the story of Marc’s journey is fascinating.

"The Djinn’s Wife" by Ian McDonald is an appealing, vibrant mix of Indian myth and Bollywood, past and future, and love and betrayal. This is the story of a dancer who falls in love with an AI diplomat. Mr. McDonald skillfully explores parallels between the djinni of legend and artificial intelligences of the future; like Nancy Kress’ story, "The Djinn’s Wife" deals with technology that is indistinguishable from magic in its effects, and as such serves not to explore future technologies, but to elucidate the complexities of human nature. And it succeeds brilliantly at that.