The book collects twelve novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction, notes and concluding essays by Carr and Charles N. Brown.

The stories were previously published in 1980 in the magazines Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, TriQuarterly, Playboy, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and the anthologies New Voices III: The Campbell Award Nominees, Universe 10, Their Immortal Hearts, and Interfaces.

"Scorched Supper on New Niger" placed sixteenth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette.

"Frozen Journey" placed eighth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story.

"Le Croix" placed fourteenth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella.