Click on image to enlarge.

	Regular				Club
You Pay:	$0.99				$0.84

eBook Category: Science Fiction Hugo Award Nominee, Sturgeon Award Nominee
eBook Description: Millions of years in the future, a human ambassador makes a courtesy call on an alien planet populated by the Shar, a spacefaring species vastly inferior to the highly evolved human race. Billions of Shar have died since the automated terraforming ships began visiting their planets, and the ambassador explains that there is no intentional act of war ... just a natural event in the evolutionary process.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Asimov's, 1987
Fictionwise Release Date: February 2001

133 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [141 KB], eReader (PDB) [43 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [31 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [30 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [46 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [100 KB], hiebook (KML) [105 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [63 KB], iSilo (PDB) [26 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [33 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [60 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [48 KB]
Words: 9000
Reading time: 25-36 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

One of the hardest types of science fiction to write convincingly is a story about the far, far future of humanity, much evolved from its present state. But Walter Jon Williams pulls it off brilliantly here. A note: he's using the term "Dinosaurs" metaphorically; don't expect to see any in this story. But even though dinosaurs almost always improve a story, this one is exellent as is. -Robert J. Sawyer, Fictionwise Recommender

"We would like to propose an agenda for the conference," the Shar President said. "First, to resolve the matter of the cease-fire and its provisions for an ending to hostilities. Second, the establishment of a secure border between our two species, guaranteeing both species room for expansion. Third, the establishment of trade and visitation agreements. Fourth, the matter of reparations, payments, and return of lost territory."

Drill nodded. "I believe," he said, "that resolution of the second through fourth points will come about as a result of an understanding reached on the first. That is, once the cease-fire is settled, that resolution will imply a settlement of the rest of the situation."

"You accept the agenda?"

"If you like. It doesn't matter. "

Ears pricked forward, then back. "So you accept that our initial discussions will consist of formalizing the disengagement of our forces?"

"Certainly. Of course I have no way of knowing what forces you have committed. We humans have committed none."

The Shars were still for a long time. "Your species attacked our planets, Ambassador. Without warning, without making yourselves known to us." Gram's tone was unusually flat. Perhaps, Drill thought, she was attempting to conceal great emotion.

"Yes," Drill said. "But those were not our military formations. Your species were contacted only by our terraforming Ships. They did not attack your people, as such--they were only peripherally aware of your existence Their function was merely to seed the planets with lifeforms favorable to human existence. Unfortunately for your people, part of the function of these lifeforms is to destroy the native life of the planet."