Hand, Elizabeth, or Liz as she's known to her colleagues, students, and
devoted fans, is a maverick in modern fiction: a fearless literary
sojourner whose award-winning novels and short stories mix murder and
magic, high fantasy and post-punk noir in extravagant and unforgettable
new ways.
The title story, "Fire."--written especially for this volume--is a
harrowing postapocalyptic adventure in a world threatened by global
conflagration. Based on Hand's real-life experience as a participant in
a governmental climate change think tank, it follows a ragtag cadre of
scientists and artists racing to save both civilization and themselves
from fast-moving global fires.
"The Woman Men Didn't See" is an expansion of Hand's acclaimed critical
assessment of author Alice Sheldon, who wrote award-winning SF as "James
Tiptree, Jr." in order to conceal identity from both the SF community
and her CIA overlords. Another nonfiction piece, "Beyond Belief,"
recounts her difficult passage from alienated teen to serious artist.
Also included are "Kronia," a poignant time-travel romance, and "The
Saffron Gatherers," two of Hand's favorite and less familiar stories.
Plus: a bibliography and our candid and illuminating Outspoken Interview
with one of today's most inventive authors.
