Unrivaled: Four groundbreaking Hugo & Nebula winning stories
includes four of the most outstanding and most acclaimed novellas in
science fiction, penned by Joe Haldeman, Lois McMaster Bujold, Mike
Resnick, and Nancy Kress.
Each novella has stood the test of time and completed the extremely
difficult task of winning both the Nebula and the Hugo. Only stories of
the highest caliber get awarded both the Nebula and the Hugo. The Hugo
is awarded at the annual Worldcon, voted on by fans. The Nebula is
awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
voted on by its members, primarily professional writers. A piece that
wins both, signifies that it had wide-spread fan appeal (fan votes) and
also the highest regard by professionals in the field (voted on
exclusively by SFWA member).
Beggars in Spain take place in a future where genetic engineering
has become a reality, and society and culture face the consequences of
genetic modifications. The story revolves around the existence of the
"Sleepless" individuals genetically modified to not need sleep, who have
greater potential for intelligence and accomplishment than ordinary
humans, called "Sleepers."
The Hemingway Hoax weaves together a story of an attempt to
produce a fake Ernest Hemingway manuscript with themes concerning time
travel and parallel worlds. The story is based on a real-life incident
when Hemingway's first wife Hadley lost a suitcase containing his
manuscripts.
The Mountains of Mourning explores the concepts of justice and
mercy when Miles Vorkosigan is sent to represent the empire in a
far-flung rural village where a woman demands justice for the murder of
her baby who was born healthy, but with a cleft lip and palate.
The Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge explores the meaning of human
progress and decline, long after humans have disappeared from the Earth.
An alien archeological expedition is sent to explore humanity's rise and
fall in its birthplace of Olduvai Gorge. Seven recounted stories based
on artifacts found tell the tale of how humans rose and how they fell,
and leave the aliens with an uneasy feeling about what the future may
hold.
