Under African Skies

A collection of science fiction tales set in a futuristic African continent features the writing of Vernor Vinge, Gregory Benford, Bruce Sterling, Kim Stanley Robinson, Howard Waldrop, and Mike Resnick. The stories, told from both European and “native” viewpoints take a look at the past and the future—invasion by alien flora, a space baby adopted by an African woman, the rise of Africa after a nuclear war, a space utopia modeled after ancient Kenya, and other stories of fantasy and speculation filled this book. Contents 11 • Introduction (Future Earths: Under African Skies) • (1993) • essay by Mike Resnick 15 • For I Have Touched the Sky • [Kirinyaga • 3] • (1989) • novelette by Mike Resnick 45 • Apartness • (1965) • novelette by Vernor Vinge 67 • Termites • (1987) • shortstory by Dave Smeds 87 • The Finger • (1980) • shortstory by Naomi Mitchison 97 • The Lions Are Asleep This Night • (1986) • novelette by Howard Waldrop 122 • Etoundi's Monkey • (1989) • shortstory by Judith Dubois 149 • Dry Niger • (1990) • shortstory by M. Shayne Bell 160 • A Transect • (1986) • shortstory by Kim Stanley Robinson 174 • Of Space-Time and the River • (1985) • novelette by Gregory Benford 209 • Still Life with Scorpion • (1984) • shortstory by Scott Baker 227 • The Quiet • (1981) • shortstory by George Guthridge 243 • Dinner in Audoghast • (1985) • shortstory by Bruce Sterling 259 • A Passive Victim of a Random Genetic Accident • (1983) • shortstory by Janet Berliner [as by Janet Gluckman ] 271 • The Pale Thin God • (1993) • shortstory by Mike Resnick 275 • Toward Kilimanjaro • [Chaga] • (1990) • novelette by Ian McDonald