Frank O'Connor

In his introduction to this collection, Frank O'Connor, himself a distinguished short story writer, emphasizes the richness of the short story tradition in Ireland. The stories he has chosen, all written between the end of the last century and the 1950s, illustrate his meaning and demonstrate how the style and approach of these writers changed in response, not only to the demands of a developing aesthetic, but also to the social and political conditions of their day. The volume represents the finest writers of their time with their best work, revealing the variety of styles and approaches within the genre, and ranging from the folk tale to the romance, and from the symbolic to the naturalistic. It contains selections by George Moore, Somerville and Ross, Daniel Corkery, James Joyce, James Stephens, Liam O'Flaherty, L.A.G. Strong, Seán O'Faoláin, Frank O'Connor, Eric Cross, Michael McLaverty, Bryan MacMahon, Mary Lavin, James Plunkett, and Elizabeth Bowen.

When humanity expanded beyond the safety of Earth to new stars and horizons, they never dreamed what dangers they would encounter there. When the alien juggernaut known as the Covenant declared holy war upon the fragile human empire, millions of lives were lost—but, millions of heroes rose to the challenge. In such a far-reaching conflict, not many of the stories of these heroes, both human and alien, have a chance to become legend. This collection holds eleven stories that dive into the depths of the vast Halo universe, not only from the perspective of those who fought and died to save humanity, but also those who vowed to wipe humanity out of existence. INTRODUCTION - Frank O’Connor BEYOND - art by Sparth, words by Jonathan Goff PARIAHB. - K. Evenson STOMPING ON THE HEELS OF A FUSS - Eric Raab MIDNIGHT IN THEHEART OF MIDLOTHIAN - Frank O’Connor DIRT - Tobias S. Buckell ACHERON- VII - art by Sparth, words by Jonathan Goff HEADHUNTERS - Jonathan Goff BLUNT INSTRUMENTS - Fred Van Lente THEMONA LISA - Jeff VanderMeer and Tessa Kum ICON - art by Robogabo, words by Jonathan Goff PALACE HOTEL - Robt McLees HUMAN WEAKNESS - Karen Traviss CONNECTIVITY - art by Robogabo, words by Jonathan Goff THE IMPOSSIBLE LIFE AND THE POSSIBLE DEATH OF PRESTON J. COLE - Eric Nylund THE RETURN - Kevin Grace FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. WILLIAM ARTHUR IQBAL