Added by 2 members
WAGING GOOD and Other Stories is a collection of 14 Robert Reed stories, each of which concerns itself with a transformation of the Earth. Sometimes for wondrous results, but usually passing through disasters and despair.
“Waging Good”
“Pretty to Think So”
“I Miss the Before”
“Cremulator”
“A Change of Mind”
“The New System”
“Mantis”
“Three Princesses”
“An Equation of State”
“Aether”
“How to Listen to Music”
“One Year of Fame”
“Pipes”
“The Cull”
The title piece has been anthologized many times, but this version has been edited by the author. Perhaps for the best, or perhaps for the worst.
"A walktube was spliced into the bug's hatch, and with a rush of humid air, guards entered. Human, not robotic. And armed, too. But what made it most remarkable were the three gigantic hounds. Sitta recognizing the breed in the same instant she realized this was no ordinary inspection. Her composure wobbled but held strong. It was Varner who jumped to his feet, muttering, "By what right -- ?"
"'Hello,' shouted the hounds. 'Be still. We bite!' They were broad and hairless, pink as tongues and free of all scent. Their minds and throats had been surgically augmented, and their nostrils were the best in the solar system. The earth’s provisional government used these animals, and if smugglers were found with weapons or contraband, they were instantly executed, that work given to the hounds as a reward.
"'We bite,' the hounds repeated. 'Out of our way!'
"A Belter walked into the railbug, long limbs wearing grav-assist braces. Her bearing and the indigo uniform implied a great rank. Next to her, the hounds appeared docile. She glowered, glared. Facing her, Warner lost all of his nerve, slumping at the shoulders, whimpering, 'How can we help?'
"'You can't help,' she stated. Then, speaking to the guards and hounds, she said, 'Hunt!'
"Sensors and noses were put to work, scouring the floor and corners and the old fixtures, then the passengers and their belongings.
"One hound descended on Sitta's bag, letting out a piercing wail.
"'Whose is this?' asked the Belter.
"Sitta kept control her face, her voice. If this woman knew her plan, then they wouldn't bother with this little drama. She'd already be placed under arrest. Everyone she knew or had been near would be isolated, then interrogated … if they even suspected …
"'It's my bag,' Sitta allowed.
"'Open it for me. Now.'
"Unfastening the simple latches, she worked with cool deliberation. The bag sprang open, and she retreated, watching the heavy pink snouts descend, probing and snorting, wet mouths pulling at her neatly folded clothes. Like the bulky trousers and shirt Sitta wore, these were simple items made with rough, undyed, and inorganic fabrics. The hounds could be hunting for persistent viruses and boobytrapped motes of dust. Except a dozen mechanical searches had found her clean. Had someone recently tried to smuggle something dangerous into Farside? But why send a Belter? Nothing made sense. Sitta felt empty and unready. Then at last, with loud, disappointed voices, the hounds said, 'Clean, clean, clean.'"
Robert Reed is the author of 300 published stories, give or take. He is best know for his Great Ship and the galactic-spanning tales that emerged from that world-sized starship.
Genre: Science Fiction
“Waging Good”
“Pretty to Think So”
“I Miss the Before”
“Cremulator”
“A Change of Mind”
“The New System”
“Mantis”
“Three Princesses”
“An Equation of State”
“Aether”
“How to Listen to Music”
“One Year of Fame”
“Pipes”
“The Cull”
The title piece has been anthologized many times, but this version has been edited by the author. Perhaps for the best, or perhaps for the worst.
"A walktube was spliced into the bug's hatch, and with a rush of humid air, guards entered. Human, not robotic. And armed, too. But what made it most remarkable were the three gigantic hounds. Sitta recognizing the breed in the same instant she realized this was no ordinary inspection. Her composure wobbled but held strong. It was Varner who jumped to his feet, muttering, "By what right -- ?"
"'Hello,' shouted the hounds. 'Be still. We bite!' They were broad and hairless, pink as tongues and free of all scent. Their minds and throats had been surgically augmented, and their nostrils were the best in the solar system. The earth’s provisional government used these animals, and if smugglers were found with weapons or contraband, they were instantly executed, that work given to the hounds as a reward.
"'We bite,' the hounds repeated. 'Out of our way!'
"A Belter walked into the railbug, long limbs wearing grav-assist braces. Her bearing and the indigo uniform implied a great rank. Next to her, the hounds appeared docile. She glowered, glared. Facing her, Warner lost all of his nerve, slumping at the shoulders, whimpering, 'How can we help?'
"'You can't help,' she stated. Then, speaking to the guards and hounds, she said, 'Hunt!'
"Sensors and noses were put to work, scouring the floor and corners and the old fixtures, then the passengers and their belongings.
"One hound descended on Sitta's bag, letting out a piercing wail.
"'Whose is this?' asked the Belter.
"Sitta kept control her face, her voice. If this woman knew her plan, then they wouldn't bother with this little drama. She'd already be placed under arrest. Everyone she knew or had been near would be isolated, then interrogated … if they even suspected …
"'It's my bag,' Sitta allowed.
"'Open it for me. Now.'
"Unfastening the simple latches, she worked with cool deliberation. The bag sprang open, and she retreated, watching the heavy pink snouts descend, probing and snorting, wet mouths pulling at her neatly folded clothes. Like the bulky trousers and shirt Sitta wore, these were simple items made with rough, undyed, and inorganic fabrics. The hounds could be hunting for persistent viruses and boobytrapped motes of dust. Except a dozen mechanical searches had found her clean. Had someone recently tried to smuggle something dangerous into Farside? But why send a Belter? Nothing made sense. Sitta felt empty and unready. Then at last, with loud, disappointed voices, the hounds said, 'Clean, clean, clean.'"
Robert Reed is the author of 300 published stories, give or take. He is best know for his Great Ship and the galactic-spanning tales that emerged from that world-sized starship.
Genre: Science Fiction
Visitors also looked at these books
Used availability for Robert Reed's Waging Good and Other Stories