The centerpiece of Women in Deep Time, Greg Bear’s trio of stories with a common theme, is the Nebula Award-winning novella Hardfought. The common theme is “the female psyche, multiplied and divided,” says Bear in the book’s introduction. “There’s probably something Jungian in common with all three. At any rate, throughout my writing career (and for whatever reason) I’ve been fascinated by the feminine voice.”

Featured in this special collection are “Sisters,” “Scattershot,” in which the inhabitants of many universes meet in limbo, and Hardfought, which deserves more than passing mention. In Bear’s own words,

“Hardfought tells of a small portion in an eons-long war between humanity and the very ancient species of the Senexi. The narrative focuses on Prufax, a girl barely entering her adolescence, and Aryz, a Senexi whose job is to first understand humans and then, if successful, commit suicide. The violent coming together of these very different beings illustrates how understanding between humans and Senexi might be achieved and how such understanding could lead to peace.”

In response to intense fascination with the story, Bear prepared a Study Guide in BookRags, but you will benefit best from it after you read the story and its sisters. “Hardfought is very densely written, intense in action and theme, and it demands that readers think,” Bear advises. So, read it and come to your own conclusions before immersing yourself in the Study Guide.

The collection is available at once in paperback, and will soon be online for download, so revisit our site for updates, and check out the other superb works by this master science fiction storyteller for sale on E-Reads.

RC