''Maps in a Mirror'' (1990) is a collection of short stories by American writer

Orson Scott Card Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is the first and (as of 2022) only person to win both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for both ...

. Like Card's novels, most of the stories have a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

theme. Some of the stories, such as "

Ender's Game ''Ender's Game'' is a 1985 military science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set at an unspecified date in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind after two conflicts with an insectoid alien species they dub ...

", " Lost Boys", and " Mikal's Songbird" were later expanded into novels. Each of the smaller volumes that make up the larger collection as a whole are centered on a theme or genre. For instance, Volume 1, ''The Changed Man'', reprints several of Card's horror stories. The collection won the

Locus Award The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine ''Locus'', a monthly magazine based in Oakland, California. The awards are presented at an annual banquet. In addition to the pl ...

in 1991.

Publication history

Most of the stories appearing in the book are reprints of stories which were first published in science fiction and fantasy

periodical A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also examples ...

s. The book has been published as a single large volume, as a two volume set and as a four volume set. However, only the single volume editions contain: “Book 5: Lost Songs, The Hidden Stories”.

Single volume

* ''Maps in a Mirror'' (1990) Tor Books * ''Maps in a Mirror'' (1991) Legend Books

Two volume set

* ''Maps in a Mirror Volume 1'' (1992) Legend Books * ''Maps in a Mirror Volume 2'' (1992) Legend Books

Four volume set

* ''The Changed Man'' (1992) Tor Books * ''Flux'' (1992) Tor Books * ''Monkey Sonatas'' (1993) Tor Books * ''Cruel Miracles'' (1992) Tor Books

Story list

The short stories in this book are:

Book 1 - The Changed Man: Tales of Dread

In the one-volume editions, this section is titled "The Hanged Man: Tales of Dread". * "Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory" * "Quietus" * "Deep Breathing Exercises" * " Fat Farm" * "Closing the Timelid" * "Freeway Games" * "A Sepulchre of Songs" * "Prior Restraint" * "The Changed Man and the King of Words" * "Memories of My Head" * " Lost Boys"

Book 2 - Flux: Tales of Human Futures

* " A Thousand Deaths" * "Clap Hands and Sing" * " Dogwalker" * "But We Try Not to Act Like It" * "

I Put My Blue Genes On "I Put My Blue Genes On" is a science fiction short story by American writer Orson Scott Card, first published in the August 1978 issue of '' Analog''. It also appears in his short story collections ''Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories'' and ...

" * " In the Doghouse" * "

The Originist "The Originist" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. First published in the short story collection ''Foundation's Friends'' (1989), it also appears in his short story collection ''Maps in a Mirror''. This story is set in Isaac Asimov's ''Found ...

Book 3 - Monkey Sonatas: Fables and Fantasies

In the one-volume editions, this section is titled "Maps in a Mirror: Fables and Fantasies". * "

Unaccompanied Sonata "Unaccompanied Sonata" is a short story by American writer Orson Scott Card, first published in the March, 1979 issue of '' Omni'' magazine. It appears in his short story collections ''Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories'' and ''Maps in a Mirror ...

" * " A Cross-Country Trip to Kill Richard Nixon" * "The Porcelain Salamander" * "

Middle Woman "Middle Woman" is a short story by American writer Orson Scott Card, originally published in the '' Dragons of Darkness'', edited by Card himself, under the name Byron Walley. It also appears in his short story collections '' Cardography'' and '' ...

" * "The Bully and the Beast" * "The Princess and the Bear" * "Sandmagic" * "The Best Day" * "

A Plague of Butterflies "A Plague of Butterflies" is a short story by American writer Orson Scott Card. It was originally published in Amazing, in 1981, and shortly afterwards in an anthology, edited by Card, entitled '' Dragons of Darkness''. His short story " ...

" * "

The Monkeys Thought 'Twas All in Fun "The Monkeys Thought 'Twas All in Fun" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collections ''Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories'' and ''Maps in a Mirror''. Plot summary A story about how paradise can have its hi ...

Book 4 - Cruel Miracles: Tales of Death, Hope, and Holiness

* "Mortal Gods" * " Saving Grace" * "

Eye for Eye ''Eye for Eye'' (1987) is a science fiction novella by Orson Scott Card. It first appeared in the March 1987 issue of ''Asimov's Science Fiction'' magazine. In 1990 it appeared in Card's short story collection ''Maps in a Mirror'' and also a ...

" * " St. Amy's Tale" * "

Kingsmeat ''Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories'' (1980) is a collection of short stories by American writer Orson Scott Card. Although not purely science fiction and definitely not hard science fiction, the book contains stories that have a futuristic ...

" * "

Holy Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

Book 5 - Lost Songs: The Hidden Stories

* "

" * " Mikal's Songbird" * "

Prentice Alvin and the No-Good Plow "Prentice Alvin and the No-Good Plow" is a poem by Orson Scott Card. The poem was the basis for Card's ''The Tales of Alvin Maker'' series. Publication "Prentice Alvin and the No-Good Plow" won first prize in the long serious poem category at th ...

" * "Malpractice" * " Follower" * "Hitching" * "Damn Fine Novel" * "Billy's Box" * "The Best Family Home Evening Ever" * " Bicicleta" * "I Think Mom and Dad Are Going Crazy, Jerry" * " Gert Fram"

References

External links

About the book ''Maps in a Mirror'' from Card's website
{{OrsonScottCard 1990 short story collections Short story collections by Orson Scott Card Science fiction short story collections Fantasy short story collections Tor Books books