''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 bo ...

. 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 imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving 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 literature and drama ...

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 d ...

", " Lost Boys", and "

Mikal's Songbird ''Songmaster'' (1980) is a science fiction novel by American writer Orson Scott Card. The story of the ''Songmaster'' occurs in a future human empire, and follows Ansset, a beautiful young boy whose perfect singing voice has the power of ampli ...

" 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 Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...

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 exampl ...

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 "Fat Farm" is a short story by American writer Orson Scott Card. Originally published in the January 1980 issue of '' Omni'' magazine, it also appears in his short story collection ''Maps in a Mirror''. Plot summary Martin Barth is a very rich ...

" * "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 Dog walking is the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. Leashes are commonly used for this. Both owners and pets receive many benefits, including exercise and companionship. Description D ...

" * "But We Try Not to Act Like It" * " I Put My Blue Genes On" * "

In the Doghouse IN, In or in may refer to: Places * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * In ...

" * " The Originist"

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 Mir ...

" * " A Cross-Country Trip to Kill Richard Nixon" * "The Porcelain Salamander" * " Middle Woman" * "The Bully and the Beast" * "The Princess and the Bear" * "Sandmagic" * "The Best Day" * " A Plague of Butterflies" * " The Monkeys Thought 'Twas All in Fun"

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

* "Mortal Gods" * " Saving Grace" * " Eye for Eye" * " St. Amy's Tale" * " Kingsmeat" * "

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 ( ...

Book 5 - Lost Songs: The Hidden Stories

* "

" * "

" * " Prentice Alvin and the No-Good Plow" * "Malpractice" * "

Follower Follower or variants may refer to: People and roles * Follower (Australian rules football), Australian rules position * Follower, a colloquial term for a debt collector * Camp follower, a civilian who follows in the wake of an army *Friending and ...

" * "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 "Gert Fram" is a short story that by American author Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collection ''Maps in a Mirror'', but it originally appeared in the July 1977 fine arts issue of ''Ensign'' magazine under the pen name Byron Wal ...

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