YEAR OF THE BREAKOUT In the past year, science fiction has finally emerged from its isolation as the preserve of a limited number of readers and been recognized as one of the most vital and widely read kinds of writing. These seven stories show, dramatically, why that has happened. In their Hugo- and Nebula-winning "Stardance," Spider and Jeanne Robinson explore the grandest setting any performer ever had...John Varley's stranded space crew discovers unthought-of-wonders in "In the Hall of the Martian Kings"...Frankenstein's monster penetrates the depths of the Earth un Utley and Waldrop's "Black as the Pit, from Pole to Pole"...and Raccoona Sheldon, George R.R. Martin, Edward Bryant and Michael Bishop, contribute memorable tales of the limits of human experience. Introduction—The screwfly solution / Raccoona Sheldon—In the hall of the Martian kings / John Varley—Particle theory / Edward Bryant—Bitterblooms / George R. R.Martin—Black as the pit, from pole to pole / Steven Utley and Howard Waldrop—The house of compassionate sharers / Michael Bishop—Stardance / Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson.