This debut collection from Nebula-nominated author Beth Cato brings together works that span history and space, a showcase of vividly imagined speculative stories that range from introspective and intense to outright whimsical. Here you'll find the souls of horses bonded into war machines of earth and air, toilet gnomes on the rampage, magical pies, a mad scientist mother, a bitter old man who rages against giant extraterrestrial robots, and a sentient house that longs to be a home. The book features 28 stories and 6 poems, and includes Cato's acclaimed story "The Souls of Horses." “Cato writes with abundant heart, placing humanity and compassion in the forefront of everything that she does. Reading Cato’s work renews my hope in humanity.” —Michael R. Underwood, author of Genrenauts “With Ray Bradbury’s poignant charm, Beth Cato explores the resilience of the soul in this versatile collection of stories." —T. Frohock, author of Los Nefilim “Beth Cato crafts tales with heart, poignancy, and simple decency. She is the Thornton Wilder of SF!” —Lawrence M. Schoen, author of Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard “In this collection, Cato shows exactly why she was a Nebula finalist last year. While the worlds in her shorts are vivid and enthralling, it’s her characters that highlight her extraordinary skill. She moves easily from one milieu to another. The characters don’t jump off the page, they pull you in to join them. This says nothing of the new twists she puts on well-trodden genres. The book is like a delightful night of small plates, each a delicious little escape, and the next arriving just as the flavor of the last is at its peak.” —Bishop O’Connell, author of the American Faerie Tale series