Okay, first an admission. I have been a fan of Mike Resnick's fiction for over a decade, and read nearly all of his sf novels. However, with the exception of the Lucifer Jones short stories I have read very little of his shorter work. I have a number of his short story collections but so far have never opened a single one of them.

So when this review copy arrived on my doorstep I thought this was a great opportunity to see if I liked his short stories as much as his novels. Well, if this is typical of Resnick's output at the shorter length, I have been depriving myself.

Right from the first story "Robots Don't Cry" we are treated to some truly great short science fiction stories. In "Robots..." we meet a robot, Sammy, who was utterly devoted to his charge – a Miss Emily – and is suffering through tremendous grief at her loss.

This sets a standard, one that is maintained throughout the set. There is the touching sentimental side of the author in the first (aforementioned) story and also in "Down Memory Lane" (a tale about Alzheimer's), and "Hothouse Flowers" in which a nurse works on the geriatrics ward in a future where death is delayed through scientific advancement.

But this is just one side of Resnick's writing. There are comedic pieces here also – check out his Superman essay "Unsafe at any Speed", an exercise in pedantry along the lines of Larry Niven's "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex". And to see his skill at comedy in fiction two John Justin Mallory tales "The Chinese Sandman" and "The Amorous Broom" are also included in the book. Reading these two brought back pleasant memories for me.

The first ever Mike Resnick novel I read was Stalking the Unicorn, the novel length outing of this detective in a slightly off-kilter fantasy version of out world. I spent two weeks of my life with this as my "Tube Book", reading a chapter or two each night on the Tube train on my way home from work. So it was good to go back and revisit an old friend.

We also visit Africa with these tales. The author has a long-standing love of Africa – any one who has read much of his work would know this. So it will come as no surprise that Africa features here. "Mwalimu in the Squared Circle" is a story of an alternate Africa – an a boxing match between Julius Nyerere – a scholarly middle-aged man, President of Tanzania - and Idi Amin, the bullish soldier, leader of Uganda. And further visit the continent with "For I Have Touched The Sky" (one of the author's Kirinyaga tales) and "The Burning Spear of Twilight" - a tale featuring Jomo Kenyatta.

But for me, the absolute highlight of this set is "Travels with My Cat". In this story a man finds he is able to supernaturally visit with the author of a book he bought and first read in his youth – an author who died 80 years previously.

I'm probably always going to remain a fan first and foremost of Resnick's novels, just as I am with novels/novellas as a medium above short fiction. But this set tells me I have much more of this man's work to enjoy.

Synopsis
New Dreams for Old is a collection of science fiction and fantasy stories by Mike Resnick, showing the depth and range that has not only made him a popular seller, but also placed him fourth (and climbing) on the all-time award list of all science fiction writers living and dead (as compiled by Locus).

This book contains award winners and nominees. It contains two stories that are currently in development by Hollywood. It contains stories that have won readers polls, that have won foreign prizes, and a few that are just out-and-out hilarious.

Most of these stories constitute recent work. One of them — "Travels With My Cats" — was a 2005 Hugo Award-winner and a Nebula nominee, while another — "A Princess of Earth" — was also a 2005 Hugo nominee. The story "Robots Don't Cry" was a 2004 Hugo nominee the previous year. Also included are the Hugo and Nebula nominee "For I Have Touched the Sky", Hugo nominee "Mwalimu in the Squared Circle", and Hugo winner "The 43 Antarean Dynasties". This collection also includes two novellas that have never seen print outside of the members-only Science Fiction Book Club.

Are there really elephants on Neptune? What does Old MacDonald of nursery-rhyme fame actually grow on his farm? Is there much difference between pruning elderly flowers and elderly people? A trio of award nominees, "The Elephants on Neptune", "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", and "Hothouse Flowers", provide the answers.

This is a collection of enormous range and the highest quality. More to the point, every story will not only make the reader think, but feel. The collection is introduced by Nancy Kress, herself a multiple Hugo and Nebula winner, and a monthly columnist for Writer's Digest.