Walter M. Miller Jr. is best remembered as the author of A Canticle for Leibowitz , universally recognized as one of the greatest novels of modern SF. But as well as writing that deeply felt and eloquent book, he produced many shorter works of fiction of stunning originality and power. His profound interest in religion and his innate literary gifts combined perfectly in the production of such works as ‘The Darfsteller’, for which he won a Hugo in 1955, ‘Conditionally Human’, ‘I, Dreamer’ and ‘The Big Hunger’, all of which are included in this brilliant and essential collection.