I'm supremely happy to know that Reynolds as a short story writer is just as good as Reynolds as a novelist. Some of the stories were unabashedly nostalgic for me, but others, such as the last one, Galactic North, really bit deep into my subconscious and wouldn't let go. I wanted more and more of that one, but there were a few others that even verged on the mythical. I'm thinking of a certain medical ship, not to mention a fascination of worms. 
 Strangely enough, I got a lot out of the afterward, as well, when he explained his debts to other writers, and I think no less of him for adding such a long list. I suppose I'd do the same, in his shoes. But then again, I see no fear that he took too much from them, or made anything else less than stellar. 
 I'm very impressed and I enjoyed every story.