This Nebula Award-winning story tells of two captive "dirt children" in a society of sword and silk, whose determination to find a glimpse of justice leads to a violent and loving end.

Also included is the nonfiction essay Staying Awake While We Read, which demolishes the pretensions of corporate publishing and the basic assumptions of capitalism, and Outspoken Author Interview, which reveals the hidden dimensions of America's best-known sci-fi author.