
All I Ever Dreamed
Michael Blumlein
Book Description
In the opening story of this extraordinary collection, “California Burning,” a man must come to terms with a strange truth about his dead father, whose corpse refuses to be cremated. In “Snow in Dirt,” a man finds the woman of his dreams buried in a state of suspended animation in his garden. The burned-out fashion designer in “Hymenoptera” receives new inspiration when a chest-high, eight-foot-long wasp shows up in his studio. And in stories like “Twenty-two and You,” “The Roberts,” and “Know How Can Do,” Blumlein explores the consequences—sometimes humorous, sometimes horrific—of scientific technologies such as genetic manipulation and the creation of artificial life.
Varying widely in theme and subject matter, these stories showcase the breadth and power of Michael Blumlein’s vision and once again reveal him to be one of the most original and fascinating of contemporary writers. They are stories that skirt the boundaries of fantasy, science fiction and horror, existing in a genre uniquely the author’s own.
This volume brings together all the short fiction published by Blumlein in the three decades since the original appearance of his award-winning collection The Brains of Rats (1989), including two stories published here in book form for the first time.
Contains:
"Twenty-Two and You" • "California Burning" • "Paul and Me" • "Revenge" • "Snow in Dirt" • "The Big One" • "Hymenoptera" • "Greedy for Kisses" • "Fidelity: A Primer" • "Isostasy" • "Strategy for Conflict Avoidance: Memo to George W, Our Commander-in-Chief" • "Bird Walks in New England" • "The Roberts" • "Know How, Can Do" • "Bloom" • "Success" • "Choose Poison, Choose Life"
Michael Blumlein
Book Description
In the opening story of this extraordinary collection, “California Burning,” a man must come to terms with a strange truth about his dead father, whose corpse refuses to be cremated. In “Snow in Dirt,” a man finds the woman of his dreams buried in a state of suspended animation in his garden. The burned-out fashion designer in “Hymenoptera” receives new inspiration when a chest-high, eight-foot-long wasp shows up in his studio. And in stories like “Twenty-two and You,” “The Roberts,” and “Know How Can Do,” Blumlein explores the consequences—sometimes humorous, sometimes horrific—of scientific technologies such as genetic manipulation and the creation of artificial life.
Varying widely in theme and subject matter, these stories showcase the breadth and power of Michael Blumlein’s vision and once again reveal him to be one of the most original and fascinating of contemporary writers. They are stories that skirt the boundaries of fantasy, science fiction and horror, existing in a genre uniquely the author’s own.
This volume brings together all the short fiction published by Blumlein in the three decades since the original appearance of his award-winning collection The Brains of Rats (1989), including two stories published here in book form for the first time.
Contains:
"Twenty-Two and You" • "California Burning" • "Paul and Me" • "Revenge" • "Snow in Dirt" • "The Big One" • "Hymenoptera" • "Greedy for Kisses" • "Fidelity: A Primer" • "Isostasy" • "Strategy for Conflict Avoidance: Memo to George W, Our Commander-in-Chief" • "Bird Walks in New England" • "The Roberts" • "Know How, Can Do" • "Bloom" • "Success" • "Choose Poison, Choose Life"
REVIEWS
“Readers who enjoy a wide range of genre fiction will be enamored with this collection of short stories from physician and author Blumlein, most of which blend Lovecraft-like lore with the earthy everydayness of Stephen King’s fiction.” – Publishers Weekly
“Blumlein has long brought a sharply original perspective to his science fiction ... powerful and bizarre ... stylistically adventurous.” – Locus
“Blumlein hasn't been the most prolific of science-fiction writers, but he's certainly among the most distinctive . . . Blumlein's sophisticated, clinical understanding of biological themes is always balanced by his deep compassion toward his troubled characters.” – Chicago Tribune
“One of science fiction’s most piercing literary talents.” – San Francisco Chronicle
“Blumlein has an exceptional vision and he conveys it with exceptional talent.” – Washington Post
“Blumlein is one of the most important, original and challenging writers working in SF or horror today.” – Science Fiction Eye
“Blumlein has long brought a sharply original perspective to his science fiction ... powerful and bizarre ... stylistically adventurous.” – Locus
“Blumlein hasn't been the most prolific of science-fiction writers, but he's certainly among the most distinctive . . . Blumlein's sophisticated, clinical understanding of biological themes is always balanced by his deep compassion toward his troubled characters.” – Chicago Tribune
“One of science fiction’s most piercing literary talents.” – San Francisco Chronicle
“Blumlein has an exceptional vision and he conveys it with exceptional talent.” – Washington Post
“Blumlein is one of the most important, original and challenging writers working in SF or horror today.” – Science Fiction Eye
BOOK DETAILS
ISBN: 1-948405032 ISBN-13: 978-1948405034 $34.99 US, 506 pp. Hardcover Published 2018 BOOK DETAILS ISBN: 1943910995 ISBN-13: 978-1943910991 $22.99 US, 506 pp. Trade paper Published 2018 |
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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Michael Blumlein is the author of The Movement of Mountains, X,Y, The Healer, and The Roberts (a novella), as well as the award-winning story collection The Brains of Rats and the recently released collection What the Doctor Ordered.
He has been nominated twice for the World Fantasy Award and twice for the Bram Stoker Award, received the ReaderCon Award, and has been short-listed for the Tiptree Award.
He has written for the stage and for film. His novel X,Y was made into a feature-length movie. His stories have been widely anthologized and taught in a variety of settings, from high school to college, law and medical school.
In addition to writing, Dr. Blumlein is a physician. He holds a faculty appointment at the University of California at San Francisco. Much of his career has been spent caring for the underserved.
He has been nominated twice for the World Fantasy Award and twice for the Bram Stoker Award, received the ReaderCon Award, and has been short-listed for the Tiptree Award.
He has written for the stage and for film. His novel X,Y was made into a feature-length movie. His stories have been widely anthologized and taught in a variety of settings, from high school to college, law and medical school.
In addition to writing, Dr. Blumlein is a physician. He holds a faculty appointment at the University of California at San Francisco. Much of his career has been spent caring for the underserved.