I loved this collection of short stories but it took me forever to read.  I felt like after each one I had to put the book down and let it sink in.  I couldn't just go onto the next.  I absolutely love this cover.  I remember when this photo series came out.  This one makes a perfect book cover.  I've posted before about the first story The Ones Who Stay and Fight.  That is still my favorite story but there are many other great ideas in this book.There are children who get chosen to be a sacrifice based on their good grades.  But what happens to them?  Is this a punishment for the kids who have to excel despite the risks or a way to set them free?Fans can freeze their favorite writers by killing them at the time of their greatest talent so they never disappoint.Can humans who have escaped a dying Earth fix the environmental damage?  Should they be allowed to try no matter what humans who have remained behind think?Making deals (and babies) with dragons might not turn out well for anyone but the dragons.  On the other hand, little dragons can help fight off even bigger evil.There are tales of first contact with alien civilizations and visions of possibly imaginary women dancing in elevators.  There are gods that survive the death of humans.  How do they entertain themselves?Wars can be fought or prevented with magic.  Maybe, someday, the tenuous connections between people on the internet will be all that there is left.  Then again, maybe if you look hard enough there is a train waiting that can take you anywhere you need to go.There are stories here that I know Foodies Read participants would love.  A chef unlocks her ability to make magic with food.  A restaurant opens that can make the exact meal from any memory.  This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story