This short story collection by Hugo and Nebula winning author Joe Haldeman contains some of his best short stories. “More Than the Sum of His Parts” is a science fiction horror story, in the vein of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. A man is badly burned in an accident and has an arm, half his face, and various other tissues and organs replaced with powerful prosthetic parts. Invariably, power corrupts him.

The most worthwhile read in the anthology is “You Can Never Go Home.” This short story is, in actuality, the second part of Haldeman’s novel The Forever War. Haldeman’s first draft was regarded as too depressing, by his editor. “You Can Never Go Home” is a Vietnam era narrative set on earth between linked war stories; it describes the alienation and confusion of soldiers returning to a homeland they scarce recognize. Haldeman’s anthology contains many other good reads, i.e. ” Lindsay and the Red City Blues” and “Manifest Destiny.” I highly recommend Dealing in Futures.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Kevin Oldfield
Rating: Highly Recommended