Though it is contrary to my general practice to introduce my own works, I decided to say a few words to gobefore this collection and some before each story itselfbecause I have put this one together out of materialsdrawn from the beginning, middle and recent sections ofthe eighteen-year period I have been writing. I havechanged during that time, a condition I share with theworld around me, and I redden now or blanche (as thecase my be) to read over much that I once consideredadequate. For this reason, there are dozens of stories thatI prefer keeping interred beneath bright covers in yellowing sheets, stories that 1 will never willingly see reprinted. I feel some affection for the ones I have gatheredhere, however, and I will say some things about them inthe proper places.

The nature of my work and my working habits shiftedradically in the late 60's, when I went in more heavilyfor the writing of novels. I had started out as a shortstory writer, and I still enjoy writing short storiesthough I no longer do nearly as many as I used to in ayear's time. The reason is mainly economic. I went fulltime in the late 60's, and it is a fact of writing life that,word for word, novels work harder for their creatorswhen it comes to providing for the necessities and joys ofexistence. Which would sound cold and cynical, exceptthat I enjoy writing novels, too.

I have no desire to explain, attempt to justify or apologize for anything that I have written. I have always feltthat a story should be able to deal with such mattersitself. My individual forepieces are intended only to placethem within the context of my own evolving experience—which makes this an autobiographical work for me, ifnot for anyone else.

So, to even things up and answer a number of requests, I'll tell you a little about myself (purely subjective, not dust jacket material)—