A crew of global explorers realize they may not be alone in the universe when they encounter a traveler from another world who wants to use his space technology for evil.

Is it better to have a human civilization devoid of art and culture than to have none at all? Three Earth ambassadors must whether to annihilate a space colony that has traded away human consciousness for a hive mind that feels nothing but the need for survival. In the distant future, three humans in possession of nuclear warheads must decide whether to allow a remarkable human variant species without consciousness to dominate the galaxy or destroy them forever.

Three myths from human groups on other planets describe the origin of humanity, and the necessity of respecting nature.

Set in ancient Asia, two lovers conspire against their powerful leaders to avert a sure-to-be devastating war by mistranslating their correspondences.

When a man marries a princess from Cimmeria, a country he believes he imagined into existence, he must come to terms with a culture that recognizes twins as a single person—a primary and their shadow—and the lengths a shadow twin would go to in order to become their own person.

A young trader travels across the universe, criticizing the barbarism of different cultures. After he offends the values of Vikings in Western Europe, he must escape the forces that want him dead and make it back to his lover in his homeland, Eutopia.

A human and a giant millipede learn to overcome their differences as they flee a warzone together.

When a talented linguist makes contact with the Martian species and is invited into their inner circle, he uncovers a culturally rich civilization in danger of going extinct.

An archaeologist on a dig in Africa uncovers a shard that brings the dark magic of the Brotherhood of the Higher Ones to the present day.

An intergalactic space war leads to a gladiator-like fight between a human and a spherical alien. They fight to the death, and whoever wins prevents the annihilation of their race.