Synthesis and Other Virtual Realities:
I was shocked in 1995 when I opened a letter from Jim Turner, editor for Arkham House and read his suggestion that I publish a collection of my short fiction with Arkham House. A publisher coming to me? Once I decided that this was not a scam and he really mean it, I happily sent him copies of all the short stories I had published to date. That was the beginning of a wonderful working friendship with Jim. He was a marvelous editor. We argued over various points in the stories. Sometimes he convinced me he was right, sometimes…less often… I convinced him I was right, but I learned something from every discussion. When he read over my stories he pointed to an early ‘Asimov’s’ story, Flood Tide and told me, ‘This is where you really figured out how to write a short story.’ He was so right. I remember to this day the sense of exhilaration as I finished the first draft of that story, thinking, Yes! I think I’ve finally got this! It was a real breakthrough for me, and a testament to Jim’s perspicacity as an editor. I miss him. I wish I had had an opportunity to work with him again before his untimely death.
If you want a taste of Mary Rosenblum, this collection is a nice assortment. Jim did an excellent job of choosing a variety of stories that focus on different aspects of my short story writing.