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Back Worlds Enough and Time Save as PDF
Chapters (90)
  1. Title Page
  2. Enter the SF Gateway …
  3. Contents
  4. Author Note
  5. PROLOGUE: TRANSCRIPT
  6. IDENTITIES
  7. YEAR 0.005
  8. EARTHWATCH
  9. A CHANCE TO DREAM
  10. MEETING OF MINDS
  11. GENESIS AND REVELATION
  12. GRAVE IMAGE
  13. THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
  14. MANEUVERING
  15. BIG SISTER
  16. THE POWER TO SOOTHE
  17. YEAR 1.00
  18. ABOUT TIME
  19. HAPPY NEW YEAR
  20. TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS
  21. FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS INCLINATIONS
  22. IN THE DEAD VAST AND MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
  23. OPTIONS
  24. DRIFTING
  25. DIVIDE AND MULTIPLY
  26. DIONYSUS MEETS GODZILLA
  27. 10
  28. DIDN’T SHE RAMBLE?
  29. YEAR 1.33
  30. LONG-RANGE PLANS
  31. NEW BEGINNINGS
  32. UNTIMELY PLUCKED
  33. BLUES
  34. YEAR 1.88
  35. LABOR-SAVING DEVICE
  36. FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE TO THE CRADLE
  37. A MODEST PROPOSAL
  38. ADVICE TO THE LOVELORN
  39. ONE PART HARMONY
  40. TWO PARTS DISCORD
  41. YEAR 3.21
  42. LEAVINGS
  43. REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST
  44. TRANSLATING
  45. YEAR 5.71
  46. WATERSHED, BLOODSHED
  47. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
  48. A WOMAN OF DISCRIMINATION
  49. THAT TIME OF YEAR THOU MAYE5T IN ME BEHOLD
  50. CATEGORIES
  51. YEAR 6.26
  52. AULD ACQUAINTANCE
  53. SOWING, REAPING
  54. TEMPERAMENT
  55. BAD SEED
  56. YEAR 8.36
  57. HUSBANDRY
  58. POPULATION EXPLOSION
  59. YEAR 9.88
  60. HOMECOMING
  61. THE BURDENS OF FAITH
  62. YEAR 11.07
  63. GROWING PAINS
  64. LONG-DISTANCE CALL
  65. FOUR NOVELS
  66. AGE 55
  67. IN DREAMS AWAKE
  68. UP TEMPO
  69. JUVENILIA
  70. POOL PARTY
  71. INTERIM REPORT
  72. CHANCES
  73. BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE
  74. FINAL APPROACH
  75. AGE 56
  76. DAY ZERO
  77. FIRST CONTACT
  78. LETTER ‘HOME
  79. HOUSEKEEPING
  80. AGE 57
  81. SETTLING, UNSETTLING
  82. THE HUNT
  83. FINAL EXAM
  84. AGE 100
  85. Website
  86. Also by Joe Haldeman
  87. Dedication
  88. EPILOGUE
  89. Author Bio
  90. Copyright

He slides over the book. Two bold Chinese characters are stamped on the red leather jacket. O’Hara opens it and reads the title.

O’HARA: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu?
PURCELL: Well, it’s not just about war. It’s about using people and supplies. Management. Bluffing. The creative use and abuse of power.
Written more than two thousand years ago, but still useful.
O’HARA: Thank you. I didn’t bring any actual books. This is beautiful.
PURCELL: Very little of what it says is beautiful. It’s a tough, uncompromising book. (He stares at her.)
How many nervous breakdowns have you had?
O’HARA: None.
PURCELL: Your record—
O’HARA: I know my record. I’ve been treated for anxiety disorders. (She holds up the Chinese book.) We live in interesting times.
PURCELL: Twice these “disorders” involved physical collapse. I’d call them nervous break-downs.
O’HARA: Doctors don’t. (Purcell shrugs.) In both cases, I was back to work in a day or two. If I thought it was an impediment to public service, I would let the public get along without me.
PURCELL: I’m not suggesting that it is. As far as I can tell, your actual problem is quite unrelated to anxiety.
O’HARA: Good. Is it treatable?
PURCELL: Selfcorrecting, ultimately. It’s your god-damned superwoman complex.
O’HARA: What, you think I have too much confidence to be a good leader? That’s bizarre.
PURCELL: No, it’s the opposite of that, or the obverse: an inability, or unwillingness, to predict disaster.
O’HARA: I went through more disaster in seven months than you have seen in eighty-four years.
PURCELL: Excepting the sure prospect of one’s death, perhaps. (She starts to say something but he holds his hand up, mollifying.) That’s not fair. I’m sorry.

He drops the hand heavily to the table.

PURCELL: Most of a century involved in calculated debate. It produces reflexes. Like any sport. I have to go.

He gets to his feet with some effort, and at the door looks back with an almost avuncular smile. O’Hara has risen, stepped toward him.

PURCELL: No. Read “Maneuver,” Statement 27.

O’Hara watches him go, then looks it up.

O’HARA: “When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.”

BIG SISTER

Dear Marianne,

Things sure have been exciting around here since you left. School school and more school. And dear old Mom.