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Murder, Mystery, and Interstellar Intrigue! Lassti, a newly discovered planet, is the center of political intrigue. Recently, Oloitokitok, the planet survey team's physicist was found dead. Was he killed? If so, by who? One of his fellow surveyors? Or by one of the Sprookjes, the birdlike natives of Lassti? Are the Sprookjes intelligent? If so, then parties that want the planet for development will lose it. Why is the survey team having so much trouble finding out?

Into this situation arrives Tocohl, a Hellspark trader who just wanted to have a vacation on Sheveschke at the St. Veschke festival. After being attacked, rescuing a young woman, and going before a judge, Tocohl has learned all she ever wanted to know about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she is on her way to find Lasti to find answers to the mysteries there.

Hugo Award winning and Nebula Award nominated novelette.

A homesick staff member of the human embassy to an alien planet indulges in some Christmas customs, which unexpectedly lead to a transformation of the alien society away from tyrannical monarchy towards individual liberty.

The story was originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction, December 1992. It can also be found in the anthologies Christmas Magic (1994) edited by David G. Hartwell, The New Hugo Winners, Volume IV: (1992-94) (1997), edited by Gregory Benford and Season of Wonder (2012), edited by Paula Guran.

On the distant planet of Mirabile, a settlement of human colonists from Earth is jeopardized by genetic mutants of Earth plants and animals, and it is up to ecological troubleshooter Mama Jason to destroy the menacing mutants

Table of Contents:

• The Loch Moose Monster - (1989)
• The Return of the Kangaroo Rex - (1989)
• The Flowering Inferno - (1990)
• Getting the Bugs Out - (1990)
• Raising Cane - (1991)
• Frankenswine - (1991)
• Afterword: Author's Note - (1991)

This novelette originally appeared in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, March 1989. It can also be found in the anthology The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventh Annual Collection (1990), edited by Gardner Dozois. The story is included in the collection Mirabile (1991).

Years ago, Lt. Uhura befriended a diplomat from Eeiauo, the land of graceful, cat-like beings. The two women exchanged songs and promised never to reveal their secret.

Now the U.S.S. Enterprise is orbiting Eeiauo in a desperate race to save the inhabitants before a deadly plague destroys them. Uhura's secret songs may hold the key to a cure -- but the clues are veiled in layers of mystery. The plague is killing humans, threatening other planets -- and Kirk must crack the code before the Starship Enterprise succumbs!