Heat of Fusion: And Other Stories

Heat of Fusion and Other Stories contains a mostly even mix of poetry and prose which should dispel any notion that John M. Ford is a "mere" fantasy/SF writer. There's a verse story in which D'Artagnan and company meet another famous swordsman, a stage play about memory, a solid rendition of the visions-of-death story, and many others. Whether reworking myths or writing of a future, Ford often leaves details understated, so stories reward multiple readings. Although some of the poems didn't do much for me, likely due to my lack of affinity for the form, they all seem well constructed. This book backs up the publisher's promise of versatility and then some.