Preview of Tangents Summary:

The short story form is especially valuable for young adult readers because it offers characters, situations, and ideas that can be absorbed in one sitting. Short stories can introduce the complexities of fiction to busy young people occupied with school studies, extracurricular activities, social lives, and the hard work of growing up. Bear is a master of short fiction, and his speculative stories on science strongly attract young readers.

"Tangents" presents the story...