Douglas Adams is widely considered to be one of the funniest science fiction writers ever, and his The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979), the first in a multivolume series, is a classic satirical science fiction work. The story centers around the interstellar mishaps and adventures of Arthur Dent, a human who is transported off earth right before its destruction by an interplanetary construction crew—which plans to build an interstellar freeway. Dent's companions include an alien, Ford Prefect; a chronically depressed robot, Marvin; and a computer travel guide.

Like the successful Bears Discover Fire and Other Stories, Bisson's second short story collection, In the Upper Room and Other Likely Stories (2000), addresses a wide range of topics, including the danger of technology, virtual reality, and cloning. The collection also includes his award-winning short story, "macs," which takes the idea of...