"Iterations" by Robert J. Sawyer has clever, horror, and "hard scifi" based on possibilities suggested by physics research. Prejudiced against scary stuff and pro-ramps, my favorite is his first major sale 1987 #7 "Uphill Climb". Whether the pretty woman is related by blood or love is never specified, but she is obviously dear. A couple almost hopeful tales depend on the destruction of our Earth. The rest are dark, black, Halloween campfire material.Intros backgrounding how or why, related to author's life, current events, unique, special, good, bad, liked, hated, relevance, meaning - are fewer than recitations - Mother Goose bought for 1980 90th Shoe Collection, dry unless you are/were part of the scifi community beyond occasional Mensa game night, summer BBQ, or Ad Astra convention, to recognize name-dropping. #3 Title is "riff on Tipler" - who? Big Bang Theorist consultation required. #9 longest title ... Luggage fit on the back of his business card in tiny font and inside a bon voyage card. #10 is riff on Ontario tourism and car licence plate slogan. Dinosaurs have an intense influence on his subjects. One of the reasons I could spell Tyrannosaurus Rex, and related saurs before kindergarten was my Sundays at the Toronto Royal Ontario Museum gazing at their ginormous skeleton. I love Rob dearly; he's a hometown boy all through.Some Spoilers:1 The Hand You're Dealt - Narrating cop uses geneticists "soothsayers" required at birth and 18 years on planet Mendelia to expose murderer and clone pedophile.2 Peking Man - Neanderthal tribe converted to vampires intersperse with WW2 nocturnal man convincing researcher to file teeth straight on plaster casts of their skulls.3 Iterations - Narrator kills selves in alternate universes who justly kill villain.4 Gator - Museum paleontologist Ludlam tracking NY sewers for time-jumping piezoelectric discharges intersperse with sanitation worker at emergency with dinosaur tooth and munched leg. (He stays in alternate NY with beloved saurs.)5 Blue Planet - Aliens Delp and Teltor welcome Earth astronauts to Mars. ("Welcome home" because Earth descended from life on Mars in their opinion,)6 Wiping Out - Narrator soldier from war where alien species had to be exterminated experiences last flashback. (Process also eliminates memory of how to make weapon so humanity open to destruction, will kill no more alien races.)7 Uphill Climb - Human Kivley denies saurian Obno permission to use her higher technical knowledge to upgrade helpful robot that cannot climb stairs. (Thus his lovely in wheelchair benefits from ramps installed worldwide for bestseller robots.)8 Last But Not Least - Nerd Matt, always picked last on school phys-ed teams, as captain chooses all worst for his football team. (Laughs when leg broken as football "hero".) 9 If I'm Here, Imagine Where The Sent My Luggage - Mid-teleport, narrator accidentally compared "fat broad" to brontosaurus, now running for life from allosaur. (Thinking of giving Starport Toronto staff Hell while tele-jumping.)10 Where the Heart Is - Narrator star explorer Carl returns after 150 years to find humanity all absorbed into world wide computer web mind. (Wendy, his love left behind welcomes him in.)11 Lost in the Mail - Narrator technical writer gets more and more mail addressed to self as paleontologist, direction not taken. (Postman re-aligns and converges realities by end of day.)12 Just Like Old Times - Cohen controls T. Rex to stay alive and kill pre-hominids intersperse with Judge who condemned the serial killer's mind to inhabit (supposed to die soon) dinosaur body in past.13 The Contest - G. and D. use average John Smith to champion global battle. (God asks Devil for 2/3 when normal guy screws up like usual.)14 Stream of Consciousness - Astronomer Raji, hoverjet pilot Tina, and medics Bancroft and Cardinal try to save wounded 6-limb alien using hand-held spectroscopes and microscopes. (Blood is intelligence in body shell.)15 Forever - Astronomer Cholo saves island city of intelligent dinosaur civilization from swamping tidal waves by timely warning. (Queen rewards with giant statue.)16 The Abdication of Pope Mary III - Because creator is physicist (all cardinals resign).17 Star Light, Star Bright - Low gravity Dyson sphere habitat children with unburnt retinas (of narrator father) see stars and space-travel to "Dirt". (where chickens cant fly.)18 Above it All - Suicide of not-alone Yuri on Miri intersperses with U.S. Colonel Rackham similarly terrified sent to retrieve body. (Rackham burns station flying back through atmosphere.)19 Ours to Discover - Narrator adult helps boy Eric fascinated with unknown maple leaf open exit from Toronto dome and regain outer world. (New flag is maple leaf forever.)20 You See But You Do Not Observe - Narrator Watson pulled into future with Sherlock Holmes to solve where aliens are. (Holmes deduces his return from death split realities and only his death can merge them before radio receiver built to contact aliens.)21 Fallen Angel - Angela, daughter and youngest of acrobatic hi-wire Renaldo family deals with devil to remove her fear of falling. (Devil changes her to bat pinned to ferris wheel that never hits ground.)22 Shoulders of Giants - Narrator Toby and copilot pretty Ling on first starship "Pioneer Spirit" with 40 frozen colonists revive at destination Tau Ceti after 1500 years. (Because Tau Ceti already settled in the meantime, citizens vote to give colonists fast new "Pioneer Spirit II" on one-way trip to Andromeda galaxy.)
