Author: Paulo Bacigalupi

Length: short story

First Publication: Fast Forward I anthology (2007)

What the Story is About: In the future, saturation of PCBs, dioxins, phthalates and other hormone mimics from the environment mean parents have to make terrible choices. A chilling story.

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: novellette

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 2005

Awards: 2006 Theodore Sturgeon Award; 2006 Hugo nomination for best novelette

What the Story is About: Story set in a future where agribusiness companies tightly control all food production – calories – with their patented genetically engineered crops. One man had the knowledge that could break their monopoly.

There is a man who the calorie companies would like very much to find.” He tapped his balding head. “A very intelligent man. We want to help him.”
Lalji sucked in his breath. “A generipper?”
Shriram avoided Lalji’s eyes. “In a sense. A calorie man.”

Alternative story formats at Nightshade Books (Windup Stories, Stories from the World of the Windup Girl)

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: novelette

First Publication: Fast Forward Anthology, 2008

Awards: Hugo Nomination for Best Novelette 2009. Nebula Nomination for Best Novelette 2009.

What the Story is About: The future of science journalism?

Listen to the audio version at StarShipSofa

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: short story

First Publication: High Country News, 2006

What the Story is About: In a drought-scarred future Lolo earns his living by exterminating tamarisk trees for the Bureau of Reclamation, while making illegal new plantings to made sure he will have future work. Will he survive?

A big tamarisk can suck 73,000 gallons of river water a year. For $2.88 a day, plus water bounty, Lolo rips tamarisk all winter long.

(See photos of tamarisk (saltcedar) along the Colorado River at CP-LUHNA)

Alternate story link

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: short story

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 1999

What the Story is About: In future Chengdu, Tibetan beggar Wang Jun stumbles on a treasure.

It grew on lattices of minerals, laying its own skeleton and following with cellulose skin. Infrastructure strong and broad, growing and branching, it settled roots deep into the green fertile soil of the Sichuan basin. It drew nutrients and minerals from the soil and sun, and the water of the rancid Bing Jiang; sucking at pollutants as willingly as it ate the sunlight which filtered through twining sooty mist.
Within, its veins and arteries grew pipelines to service the waste and food and data needs of its coming occupants. It was an animal vertical city built first in the fertile minds of the Biotects and now growing into reality. Energy pulsed from the growing creature. It would stand a kilometer high and five wide when fully mature. A vast biologic city, which other than its life support would then lie dormant as humanity walked its hollowed arteries, clambered through its veins and nailed memories to its skin in the rituals of habitation.

Author: Paulo Bacigalupi

Length: novelette

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 2004

Awards: Hugo Nomination for Best Novelette 2005; Nebula Nomination for Best Novelette 2005

What the Story is About: In the distant future humans engineered to survive on an Earth where the environment has become lethal to normal humans and most other animals. In this toxic landscape an armed unit of post-humans discovers an unmodified dog and must decide what to do.

Down in the valley, something was running, flushed by the hunter. It slipped along a shallow creek, viscous with tailings acid. The ship herded it toward us. Nothing. No missile fire. No slag. Just the running creature. A mass of tangled hair. Quadrupedal. Splattered with mud.

Alternate story link