Robert Reed is having a good year already. The Man with the Golden Balloon, from the Galactic Empires anthology, is a gripping, creepy tale in which a couple exploring the deepest uncharted regions of their ship, and their encounter with a mysterious alien presence who tells them his story. This is a long story, but I found myself entranced. A truly dark and frightening piece that captures the sense of humanity confronted by an entity higher up the food chain, so to speak. Highly recommended.

I also really enjoyed Reed's story Five Thrillers, in the April edition of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Again, Reed is concerned with power, in this case the way humanity itself elevates and follows a charismatic but morally bankrupt man. It's an intriguing read, and the reader's fascination is held by the protagonist's mysterious nature and the uncertainty of events. Ultimately the story seems to operate as a critique of humanity in its willingness to follow and be seduced by such figures. Again, highly recommended.