Sixteen darkly humorous and subversive science fiction tales from Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Terry Bisson. In this collection of ironic and fantastic stories, Terry Bisson showcases his strikingly original voice that transcends genre boundaries. Clever, witty, and occasionally profound, these stories are sure to surprise and entertain. Highlights include: - "macs" (Winner of the Nebula and Locus Awards): Clones of murderous criminals are sent to be the property of their victims' families. - "An Office Romance": A peek into the private lives of icons on a computer desktop. - "First Fire": A scientist's astonishing discovery about the age of flames leads him to an ancient temple. Originally appearing in diverse publications such as Asimov's SF, Playboy, Southern Exposure, and Crank!, these memorable tales feature virtual reality, time travel, first contact, and biting social commentary. Bisson's unique style has been compared to Kurt Vonnegut and Harlan Ellison. In the Upper Room and Other Likely Stories is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction that balances dark humor with sharp insights and unforgettable characters. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.