In this science fiction story by Peter Carey, a poverty-stricken woman waiting as her husband applies for a mining job on a distant planet spends some of their last savings on a brightly coloured exotic bird. The bird has a unique quality… it gives a rush of euphoria followed by continuing pleasure to those who stroke it. The woman develops a lucrative business traveling the country selling time with the bird, little realizing that it has a dark side which will destroy her marriage and cause mass destruction. Themes include poverty, love, entrepreneurship, self-gratification, jealousy, biosecurity risks.

In this story by Peter Carey, a bitter old man looks back on a time when he desperately tried to prevent his attractive lover from making herself ugly in a genetic lottery known as “The Chance”. The lottery, in which winners could alter their age or body shape, was run by alien invaders. Physical beauty was a social liability at the time and, as a member of a revolutionary movement intent on overthrowing the aliens, she was prepared to sacrifice her looks to remain anonymous. Themes include alcohol and drug abuse, love, chance, perceptions of beauty, courage, sacrifice.