Aces High (anthology)
Aces High is the second volume in the Wild Cards shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. It was published in 1987 and dealt with two main plots that linked the stories in the volume: the arrival of the alien Swarm and a Masonic conspiracy led by a bookish villain named the Astronomer. In the end, these two storylines connect.
The title "Aces High" comes from the name of a popular and ritzy restaurant of the same name that caters to a clientele consisting solely of Aces — those victims of the Wild Card virus who gain "superpowers" as a result of their exposure — and features in several of the stories, along with its proprietor Hiram Worchester (aka Fatman).
Stories
Aces High contains the following short stories:
| Story | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| "Pennies From Hell" | Lewis Shiner | 1979. Fortunato. |
| "Jube" | George R. R. Martin | 1985. Introduces Jube the Walrus. |
| "Unto the Sixth Generation" | Walter Jon Williams | 1985. Introduces Modular Man. |
| "Ashes to Ashes" | Roger Zelazny | 1985. Croyd Crenson. |
| "If Looks Could Kill" | Walton Simons | 1986. Introduces James "Demise" Spector. |
| "Winter's Chill" | George R. R. Martin | 1986. Turtle. |
| "Relative Difficulties" | Melinda M. Snodgrass | 1986. Tachyon. |
| "With a Little Help From His Friends" | Victor Milán | 1986. Mark Meadows, aka Captain Trips. |
| "By Lost Ways" | Pat Cadigan | 1986. Introduces Water Lily and Kafka. |
| "Mr. Koyama's Comet" | Walter Jon Williams | March 1983 - June 1986. |
| "Half Past Dead" | John J. Miller | 1986. Yeoman. |
The stories "Jube" and "Unto the Sixth Generation" occur as interludes between the other stories; the former throughout the entire book, the latter ending just after "If Looks Could Kill".
| Preceded by Wild Cards |
Aces High 1987 |
Succeeded by Jokers Wild |