Synopsis: Anthropomorphic animals have been imagined for as long as stories have been told. This is especially true of science fiction, where the endless possibilities of alien worlds make fertile ground for creativity. Contained in these pages are stories from across the spectrum of science fiction, ranging from 1950 to 2013, and featuring feathers, fur, and scales. Each creature is a unique blend of humanity and the alien. Childlike or savage, independent or autocratic, they come in all sizes and shapes. Some are recognizable as reflections of humanity, while others are strange and wild creatures that defy description. All of them ask the same question: What kind of creatures will we find when we go to the stars? (publisher's blurb)