...She nourishes the poison in her veins and is consumed by a secret fire.

Its agents -- not even human equivalent on this primitive hardware -- raced through the ship's automation

Spider names look silly. But this Accord group is a young culture. Their names are still mostly meaningful in their daily language.

Minds$$$ who can show the rest of us what is important about the aliens differences.

Now on Tines World$$$ the Zone physics was still improving. What was it like thirty light years higher?

Welts long enough for them to grow eyes. Nature does indeed prefer that cobblies be created right before the Dark.

Even so$$$ Jefri. You recognize that Nevil is evil? Jefri looked away from her$$$ as if refusing to answer. After a moment$$$ Amdi said$$$ "You know he's evil$$$ Jefri."

Ravna thought a moment. Sysadmin is the usual term$$$ she said.

Pham Nuwen plunked himself down$$$ stretching indolently.

This might be one of the few basements in Southern California$$$ but it was clearly being used the way Juan's family used the garage.