"A, B, C: Three Short Novels" contains the first three novels of Samuel R. Delany s long and illustrious career. "" "The Jewels of Aptor" is a science-fantasy story about a seafaring quest that sets out to find powerful magic jewels on a mystical, forbidden island where unimaginable danger lies. "The Ballad of Beta-2" is about a future academic searching for the true story behind an interstellar voyage, a journey over multiple generations that ended in tragedy. "They Fly at Ciron" is a fantasy about the clash between a marauding army and a peaceful village at the foot of a mountain from which a race of winged people oversees both sides. Presenting these three novels in this omnibus volume for the first time, along with a new foreword and afterword by the author, "A, B, C" showcases Delany s masterful storytelling ability and deep devotion to his craft."