by Yoss
To Roberto Urías, for his story “Infórmese, por favor,” to which “Aptitude Assessment” is an explicit tribute.
To Ronaldo Menéndez, because his story “Otro Lado” gave me the original idea for “Escape Tunnel,” and his story “Una ciudad, un pájaro, una guagua” was the inspiration for “Platinum Card.” And also for being, aside from all difference in theories and aesthetics, a terrific storyteller and a friend.
To Eduardo Heras León, “El Chino,” because his reading of “Performing Death” convinced me that science fiction could attract non-fans if it was well written and had something to say. Because his spirit was what turned this book from a project to a reality.
To Carlos, for his punctual and unsparing criticism. To Fabricio, for his measured, almost pedantic attitude as a connoisseur and friend. To Vlado for his wild enthusiasm and the liberties he took with my original. To Michel (Umbro), to Guillermo, to Ariel, to Roberto Estrada, to all the fans of science fiction who read my work and believed in me.
To Sandra, who read “Social Worker” and told me she’d had it up to here with jineteras and didn’t want to keep reading. I hope she’ll change her mind... some day.
To Yailín, who thought “Performing Death” was a horrible story and refused to illustrate it. For having the courage to express her opinion even though many of her friends disagreed with her.
To Milana, in the distance, for many things that cannot fit in a list of acknowledgments. Just because.
About the Author and Translator
Born José Miguel Sánchez Gómez, Yoss assumed his pen name in 1988, when he won the Premio David in the science fiction category for Timshel. Together with his peculiar pseudonym, the author’s rocker aesthetic has allowed him to stand out amongst his fellow Cuban writers. After earning a degree in biology in 1991, he went on to graduate from the first-ever course on narrative techniques at the Onelio Jorge Cardoso Center of Literary Training in 1999. Today, Yoss writes both realistic and science fiction works. Alongside these novels, the author produces essays, reviews, and compilations, and actively promotes the Cuban science fiction literary workshops, Espiral and Espacio Abierto.
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When he isn’t translating, David Frye teaches Latin American culture and society at the University of Michigan. Translations include First New Chronicle and Good Government by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (Peru, 1615); The Mangy Parrot by José Joaquín Fernandez de Lizardi (Mexico, 1816), for which he received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship; Writing across Cultures: Narrative Transculturation in Latin America by Ángel Rama (Uruguay, 1982), and several Cuban and Spanish novels and poems.
Colophon
Copyright © 2014 José Miguel Sánchez Gómez
Translation copyright © 2014 David Frye
Published in Spanish as Se alquila un planeta by Equipo Sirius, Madrid, 2001
Digital edition published by Restless Books, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-63206-008-2
Cover design by Jonathan Yamakami
All rights reserved.
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