And Side by Side They Wander

Molly Tanzer

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Book cover for And Side by Side They Wander
Image for variant 9781250382054
Book cover for And Side by Side They Wander
Image for variant 9781250382054

And Side by Side They Wander

And Side by Side They Wander

Molly Tanzer

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Description

An intergalactic art heist by a ragtag group of underqualified misfits. What could go wrong?

For three hundred years, humanity's greatest works of art have been on loan at the Greenwood Museum. It was finally time for them to come home...but the alien curators were disinclined to return them.

Force was out of the question. Earth's government was clear: They were not going to press the issue. So, all we had was guile and hubris to fuel our little intergalactic art heist.

My old friend Tarquin was our leader, but not the captain. That was Tchik-tchik, though whether Tchik-tchik was our insectoid pilot's name or species is still unclear to me. Misora, with her extremely illegal biotech mods, was our muscle.

Jack was there to hack the security systems of the biggest museum in the galaxy. He was a sensynth, a sentient synthetic being, and the most powerful machine intelligence on Earth uncorrupted by alien technology.

My name is Fennel Tycho. I'd like to tell you I was there because of my expertise in Art History. Truth is, I was there because without me, Jack would not have agreed to go. He was notorious for being difficult to work with--but it was a mistake to think I could make things any easier.

A meditation on the nature of love, life, and the "culture of the copy," And Side by Side They Wander asks the question: In a future where there are clones, androids, and a sentient mycelium that creates fungal simulacra, who is real and what is fake?

About the Author

Molly Tanzer is the award-winning author of five novels and many works of short fiction. She lives close to Boulder, CO with her many houseplants.

Critical Reviews

A LitHub Most Anticipated Title!

"This book has it all." --Sarah Pinsker, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Haunt Sweet Home

"Part space opera and part art heist, this is a great example of Molly Tanzer's dynamic, ingenious mind." --Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic

"This relentlessly inventive novella is many things--a modern space opera, a clever heist caper, and a sexy, possibly doomed romance--but it's also so smart; Tanzer has things to say about art and authenticity that I'm still thinking about. More, please." --Daryl Gregory, award-winning author of Spoonbenders

"A delightful, dark, and entertaining romp with serious intent behind it. The writing is so smart and sharp - Molly Tanzer is at the top of her form in this beautifully constructed novel." --Jeff VanderMeer, bestselling author of the Southern Reach trilogy, on Creatures of Will and Temper

"A wicked satire inside a chilling dystopian tale inside a heist movie, that pays off on every level. Tanzer is a captivating storyteller." --M.R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts

"The far-future meets the ancient myth of Orpheus. Plus an art heist in space, aliens, clones and other replicants. Also sentient fungi! From the capacious brain of Molly Tanzer, this is one wild ride." --Karen Joy Fowler, author of Booth

"A provocative blend of space adventure, heist story, character study, artistic philosophy, and intoxicating strangeness. It oughta be in a museum." --Tim Pratt, author of the Axiom series

"You have never read anything like this sprawling tale of alien intervention and art history, equal parts quirky love story and interstellar caper....This is the no-compromise science fiction you've been waiting for. Expect delight!" --James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards

"This bite-size romp is a wild and thought-provoking ride." --Publishers Weekly

"Tanzer's sci-fi heist caper surprises everyone, including readers, every parsec of the way." --Library Journal

"This book had me at 'intergalactic art heist by a ragtag group of underqualified misfits.'" --Book Riot

"A rich and provocative exploration of how and why we relate to art at all -- and how it informs the ways we relate to each other." --Locus

"A compelling, fun, and thought-provoking story for fans of Seanan McGuire, Alma Katsu, and Erin Morgenstern." --Booklist on Creatures of Charm and Hunger

Publishing Information

Publisher: Tordotcom
Pub date: 2026-05-19
Length: 112 pages

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