<p>Paul Di Filippo, hailed by <em>Publishers Weekly</em> as "a master of philosophical SF," delivers another masterful collection showcasing his trademark blend of intellectual depth, wild imagination, and sly humor. In <em>The Visionary Pageant and Other Stories</em>, Di Filippo offers eight mind-bending tales that probe the boundaries between science and mysticism, reality and illusion.</p><p>In the title novella, a plucky female reporter in 1886 Providence confronts an otherworldly cult whose cosmic ambitions threaten to reshape reality itself. Other highlights include "Worldshifter," a far-future tale of a sentient hive protecting its human companion; "I, For One, Welcome Our New Insect Litterateurs," where a literary agent discovers his newest client is actually a colony of superintelligent ants; and "The Steam House in Innsmouth," a playful mashup of Jules Verne and H.P. Lovecraft.</p><p>The collection also features "Nine Hundred Grandmothers," "A Canticle for Ackerman," "The Dream-Sculptor of A.I.P.," and "Hivehead"-each demonstrating Di Filippo's gift for combining big ideas with intimate human stories. Whether exploring posthuman evolution, parallel universes, or the nature of consciousness itself, these stories showcase a master storyteller working at the height of his considerable powers.</p>