"Stable Strategies for Middle Management" is a science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 short story

Short story

A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...

 published in 1988 by Eileen Gunn

Eileen Gunn

Eileen Gunn is a science fiction author and editor based in Seattle, Washington, who began publishing in 1978....

. It was nominated for the 1989 Hugo Award for Best Short Story

Hugo Award for Best Short Story

The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...

as well as the 1989 Locus Reader’s Poll.

Plot summary

The story is about Margaret, an advertising executive in a large corporation. To prove her loyalty to the company she undergoes bioengineering that will eventually transform her into a giant insect. The tale begins as she wakes up one morning to find that her tongue has changed into a stiletto and her hand into a chitinous comb. Throughout the day she is distracted by odd insect-like cravings - such as the desire to suck her colleagues’ blood and encase her friends in wax.

External links

• Stable Strategies for Middle Management at BestScienceFictionStories.com - short story reviews and resources.