Aurealis, June 1991

The Dominant Style explores the theme of human progress, and whether it it ultimately a good thing. In the very distant future progress has been eliminated, leaving humanity peaceful, stable and prosperous, but at a price that might make some people long for a bit of mayhem. It was nominated for a Ditmar Award, but lost out to another of Sean’s stories.

Ditmar Award nominee

– Republished in Call to the Edge (Aphelion, 1992)

– Republished in Centaurus (Tor, 1999)

– Republished in Hayakawa’s SF, April 2000