Book excerpt: Including stories by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jack Haldeman, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, David Bischoff, and Diane Duane, this collection of stories focuses on the often-overlooked companions who travel the stars with their masters, human or otherwise. Tales of these faithful creatures vary from cuddly animals from Alpha Centauri to genetically altered Earth animals, accompanying humans to the edge of the galaxy, and alien invaders disguised as loyal houespets.