title: Tinker: and Other Short Stories
author:  R. L. Herron 
description: <i><b>"These are some amazing, beautifully written stories that explore all sides of human emotion. Every one is both moving and thought-provoking. A great collection."</b></i>
zlib_text: # The Sound of Useless Wings
  
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  [Cover](text/cover.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![cover image](../media/epub-to-image.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  _In this prequel to_ Tin Star _, we meet Heckleck, the Hort alien who
  befriends Tula Bane on the space station Yertina Feray in her fight for
  survival. In his modest beginnings, Heckleck is raised to understand that
  breeding and propagating his own kind is the sole reason for living. When he
  is called upon to settle on a new planet, he meets the daughter of a
  politician, Goglu, with whom he falls helplessly in love, and is determined to
  win over. But nothing is easy in love and space exploration, and when his
  plans become thwarted, he must find a new way of life._
  
  
  _This short story was acquired and edited for Tor.com by[Connie
  Hsu](https://www.tor.com/tags/edited%20by%20Connie%20Hsu)._
  
  
  I try to ignore my brothers and sisters as I do my work under the hot twin
  suns. They call me names. They call me dreamer. 