"Dance of the Yellow-Breasted Luddites" is a science fiction novelette by William Shunn

William Shunn

William Shunn is a science fiction writer and computer programmer. He was raised in a Latter-day Saint household, the oldest of eight children. He attended the Clarion Workshop in 1985...

. It appeared in the original anthology Vanishing Acts, edited by Ellen Datlow

Ellen Datlow

Ellen Datlow is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist.-Biography:Datlow was the fiction editor of Omni magazine and Omni Online from 1981 through 1998, and edited the ten associated Omni anthologies...

 and published by Tor Books

Tor Books

Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...

 in 2000. It was nominated for the 2001 Nebula Award

Nebula Award

The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...

 for Best Novelette

Nebula Award for Best Novelette

Winners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...

.

Plot

The story takes place in a wildlife reserve on a mostly barren planet named Sutter's Mill. Rescue Star operative Hannah Specter is overseeing the introduction of a new alien animal species into the reserve and must unravel the mystery of the species' seemingly suicidal behavior.

Netherview Station series

"Dance of the Yellow-Breasted Luddites" is part of Shunn's "Netherview Station" story series, which also includes "The Practical Ramifications of Interstellar Packet Loss" and "Inclination

Inclination (novella)

"Inclination" is a science fiction novella by William Shunn. It appeared in the April/May 2006 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula awards in 2007....

."