Men Sell Not Such in Any Town was published in the refereed scientific journal Nature in 2005, when they ran a piece of fiction in each issue. The fiction editor was Henry Gee. My story was in the September 15, 2005 issue (437:450). I have poet Christina Rossetti to thank for the title.

Here's an excerpt from the story:

"Tell me of Rivener's creation," I commanded her.

She came around to my side. She slipped her fingertips into the pockets of her white apron and composed herself for the tale. She stood quite straight, as was proper. My blood quickened.

"Rivener's previous fruit," she said, "only sang like a rain forest full of parrots; only enhanced the prescient abilities of those who ate it. This one is the pinnacle."

She stopped. I felt a single drop of sweat start its slow trickle between my breasts. The heavy silks were stifling. "Stop dawdling; tell me!"

She caught her bottom lip between gleaming teeth. She came and draped my sleeves into the shapes of mourning doves. I gritted my teeth. She continued: "It is the colour of early autumn, they say, and the scent lifting off its skin is a fine bouquet of virgin desire and dandy's sweat, with a top note of baby's breath. It fits in the palm, any palm. Its flesh is firm as a loving father's shoulder."