SUMMARY:
In 1996, editor/critic David G. Hartwell began selecting his best-of-the-year stories in an anthology providing an interesting juxtaposition to Gardner Dozois's long-running Year's Best Science Fiction series. Most of Hartwell's picks are by leading authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert Reed, Gene Wolfe, Brian Aldiss, Stephen Baxter, Brian M. Stableford, and Sarah Zettel; several are by less-well-known writers. Don't miss "Game of the Century," "Visit the Sins," "Kinds of Strangers," or "Huddle." Hugo nominees include "Ancient Engines" by Michael Swanwick, "Fossil Games" by Tom Purdom, "Border Guards" by Greg Egan, and "Macs" by Terry Bisson (which also won the Nebula short story award). Small, light, and less costly than most anthologies, Hartwell's fifth collection is one of the series' strongest; almost every one of the 24 stories (plus one poem) makes an enjoyable read. --Bonnie Bouman
* Geoff Ryman: "Everywhere" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
* Elisabeth Malartre: "Evolution Never Sleeps" (First published in Asimov's, 1998)
* Kim Stanley Robinson: "Sexual Dimorphism" (First published in The Martians, 1999)
* Robert Reed: "Game of the Century" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
* Michael Bishop: "Secrets of the Alien Reliquary" (First published in Time Pieces, 1998)
* Sarah Zettel: "Kinds of Strangers" (First published in Analog, 1999)
* Cory Doctorow: "Visit the Sins" (First published in Asimov's,1999)
* Greg Egan: "Border Guards" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
* Terry Bisson: "Macs" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
* Chris Lawson: "Written in Blood" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
* Gene Wolfe: "Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
* Robert J. Sawyer: "The Blue Planet" (First published as "Mars Reacts!" in The Globe and Mail, 1999)
* Mary Soon Lee: "Lifework" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
* Fred Lerner: "Rosetta Stone" (First published in Artemis, 2000)
* Brian Aldiss: "An Apollo Asteroid" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
* Curt Wohleber: "100 Candles" (First published in Transversions, 1999)
* G. David Nordley: "Democritus' Violin" (First published in Analog, 1999)
* Tom Purdom: "Fossil Games" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
* Chris Beckett: "Valour" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
* Stephen Baxter: "Huddle" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
* Brian M. Stableford: "Ashes and Tombstones" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
* Michael Swanwick: "Ancient Engines" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
* Hiroe Suga: "Freckled Figure" (First published in Japanese in 1994, first English publication in Interzone, 1999)
* Barry N. Malzberg: "Shiva" (First published in Science Fiction Age, 1999)
* Lucy Sussex: "The Queen of Erewhon" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
Description:
SUMMARY: In 1996, editor/critic David G. Hartwell began selecting his best-of-the-year stories in an anthology providing an interesting juxtaposition to Gardner Dozois's long-running Year's Best Science Fiction series. Most of Hartwell's picks are by leading authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert Reed, Gene Wolfe, Brian Aldiss, Stephen Baxter, Brian M. Stableford, and Sarah Zettel; several are by less-well-known writers. Don't miss "Game of the Century," "Visit the Sins," "Kinds of Strangers," or "Huddle." Hugo nominees include "Ancient Engines" by Michael Swanwick, "Fossil Games" by Tom Purdom, "Border Guards" by Greg Egan, and "Macs" by Terry Bisson (which also won the Nebula short story award). Small, light, and less costly than most anthologies, Hartwell's fifth collection is one of the series' strongest; almost every one of the 24 stories (plus one poem) makes an enjoyable read. --Bonnie Bouman * Geoff Ryman: "Everywhere" (First published in Interzone, 1999) * Elisabeth Malartre: "Evolution Never Sleeps" (First published in Asimov's, 1998) * Kim Stanley Robinson: "Sexual Dimorphism" (First published in The Martians, 1999) * Robert Reed: "Game of the Century" (First published in F&SF, 1999) * Michael Bishop: "Secrets of the Alien Reliquary" (First published in Time Pieces, 1998) * Sarah Zettel: "Kinds of Strangers" (First published in Analog, 1999) * Cory Doctorow: "Visit the Sins" (First published in Asimov's,1999) * Greg Egan: "Border Guards" (First published in Interzone, 1999) * Terry Bisson: "Macs" (First published in F&SF, 1999) * Chris Lawson: "Written in Blood" (First published in Asimov's, 1999) * Gene Wolfe: "Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999) * Robert J. Sawyer: "The Blue Planet" (First published as "Mars Reacts!" in The Globe and Mail, 1999) * Mary Soon Lee: "Lifework" (First published in Interzone, 1999) * Fred Lerner: "Rosetta Stone" (First published in Artemis, 2000) * Brian Aldiss: "An Apollo Asteroid" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999) * Curt Wohleber: "100 Candles" (First published in Transversions, 1999) * G. David Nordley: "Democritus' Violin" (First published in Analog, 1999) * Tom Purdom: "Fossil Games" (First published in Asimov's, 1999) * Chris Beckett: "Valour" (First published in Interzone, 1999) * Stephen Baxter: "Huddle" (First published in F&SF, 1999) * Brian M. Stableford: "Ashes and Tombstones" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999) * Michael Swanwick: "Ancient Engines" (First published in Asimov's, 1999) * Hiroe Suga: "Freckled Figure" (First published in Japanese in 1994, first English publication in Interzone, 1999) * Barry N. Malzberg: "Shiva" (First published in Science Fiction Age, 1999) * Lucy Sussex: "The Queen of Erewhon" (First published in F&SF, 1999)