Asimovs.com - Books and Short Stories - Year's Best Science Fiction - 2009 Volumes - Messages

Message from RandyBeck

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:36:03 GMT

Congratulations to Jason Sanford and Sue Burke for entering the domain of the Bests.

I hadn't read that particular story of Jason's but he's been a poster here. Sue Burke isn't, but I think I have read that one.

Oh, and pardon my memory if I missed any other new Besties.
edited by RandyBeck on 3/18/2009

Message from dolphintornsea

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:21:37 GMT

Kathryn Cramer has announced the TOC for Year's Best SF 14, edited by David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer. This is the last of the four major "Year's Best" anthologies. The contents are:

Arkfall • Carolyn Ives Gilman
Orange • Neil Gaiman
Memory Dog • Kathleen Ann Goonan
Pump Six • Paulo Bacigalupi
Boojum • Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette
Exhalation • Ted Chiang
Traitor • M. Rickert
The Things that Make Me Weak and Stange Get Engineered Away • Cory Doctorow
Oblivion: A Journey • Vandana Singh
The House Left Empty • Robert Reed
The Scarecrow’s Boy • Michael Swanwick
N-Worlds • Ted Kosmatka
Fury • Alastair Reynolds
Cheats • Gwyneth Jones writing as Ann Halam
The Ships Like Clouds, Risen By Their Rain • Jason Sanford
The Egg Man • Mary Rosenblum
Glass • Daryl Gregory
Fixing Hanover • Jeff VanderMeer
Message Found in a Gravity Wave • Rudy Rucker
Mitigation • Tobias Buckell & Karl Schroeder
Spiders • Sue Burke

Message from dolphintornsea

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:13:04 GMT

I love the cover image of Gardner's YBSF 26, which can now be seen at the amazon or Barnes & Noble sites. Pity it's such a low-res picture at the moment.

If anyone know where to find a better version of the cover image, please let us know.

Message from bluetyson

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:55:00 GMT

You can of course find these online, too, in various forms

THE GAMBLER, Paolo Bacigalupi (Fast Forward 2, ed. Lou Anders)
BOOJUM, Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette (Fast Ships, Black Sails, ed. Ann VanderMeer & Jeff VanderMeer)
EVIL ROBOT MONKEY, Mary Robinette Kowal (The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume 2, ed. George Mann)
THE SKY THAT WRAPS THE WORLD ROUND, PAST THE BLUE AND INTO THE BLACK, Jay Lake (Clarkesworld, March 2008)
CRYSTAL NIGHTS, Greg Egan (Interzone, April 2008)
THE VOYAGE OUT, Gwyneth Jones (Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures, ed. Lynne Jamneck)

Message from gdozois

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:42:27 GMT

I answered this before, but the reply seems to have vanished, along with the previous post from Bluetyson.

At any rate, there were a LOT of anthologies this year, most of them small-press, and the most prominent of them seem to have pulled many of the really first-rate stories away from the online markets.

And as Bluetyson had pointed out in his vanished post, the bulk of the material published in online markets is fantasy. Fantasy and slipstream are still the default settings for online markets, with a much smaller proportion of core SF appearing. If I'd been doing a fantasy Best instead, there'd have been a lot more stuff from online markets in it.

Message from andres

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:33:48 GMT

Gardner: I see only one story from 30 coming from the online markets.
Are you seeing some trend here, or is a manifesto in favor of the print markets?
Or maybe just coincidence.

Message from dolphintornsea

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:19:46 GMT

For those interested, I'm re-posting the contents of Gardner's 26th Best, with the sources:

TURING’S APPLES, Stephen Baxter (Eclipse 2, ed. Jonathan Strahan)
FROM BABEL’S FALL’N GLORY WE FLED, Michael Swanwick (Asimov’s, February 2008)
THE GAMBLER, Paolo Bacigalupi (Fast Forward 2, ed. Lou Anders)
BOOJUM, Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette (Fast Ships, Black Sails, ed. Ann VanderMeer & Jeff VanderMeer)
THE SIX DIRECTIONS OF SPACE, Alastair Reynolds (Galactic Empires, ed. Gardner Dozois)
N-WORDS, Ted Kosmatka (Seeds of Change, ed. John Joseph Adams)
AN ELIGIBLE BOY, Ian McDonald (Fast Forward 2, ed. Lou Anders)
SHINING ARMOUR, Dominic Green (The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume 2, ed. George Mann)
THE HERO, Karl Schroeder (Eclipse 2, ed. Jonathan Strahan)
EVIL ROBOT MONKEY, Mary Robinette Kowal (The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume 2, ed. George Mann)
FIVE THRILLERS, Robert Reed (F & SF, April 2008)
THE SKY THAT WRAPS THE WORLD ROUND, PAST THE BLUE AND INTO THE BLACK, Jay Lake (Clarkesworld, March 2008)
INCOMERS, Paul McAuley (The Starry Rift, ed. Jonathan Strahan)
CRYSTAL NIGHTS, Greg Egan (Interzone, April 2008)
THE EGG MAN, Mary Rosenblum (Asimov’s, February 2008)
HIS MASTER’S VOICE, Hannu Rajaniemi (Interzone, October 2008)
THE POLITICAL PRISONER, Charles Coleman Finlay (F & SF, August 2008)
BALANCING ACCOUNTS, James L. Cambias (F & SF, February 2008)
SPECIAL ECONOMICS, Maureen McHugh (The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy, ed. Ellen Datlow)
DAYS OF WONDER, Geoff Ryman (F & SF, October/November 2008)
CITY OF THE DEAD, Paul McAuley (Postscripts # 15)
THE VOYAGE OUT, Gwyneth Jones (Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures, ed. Lynne Jamneck)
THE ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY OF LORD GRIMM, Daryl Gregory (Eclipse 2, ed. Jonathan Strahan)
G-MEN, Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Sideways in Crime, ed. Lou Anders)
THE ERDMANN NEXUS, Nancy Kress (Asimov’s, October/November 2008)
OLD FRIENDS, Garth Nix (Dreaming Again, ed. Jack Dann)
THE RAY-GUN: A LOVE STORY, James Alan Gardner (Asimov’s, February 2008)
LESTER YOUNG AND THE JUPITER’S MOONS’ BLUES, Gord Sellar (Asimov’s, July 2008)
BUTTERFLY, FALLING AT DAWN, Aliete de Bodard (Interzone, November 2008)
THE TEAR, Ian McDonald (Galactic Empires, ed. Gardner Dozois)

Message from bluetyson

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:54:09 GMT

More McAuley, Baxter and McDonald is good.

Message from EThomas

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:39:30 GMT

I'm so behind in reading, that this is the first year where I just am looking at the authors and titles sans any familiarity with the contents. I'm sure these all will be great books.

Message from gdozois

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:00:06 GMT

Here's my book:

THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL COLLECTION

Edited by Gardner Dozois

TURING’S APPLES, Stephen Baxter
FROM BABEL’S FALL’N GLORY WE FLED, Michael Swanwick
THE GAMBLER, Paolo Bacigalupi
BOOJUM, Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette
THE SIX DIRECTIONS OF SPACE, Alastair Reynolds
N-WORDS, Ted Kosmatka
AN ELIGIBLE BOY, Ian McDonald
SHINING ARMOUR, Dominic Green
THE HERO, Karl Schroeder
EVIL ROBOT MONKEY, Mary Robinette Kowal
FIVE THRILLERS, Robert Reed
THE SKY THAT WRAPS THE WORLD ROUND, PAST THE BLUE AND INTO THE BLACK, Jay Lake
INCOMERS, Paul McAuley
CRYSTAL NIGHTS, Greg Egan
THE EGG MAN, Mary Rosenblum
HIS MASTER’S VOICE, Hannu Rajaniemi
THE POLITICAL PRISONER, Charles Coleman Finlay
BALANCING ACCOUNTS, James L. Cambias
SPECIAL ECONOMICS, Maureen McHugh
DAYS OF WONDER, Geoff Ryman
CITY OF THE DEAD, Paul McAuley
THE VOYAGE OUT, Gwyneth Jones
THE ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY OF LORD GRIMM, Daryl Gregory
G-MEN, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
THE ERDMANN NEXUS, Nancy Kress
OLD FRIENDS, Garth Nix
THE RAY-GUN: A LOVE STORY, James Alan Gardner
LESTER YOUNG AND THE JUPITER’S MOONS’ BLUES, Gord Sellar
BUTTERFLY, FALLING AT DAWN, Aliete de Bodard
THE TEAR, Ian McDonald

Message from jason

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:52:22 GMT

Bill: I haven't had time to read the story, but I did smile at the image of a prairie dog with flames coming out of its eyes.

Message from Bill Moonroe

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:36:35 GMT

You know, there's a story that seems to have been missed and might be worth stopping the presses over. Check this one out!

Message from bluetyson

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:38:16 GMT

I think I saw mentioned that Kosmatka's N-Words and Lake's Sky wrapping story would be, too. So there's a couple more.

Message from Sam Wilson

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:30:53 GMT

Ah, but will you? That's the question...

Message from gdozois

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:43:40 GMT

I should be able to post the contents of my Best within a few days, certainly after the beginning of the new year.

Message from dolphintornsea

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:32:50 GMT

We'll have to wait a while longer to learn the contents of Gardner Dozois's YBSF 26, but here's one story that's been confirmed for inclusion:

"The Erdmann Nexus" (novella) by Nancy Kress - from Asimov's, November 2008.

Nancy Kress has announced this in her blog, and interestingly, she doesn't think it's her best story of the year (again - she said the same thing last year).

The link is at link

Message from gdozois

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:57:16 GMT

As long as I don't get the money.

Message from Fabrice D.

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:13:31 GMT

gdozois wrote:

Well, the contents haven't been finalized yet, but I think it's a decent bet that "The Ray Gun" will end up in there.

But, but, ... is it ethical for Gardner to put a Gardner's story in his Year's Best?

Message from Fabrice D.

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:23:24 GMT

Jonathan Strahan wrote:

dolphintornsea wrote:

We already have the TOC's for the Strahan and Horton books, and I think the story may be a bit too long for the Hartwell/Cramer compilation, so it will be interesting to see if it makes the cut for Gardner's book, or perhaps the projected relaunch of Jonathan Strahan's Best Short Novels. We'll wait and see.

Sadly, the book I *may* end up doing would cover fiction originally published in 2009 and would itself be published in 2010. It's a matter of timing. It's only sad because some wonderful novellas were published this year.

To say nothing of the 2007 novellas.

Message from Rich Horton

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:56:55 GMT

Somebody mentioned Philip Raines and Harvey Welles's "Alice and Bob" from Albedo 1 -- I have to agree, that was a first rate story. It was definitely on my list of stories to consider. That curious collaborative pair (one in Canada, one in Scotland, as I understand) have done several very strong stories over the past few years.

Message from gdozois

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:46:10 GMT

My favorites from INTERZONE this year included "His Master's Voice," "Crystal Nights," "Greenland," and "Butterfly, Falling at Dawn" (Aliette de Bodard).

Liked "Endra--from Memory," but not enough to put it in a Best. Also liked "The Country of the Young," "Africa," and "Talk is Cheap." Liked "Little Lost Robot," but didn't think it was McAuley's strongest story this year.

Agree with Rob about Janson Sanford's stories, and thought that "The Scent of Their Arrival" had a wonderful idea that it didn't quite exploit properly.

Message from Rich Horton

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:06:57 GMT

I'm not entirely happy that I don't have any Interzone stories this year -- several were on the bubble and just got left out. ("His Master's Voice", "Crystal Nights", "Talk is Cheap" were my top three probably. "Crystal Nights" is fairly long -- but not too long -- and while I liked it a lot I didn't quite love it. The other two just fell slightly short of the stories I did include.)

I found both of Jason Sanford's stories fascinating for the ideas, but not wholly successful as stories. They are very much worth reading, and quite striking ... but again didn't quite make the cut. I also like Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's "Endra -- from Memory" a fair bit.

It was a good year for the magazine, I'd say.

Message from StevenLP

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:59:29 GMT

I enjoyed Egan's "Crystal Nights", but didn't think it outstanding. For me the stand-out Interzone stories this year were:

Mercurio D. Rivera. The Scent of Their Arrival
Paul G. Tremblay. The Two-Headed Girl
Jason Sanford . The Ships Like Clouds, Risen by Their Rain

I think the Sanford can certainly be considered a classic.

Also strong were:

Will McIntosh. Street Hero
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. Endra—From Memory
R. R. Angell. Remote Control
Anil Menon. Into the Night
Geoff Ryman. Talk is Cheap
Paul McAuley. Little Lost Robot
Chris Beckett. Greenland
Jason Sanford. When Thorns Are the Tips of Trees
Gordon Sellar. The Country of the Young

For me one way of telling how good a year its been for a magazine is to consider how good a years best collection would be: a book including the above (and adding Crystal Nights) would be a very good anthology.
edited by StevenLP on 12/15/2008

Message from Annie

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:42:43 GMT

galaxie500,

Alice & Bob was really a good one. I had almost forgotten that it was a 2008 story. And I wait to see what is in Albedo 35 -- I usually like what they publish

Message from galaxie500

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:29:18 GMT

I have to say that I disagree with your marks, McAuley's story was ok, but nothing more than that, and almost all of the stories marked 4 out of 5 were easily amongst the most boring for me (except McIntosh and Sanford of course). Egan's story in my merrit was 4 maybe 4,5 and those I mentioned earlier were all 4,5 to 5/5.
But de gustibus...

Message from bluetyson

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:28:14 GMT

Egan's story was the class of Interzone, easily. So here, happy now?

I imagine there's a chance the master will like a couple of these.

5 out of 5

Crystal Nights - Greg Egan [Interzone 215]

4.5 out of 5

Not Free SF Reader

Little Lost Robot - Paul J. McAuley [Interzone 217]
Far Horizons - Jason Stoddard [Interzone 214]

4 out of 5

Not Free SF Reader

Remote Control - R. R. Angell [Interzone 216]
The Hour Is Getting Late - Billie Aul [Interzone 216]
The Endling - Jamie Barras [Interzone 215]
The Faces Of My Friends - Jennifer Harwood-Smith [Interzone 214]
Street Hero - Will McIntosh [Interzone 215]
Dragonfly Summer - Patrick Samphire [Interzone 215]
The Ships Like Clouds Risen By Their Rain - Jason Sanford [Interzone 217]

Message from galaxie500

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:47:31 GMT

I'm very sorry that almost no one mentioned few excellent stories from Interzone and one from Albedo 34. Both Sanford stories from Interzone deserved to be in Best of anthologies, and the same goes with Rivera's The Scent of their Arrival, Stoddard novella (I know that novellas are particularly hard to fit in). Egan's story was very good, but these were better in my humble opinion. And Philip Welles & Harvey Raines story (Bob and Alice) from Albedo 34 made an impression with me.
Also Postcripts 15 was pretty good, and Bernobich story wasn't my favourite (Ian McDonald's was, but he had other very good stories, although this had been one of the best stories about music and music aficionados I've ever read).

Message from gdozois

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:30:53 GMT

Good stories. I particularly liked the Kress, the Beagle, the DuBois, and the Doctorow.

Message from Rich Horton

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:05:11 GMT

And here are the contents of my third anthology, UNPLUGGED:

Beth Bernobich, "Air and Angels" (Subterranean, Spring)
Mercurio D. Rivera, "Snatch Me Another" (Abyss and Apex, First Quarter)
Nancy Kress, "First Rites" (Baen's Universe, October)
Tina Connolly, "The Bitrunners" (Helix, Summer)
Rebecce Epstein, "When We Were Stardust" (Fantasy, February)
Jason Stoddard, "Willpower" (Futurismic, December)
Peter S. Beagle, "The Tale of Junko and Sayiri" (IGMS, July)
David Dumitru, "Little Moon, Too, Goes Round" (Aeon Thirteen)
Hal Duncan, "The Behold of the Eye" (Lone Star, August)
Will McIntosh, "Linkworlds" (Strange Horizons, March 17-24)
Merrie Haskell, "The Girl-Prince" (Coyote Wild, August)
Brendan DuBois, "Not Enough Stars in the Night" (Cosmos)
Catherynne M. Valente, "A Buyer's Guide to Maps of Antarctica" (Clarkesworld, May)
Cory Doctorow, "The Things that Make Me Weak and Strange Get Engineered Away" (Tor.com)

Message from Jonathan Strahan

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:38:13 GMT

dolphintornsea wrote:

Message from dolphintornsea

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:14:04 GMT

Yes, I know Gardner liked the story - the bet was fixed from the start!

I've just finished Robert Reed's "Truth" (my reading has gone better than expected) and I have no problems with the story making a year's best list. The sense of apocalyptic dread that pervaded the story was almost too much for me, although I'm quite partial to downbeat stuff. I think it's the fact that this one is set in the approximate present and very near future that makes it uncomfortable reading. I think the story is worthy, but there is formidable competition, not the least of which is from Robert Reed himself. We already have the TOC's for the Strahan and Horton books, and I think the story may be a bit too long for the Hartwell/Cramer compilation, so it will be interesting to see if it makes the cut for Gardner's book, or perhaps the projected relaunch of Jonathan Strahan's Best Short Novels. We'll wait and see.

Message from StevenLP

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:34:24 GMT

dolphintornsea wrote:

Steven, I liked all the Asimov's stories on your list (except "Truth", which I'll only get to in about a week), so we'll just have to disagree about "The Ray Gun".

- I'll bet you a million parallel earth dollars (not payable in this universe) it'll be in YBSF 26, though

Dolphin - You're probably right, I recall Gardner praising it. Not that it was poor - it was a good story, I was a little irritated by the insertion of an unnecessary SF element: how ever I may be being a tad hypocritical here, as I had no problems considerin Michael Blumlein's "Thwe Big One" being fantasy, when perhaps the same argument could be made against the fantasy element.

"In 2009, Wyrm will publish UNPLUGGED, an anthology edited by Rich Horton. This book will feature the best online fiction of 2008"

Rich - excellent news, I look forward to it: will it be available in hardback; any news on the contents yet?

Message from Rich Horton

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:20:53 GMT

No overlap, though I had considered having one or two stories duplicated. But there were enough excellent stories that there was no need to repeat any.

Message from bluetyson

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:58:05 GMT

I noticed this because of one of the authors :-

"Unplugged
Time for an informal announcement....

In 2009, Wyrm will publish UNPLUGGED, an anthology edited by Rich Horton. This book will feature the best online fiction of 2008. I've just started contacting the authors of stories that Rich has chosen and will announce full details when we have a complete table of contents."

http://clarkesworld.livejournal.com/127306.html

Will it overlap, or be 'all new selections' that aren't in the two Year's Best volumes?

Message from bluetyson

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:55:59 GMT

bluetyson wrote:

Yeah, the Pyr book is a standout so far, for sure. Two stories read, two 4.5's. Very impressive.

Speaking of the Finlay - the non-Dozois books are less likely to have novellas in them, I think.

As far as Reed goes, The Man With the Golden Balloon was his best story this year. The other two are good enough to get in though.

Actually three now that I remember, the Doctorosenbaum team-up True Names was a 4 or thereabouts.

Message from Jonathan Strahan

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:44:35 GMT

Fabrice Doublet wrote:

Hope Jonathan's Best Short Novels 2009 project (good news!) will be published by a publisher whose books are available to silly foreign readers; it's painful to have to wait the appearance of SFBC books on the used books sites to buy them.

Fabrice, If all goes to plan, the book will come out in trade paperback in the US and the UK.

Message from gdozois

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:08:35 GMT

Well, the contents haven't been finalized yet, but I think it's a decent bet that "The Ray Gun" will end up in there.

Message from dolphintornsea

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:10:08 GMT

Mark, Fabrice - try to keep up, guys.

The bet involves parallel earth dollars, not pastry.

Message from Fabrice D.

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:56:52 GMT

mark-h wrote:

dolphintornsea wrote:

I'll bet you a million parallel earth dollars (not payable in this universe) it'll be in YBSF 26, though

If you change that to real dollars and split the win with Gardner I'm sure it will be in YBSF 26.

I'll second the bet

Message from mark-h

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:22:10 GMT

dolphintornsea wrote:

I'll bet you a million parallel earth dollars (not payable in this universe) it'll be in YBSF 26, though

If you change that to real dollars and split the win with Gardner I'm sure it will be in YBSF 26.

Message from dolphintornsea

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:12:50 GMT

Steven, I liked all the Asimov's stories on your list (except "Truth", which I'll only get to in about a week), so we'll just have to disagree about "The Ray Gun".

I'll bet you a million parallel earth dollars (not payable in this universe) it'll be in YBSF 26, though

Message from StevenLP

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:40:33 GMT

dolphintornsea wrote:

That's a subjective choice, but of the ones that were widely liked, James Allan Gardner's story "The Ray Gun: A Love Story" is my favorite.

I didn't really enjoy it because it struck me the SF element - the Ray Gun - could have been replaced by a normal gun and the rest of the story could remain unchanged.

Message from bluetyson

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:02:58 GMT

Fabrice Doublet wrote:

I think THE EGG MAN by Mary Rosemblum and TENBROOK OF MARS by Dean McLaughlin should find their place in one of the year's best.

Hope Jonathan's Best Short Novels 2009 project (good news!) will be published by a publisher whose books are available to silly foreign readers; it's painful to have to wait the appearance of SFBC books on the used books sites to buy them.

Hah.

I don't have any of these volumes. Have read a chunk of stuff in them from various places, but never seen 'em.

Message from dolphintornsea

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:32:47 GMT

I think Jonathan is probably dealing with a publisher whose books will be available to all - let's hope so, anyway.

Since there was no selection of short novels for the publication year 2007, perhaps Jonathan could do a "rolling eligibility" number and include the best of the last two years if and when his new BSN book comes out?

I agree with Fabrice - "The Egg Man" was a good story, good enough for one of the annual selections.

Oddly enough, no one seems to rate my personal favorite of the year - Carol Emshwiller's "Master of the Road to Nowhere". Perhaps not the best, but the novelette I enjoyed the most.

That's a subjective choice, but of the ones that were widely liked, James Allan Gardner's story "The Ray Gun: A Love Story" is my favorite.

Message from Fabrice D.

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:25:51 GMT

Message from StevenLP

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:41:24 GMT

I forgot to include Michael Blumlein's "The Big One" in my best fantasy list, so I've updated it: Stone Eggs is the story it replaced.

Message from Jonathan Strahan

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:34:32 GMT

Rich Horton wrote:

I'd love to do a "Best Short Novels" book like Jonathan Strahan did a couple of years ago.

It's not quite ready to announce yet, but it looks very, very likely that the Best Short Novels series will be relaunched soon. I'm in active negotiations with a publisher on this, and things are looking very good. The very minute details are confirmed, I'll let you all know. I loved doing the novellas book, and would have included Ian's "The Tear" in a heartbeat, had I done a 2008 volume. For me, it was just a touch too long for my book, given it's requirements, and I do love "The Dust Assassin". McDonald is really on top of his game right now.

Message from Rich Horton

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:37:51 GMT

The last author has responded, so I can announce my full contents for my SF book. The final story is Garth Nix's "Infestation", from Jonathan Strahan's anthology THE STARRY RIFT.

So:

Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2009

Elizabeth Bear, "Shoggoths in Bloom" (Asimov's, March)
Daryl Gregory, "Glass" (MIT Technology Review, November/December)
Ted Kosmatka, "The Art of Alchemy" (F&SF, June)
Margo Lanagan, "The Fifth Star in the Southern Cross" (Dreaming Again)
Robert Reed, "Character Flu" (F&SF, June)
Rivka Galchen, "The Region of Unlikeness" (The New Yorker, March 17)
James Alan Gardner, "The Ray-Gun: A Love Story" (Asimov's, February)
Will McIntosh, "The Fantasy Jumper" (Black Static, February)
James L. Cambias, "Balancing Accounts" (F&SF, February)
Charlie Anders, "Suicide Drive" (Helix #7, January)
Peter Watts, "The Eyes of God" (The Solaris Book of New SF, Volume 2)
Beth Bernobich, "The Golden Octopus" (Postscripts, Summer))
Jeff VanderMeer, "Fixing Hanover" (Extraordinary Engines)
Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette, "Boojum" (Fast Ships, Black Sails)
Paul Cornell, "Catherine Drewe" (Fast Forward 2)
Mary Robinette Kowal, "Evil Robot Monkey (The Solaris Book of New SF, Volume 2)
Garth Nix, "Infestation" (The Starry Rift)
Ian McDonald, "The Tear" (Galactic Empires)

Also, I had to add one story -- no, two -- to my list of novellas that I couldn't fit. One is SF: Kelly Link's "The Surfer" (also from THE STARRY RIFT), and the other is fantasy, another Kelly Link story, the title story to her excellent YA collection PRETTY MONSTERS.

This was a remarkable year for novellas, by the way.

Message from Annie

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:35:55 GMT

At least GE managed to arrive here So I am going to read it - I just need to get to it (and whatever happened with this request for 28 hours day...)

Message from StevenLP

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:00:55 GMT

Rich: yup, I have to admit I did cheat by not considering the length, just the the number of stories when selecting!

I think its been a good year for SF and Fantasy in the shorter (or shortish) form - and I haven't read Galactic Empires or Eclipse 2 yet!

There's surely a case for an annual "Best Online SF & Fantasy" collection: its a shame to think that a lot of good fiction will be presumably lost when webzines close - at least with paper magazines the stories will hang about a few decades before the paper rots!

Message from bluetyson

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:12:27 GMT

Annie wrote:

I'm yet to read Galactic Empires so will have an opinion on it later this month Fabrice

Fabrice is pretty much right, here, at least is one of my three 5 star stories for the year, anyway.

Message from Rich Horton

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:36:28 GMT

Steven -- in part I have to protest that your suggest TOC would make for a very long book! I could really only use one novella in the book, and I do think, as Fabrice says, that "The Tear" is the best novella of the year. Other stories of similar length, like "Tenbrook of Mars", "The Political Prisoner", "Five Thrillers", "Truth", "True Names", "Arkfall", and "The Wreck of the Grampus" were definitely under strong consideration. ("True Names", in particular, I will note, is very long indeed, nearly a novel.) But I just couldn't fit them. I'd love to do a "Best Short Novels" book like Jonathan Strahan did a couple of years ago.

I will however demur as to "The Room of Lost Souls" -- I know lots of people like it but it did not work for me at all.

I am please to see Steven note a couple of obscure stories that I liked and definitely considered -- such as Jessica Reisman's "Flowertongue" and also "The Wreck of the Grampus". Also, a couple more stories on Steven's list may show up in my next announcement if all goes well!

Message from Annie

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:26:23 GMT

I'm yet to read Galactic Empires so will have an opinion on it later this month Fabrice

Message from Fabrice D.

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:49:48 GMT

Pfff! the Best story of the year is THE TEAR by Ian McDonald.

Message from Annie

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:42:17 GMT

The Room of Lost Souls (which is my favorite this year), The Political Prisoner and Five Thrillers (I've mentioned them a few times so decided not to this time.. guess I had to)
I still have some magazines to finish (remarkably Interzone and Postscripts) but these 3 seem to be my favorites so far...

Message from StevenLP

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:34:55 GMT

Annie

What are the three missing stories?

Message from Annie

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:29:39 GMT

I had read 11 from the SF and 13 from the Fantasy list (the ones posted by Rich...)... which is not that bad. And 3 of my favorite stories this year are missing but this might have something to do with their length...
edited by Annie on 12/8/2008

Message from StevenLP

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:02:53 GMT

I've read 9 of the stories in Rich's SF best of and 7 in the Fantasy (the number of unread stories is a jarring reminder of how difficult it is to keep up). Of the SF, only the Cambias would be in my SF top 20 (though the Watts would be close); and only the Ford would be in my Fantasy top 20.

I don't know if its an example of how taste differs or - more likely - of the volume of good stories this year. If some publisher was to foolishly offer me the opportunity to edit a pair of SF and Fantasy 2008 collections, with twenty stories a piece, the contents would (at present) be something like this (in no particular order):

SF:
Kristine Kathryn Rusch. The Room of Lost Souls
Neal Barrett, Jr. Radio Station St. Jack
Mary Rosenblum. The Egg Man
Ted Kosmatka. Divining Light
Robert Reed. Truth
James L. Cambias. Balancing Accounts
Alexander Jablokov. The Boarder
Charles Coleman Finlay. The Political Prisoner
Carolyn Ives Gilman’s. Arkfall
Steve Utley. Sleepless Years
Mercurio D. Rivera. The Scent of Their Arrival
Jason Sanford . The Ships Like Clouds, Risen by Their Rain
Chris Beckett. Greenland
Jon Courtenay Grimwood. Crack Angel
Liz Williams. Who Pays?
Jeremy Adams Smith. Wreck of the Grampus
Paolo Bacigalupi. Pump Six
Tina Connolly. The Bitrunners
Gwyneth Jones. The Voyage Out
Cory Doctorow and Benjamin Rosenbaum. True Names

Fantasy:
Conrad Williams. 68˚06'N, 31˚40'W
Brendan Connell. We Sleep on a Thousand Waves
Jayme Lynn Blaschke. The Whale Below
Garth Nix. Beyond the Sea Gate of the Scholar-Pirates of Sarskoe
John Kessel. Pride and Prometheus
Albert E. Cowdrey. The Overseer
Matthew Hughes. Fullbrim’s Findings
Paul G. Tremblay. The Two-Headed Girl
Margo Lanagan. The Goosle
Jeffrey Ford. Daltharee
Dave Hutchinson. Mellowing Grey
Paul Meloy. Alex and the Toyceivers
Andy W Robertson. The Slope
Jessica Reisman's. Flowertongue
Jonathan Woods. Between the Lines
Catheryne M Valente's. A Buyer's Guide to Maps of Antarctica
Christopher East. Scarlet Number
Alistair Rennie. The Gutter Sees the Light That Never Shines
Dominic Green. Shining Armor
Ekaterina Sedia. By the Liter
Michael Blumlein. The Big One
edited by StevenLP on 12/10/2008

Message from Rich Horton

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:54:31 GMT

Okay, here are the contents of my two books this year. The Science Fiction volume will have one more story -- we're still waiting to hear from one author.

Also, I hope to have another book to announce in the next week or so.

Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2009 (preliminary release)

Elizabeth Bear, "Shoggoths in Bloom" (Asimov's, March)
Daryl Gregory, "Glass" (MIT Technology Review, November/December)
Ted Kosmatka, "The Art of Alchemy" (F&SF, June)
Margo Lanagan, "The Fifth Star in the Southern Cross" (Dreaming Again)
Robert Reed, "Character Flu" (F&SF, June)
Rivka Galchen, "The Region of Unlikeness" (The New Yorker, March 17)
James Alan Gardner, "The Ray-Gun: A Love Story" (Asimov's, February)
Will McIntosh, "The Fantasy Jumper" (Black Static, February)
James L. Cambias, "Balancing Accounts" (F&SF, February)
Charlie Anders, "Suicide Drive" (Helix #7, January)
Peter Watts, "The Eyes of God" (The Solaris Book of New SF, Volume 2)
Beth Bernobich, "The Golden Octopus" (Postscripts, Summer))
Jeff VanderMeer, "Fixing Hanover" (Extraordinary Engines)
Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette, "Boojum" (Fast Ships, Black Sails)
Paul Cornell, "Catherine Drewe" (Fast Forward 2)
Mary Robinette Kowal, "Evil Robot Monkey (The Solaris Book of New SF, Volume 2)
Ian McDonald, "The Tear" (Galactic Empires)

Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2009

Kij Johnson, "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss" (Asimov's, July)
Naomi Novik, "Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake" (Fast Ships, Black Sails)
Eugene Mirabelli, "Falling Angel" (F&SF, December)
Meghan McCarron, "The Magician's House" (Strange Horizons, July 14-21)
Karen Heuler, "The Difficulties of Evolution" (Weird Tales, July/August)
Jay Lake, "A Water Matter" (Tor.com)
Liz Williams, "Spiderhorse" (Realms of Fantasy, August)
Alex Jeffers, "Firooz and His Brother" (F&SF, May)
Ann Leckie, "The God of Au" (Helix #8, Spring)
James Maxey, "Silent as Dust" (Intergalactic Medicine Show #7, January)
Erik Amundsen, "Blue Vervain Murder Ballad #2: Jack of Diamonds" (Not One of Us, October)
Delia Sherman, "Gift from a Spring" (Realms of Fantasy, April)
Christopher Golden, "The Hiss of Escaping Air" (PS Publishing)
Peter S. Beagle, "King Pelles the Sure" (Strange Roads)
Alice Sola Kim, "We Love Deena" (Strange Horizons, February 11)
Jeffrey Ford, "Daltharee" (The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy)
Patrick Rothfuss, "The Road to Levinshir" (Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy)
Holly Phillips, "The Small Door" (Fantasy, May)
Richard Bowes, "If Angels Fight" (F&SF, February)

Message from gdozois

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:14:12 GMT

Sorry, so many anthologies out this year I'm getting them confused.

The anthology I was just describing was ECLIPSE TWO. "The Gambler" was in FAST FORWARD II, which has other excellent stories by Nancy Kress, Benjamin Rosenbaum and Cory Doctorow, Ian McDonald, and others.

Message from gdozois

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:11:16 GMT

It's not that far from being the way things actually work; they'll work that way in a few years, certainly. It reminded me of BUG JACK BARRON for the 21st Century.

Several excellent stories in that anthology, including the Chiang, and stories by Daryl Gregory, Stephen Baxter, Karl Schroeder, Tony Daniel. Alastair Reynolds, and others, and a really excellent fantasy by Peter S. Beagle.

Message from Fabrice D.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:23:48 GMT

Checked on the Nightshade site: they say december.

Just read THE GAMBLER by Paolo Bacigalupi in Fast Forward 2: good near-near-future story on the hollowness of tomorrow's (today's?) media who prefer to please their hollow viewers than give them real news on important subjects.
Interesting, maybe too near-future to be real SF (?), it's more a satire of present day media I think. Or is it a satire?

Message from gdozois

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:00:54 GMT

I'm not sure what the official publication date of ECLIPSE TWO is, but review copies at least have been out for some time.

Message from Fabrice D.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:55:10 GMT

You won't be disappointed! It's pure Egan. Award stuff.

Message from dolphintornsea

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:18:03 GMT

In my country, we have countless "bargain" bookstores in which the bulk of the stock consists of remainders or print overruns (don't ask me what the legalities are in selling this stuff; I have no idea). You see many magazines which have no normal distribution in my country.

And on Thursday afternoon, I was browsing in one of these and sure enough, there was the April Interzone with "Crystal Nights" by Greg Egan in it! Remembering that it was in the book, I snapped it up for about a dollar. And now, after what Fabrice says, I have to read it.

Message from Annie

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:42:26 GMT

Well - Strahan edited Eclipse 2 so he had obviously read it. And I guess most editors will have early reading copies for anthologies that get out that late in the year anyway

Message from Fabrice D.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:34:06 GMT

Checked where the Chiang story was published. How could I have missed it?

Well, it's in Eclipse 2, and that book is apparently not yet published!!!!

A Strahan Spacetime Anomaly of sorts?

Message from Annie

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:26:53 GMT

Thanks Luke but I am going to get the book itself so prefer not to read it yet.

blue, ok... thinking about lengths, you are probably right

Message from bluetyson

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:18:29 GMT

Message from Luke Jackson

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:59:25 GMT

The Bacigalupi story's available online:

http://pyrsamples.blogspot.com/2008/11/fast-forward-2-paolo-bacigalupis.html

Message from Annie

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:57:26 GMT

The only ones I had read and remember their names(and once I go again through my 2008 magazines, I might remember a few more) are:
Shoggoths in Bloom - Elizabeth Bear
Pride and Prometheus - John Kessel
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates - Stephen King
Five Thrillers - Robert Reed
The Magician's House - Megan McCarron
The Art of Alchemy - Ted Kosmatka

All of them are good enough (and I am pleasantly surprised that McCarron's story made the list). Considering that Five Thrillers and The Art of Alchemy are included, I am a little surprised that The Political Prisoner is missing but not everyone likes the same things.

Now I am back to tracking down which are the rest of the stories -- one of those years I might actually see a list of "Best of the Year" anthology and realise that I had managed to read all in it on time. Might need another lifetime for this though

Message from StevenLP

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:28:33 GMT

There's a lot that don't ring any bells: either I haven't got the publication that published them (or seen the website) or I've read them but they made no impression!

Of the stuff I can remember, I enjoyed the Bear, Reed, Bacigalupi, Kessel, Kosmatka, Egan, Swanwick, Rickert and the McHugh; The King, Bowes, Rajaniemi and Johnson stories were OK.

If I had a 28 story Years Best for 2008, I think only the Reed, Kessel and McHugh would have a chance of being included - and none of them are "must includes" (though in the case of the Reed that would be because his "The Truth" would already be in there).

Message from Fabrice D.

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:18:13 GMT

Among those I remember reading:

Shoggoths in Bloom - Elizabeth Bear: fairly good
Pride and Prometheus - John Kessel: not bad
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates - Stephen King: not bad
Five Thrillers - Robert Reed: not bad
The Art of Alchemy - Ted Kosmatka: fairly good
26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss - Kij Johnson: fairly good
Crystal Nights - Greg Egan: very good
Evidence of Love in a Case of Abandonment - M Rickert: outstanding
From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled... - Michael Swanwick: fairly good
If Angels Fight - Rick Bowes: very good

Among those, I might consider "Crystal Nights" and "Evidence of Love" for a Hugo nomination.

Still many unread 2008 anthologies at home!

--
edited by Fabrice Doublet on 11/26/2008

Message from dolphintornsea

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:02:10 GMT

I'm bumping this up, because I can't believe that no one's commented on mr Strahan's selections!

Of the Asimov's stories, I'm particularly pleased that Kij Johnson's "26 Monkeys" made the cut. It's an enigmatic and thought-provoking little piece, and I'm sure it won't qualify for Gardner's book, so I'm pleased to see it here. The Swanwick was good and may well be in YBSF as well, though it was a bit dense and complicated for my taste. I'm also pleased to see the Ted Chiang and Robert Reed stories in the book. I haven't read either, but they were much discussed and look like goodies.

Message from dolphintornsea

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:49:46 GMT

First out of the starting gate with a TOC for his Best of 2009 is Jonathan Strahan. He hasn't posted it himself, but if you search for "Jonathan Strahan" at Night Shade Books, there will be a link to the book.

So without further ado, here are the contents of The Best SF and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 3, edited by Jonathan Strahan:

Introduction - Jonathan Strahan
Exhalation - Ted Chiang
Shoggoths in Bloom - Elizabeth Bear
Uncle Chaim and Aunt Rifke and the Angel - Peter S. Beagle
Fixing Hanover - Jeff VanderMeer
The Gambler - Paolo Bacigalupi
The Dust Assassin - Ian McDonald
Virgin - Holly Black
Pride and Prometheus - John Kessel
The Thought War - Paul McAuley
Beyond the Sea Gates of the Scholar Pirates of Sarskoe - Garth Nix
The Small Door - Holly Phillips
Turing's Apples - Stephen Baxter
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates - Stephen King
Five Thrillers - Robert Reed
The Magician's House - Megan McCarron
Goblin Music - Joan Aiken
Machine Maid - Margo Lanagan
The Art of Alchemy - Ted Kosmatka
26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss - Kij Johnson
Marry the Sun - Rachel Swirsky
Crystal Nights - Greg Egan
His Master's Voice - Hannu Rajaniemi
Special Economics - Maureen McHugh
Evidence of Love in a Case of Abandonment - M Rickert
From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled... - Michael Swanwick
If Angels Fight - Rick Bowes
The Doom of Love in Small Spaces - Ken Scholes
Pretty Monsters - Kelly Link