First published 2013
This annual collection brings together the finest science fiction and fantasy stories recognized by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Two-time Nebula winner Catherine Asaro serves as editor, selected by SFWA's anthology committee under Mike Resnick's leadership. The volume spans decades of storytelling, from Connie Willis's 1988 piece "Ado" to recent works by Ken Liu, Kij Johnson, and Geoff Ryman. Readers encounter Ken Liu's "The Paper Menagerie," Carolyn Ives Gilman's novella "The Ice Owl," and Kij Johnson's "The Man Who Bridged the Mist." The collection includes excerpts from Jo Walton's "Among Others" and Delia Sherman's "The Freedom Maze" alongside complete stories like E. Lily Yu's "The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees." Poetry appears through works by Amal El-Mohtar and C. S. E. Cooney. Essays by John Clute and Catherine Asaro provide critical perspective on the genre's evolution. This showcase represents the community's recognition of excellence in speculative fiction.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: anthology, found-family
Period: 1988, 2013
432 pages · Paperback · Pyr