by Ann Leckie
First published 2016
This anthology gathers eighteen fiction works that WorldCon supporting members nominated for Hugo Awards but didn't make the final ballot. The collection spans over 500 pages and includes two essays from Letters to Tiptree. Stories range from science fiction to fantasy to horror, featuring android caretakers and Lovecraftian romances alongside adventures and quests. Writers from around the globe contribute works of varying lengths, from short stories like "Today I Am Paul" by Martin L. Shoemaker to the full novel "The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps" by Kai Ashante Wilson. Notable contributors include Ann Leckie, Ursula Vernon, Amal El-Mohtar, and Catherynne M. Valente. The anthology captures both dramatic and lighthearted tones across diverse storytelling styles. David Steffen provides a foreword explaining the selection process, which draws from the longer nomination list that WSFS publishes after each Hugo ceremony. These stories represent the breadth of speculative fiction that Hugo voters champion beyond the final five nominees in each category.
Genres: science-fiction, anthologies, fantasy, horror
Vibes: lyrical, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: diverse-representation, found-family
542 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform