by Kij Johnson
First published 2019
This collection gathers twenty tales that WorldCon supporting members nominated for Hugo Awards. The stories span science fiction, fantasy, and horror across more than 450 pages. Writers from around the globe contribute narratives that range from scientific mysteries to fairy research. Some stories examine haunted house investigations while others follow characters who extract linguistic data directly from human minds. Readers encounter dinosaurs that change sex and survivors navigating dangerous extraterrestrial landscapes. The anthology includes works like "Mother Tongues" by S. Qiouyi Lu, "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies" by Naomi Kritzer, and "You Can Make a Dinosaur, but You Can't Help Me" by K.M. Szpara. Other contributors include Elizabeth Bear, Greg Egan, and Tobias S. Buckell. The collection showcases diverse storytelling approaches and subject matter, offering variety for different reader preferences. These nominated stories represent what the science fiction community considered the year's strongest short fiction.
Genres: science-fiction, anthologies, fantasy, horror
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, scientific-mysteries
461 pages · Paperback · Independently published