The Year's Best Science Fiction, Eighteenth Annual Collection

Collects more than two dozen science fiction tales written in the previous year to include pieces by such authors as John Kessel, Susan Palwick, Nancy Kress, Greg Egan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Stephen Baxter, Michael Swanwick, Paul J. McAuley, and Ian R. MacLeod.

What to say about this venerable annual series, now that it has reached the age of majority? Not a lot, given that its editor continues to do good work. One aspect of this number that deserves marking, though, is that editor Dozois showcases not only well-known and lesser-known authors, as in years past, but also stories from hands better known for their novels (e.g., Peter Hamilton, Nancy Kress), from others reputable for their short fiction (e.g., Eliot Fintushel, Tananarive Due), and from some masters of both long and short forms (e.g., Ursula K. LeGuin, John Kessel). Also noteworthy, especially after perusing the list of honorably mentioned stories at the back of the book, is that Dozois levies most heavily from magazines and small presses. Final assessment of this book's worth really must wait until the customary summations of the year's sf activity, unavailable for review, are in place. But surely those won't fall below previous years' standards? Invaluable as ever. Roland Green
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