The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy

“Ellen Datlow is the queen of anthology editors in America.”—Peter Straub

With original stories by Jeffrey Ford, Pat Cadigan, Elizabeth Bear, Margo Lanagan, and others

From Del Rey Books and award-winning editor Ellen Datlow, two of the most respected names in science fiction and fantasy, comes a collection of fifteen all-new short stories, plus a science fiction novella, that could count as a virtual “best of the year” anthology. Here you will find slyly twisted alternate histories, fractured fairy tales, topical science fiction, and edgy urban fantasy.

In “Daltharee,” World Fantasy Award–winning author Jeffrey Ford spins a chilling tale of a city in a bottle—and the demented genius who put it there. In “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall,” John W. Campbell Award–winning author Elizabeth Bear pens a poignant and eerie requiem for the heavyweight forever associated with his controversial loss to Cassius Clay. From hot new writer Margo Lanagan comes “The Goosle,” a dark, astonishing take on Hansel and Gretel. In the novella “Prisoners of the Action,” Paul McAuley and Kim Newman take a trip down a rabbit hole that leads to a Guantanamo-like prison whose inmates are not just illegal but extraterrestrial.

Many of the writers you’ll recognize. Others you may not. But one thing is certain: These stars of today and tomorrow demonstrate that the field of speculative fiction is not only alive and well—it’s better than ever.

PLUS TWELVE MORE STORIES

“The Elephant Ironclads” by Jason Stoddard
“Ardent Clouds” by Lucy Sussex
“Gather” by Christopher Rowe
“North American Lake Monsters” by Nathan Ballingrud
“All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World” by Carol Emshwiller
“Special Economics” by Maureen F. McHugh
“Aka St. Mark’s Place” by Richard Bowes
“Shira” by Lavie Tidhar
“The Passion of Azazel” by Barry N. Malzberg
“The Lagerstätte” by Laird Barron
“Gladiolus Exposed” by Anna Tambour
“Jimmy” by Pat Cadigan

Adult/High School—This collection of cutting-edge writing has appeal to older teens familiar with the demands of speculative fiction at its best. The 16 pieces include tales of alien abduction and war, murder, familial abuse, and alternate histories of the world. Many are emotionally charged and most keep readers working hard to keep up with the inventive narrative and leaps of unexpected science and fantasy. There are ghosts and monsters here, and two stories with strikingly different examples of golems. One is a tragic sacrificial figure named Sonny Liston, otherwise known as a famous American boxer; the other is a creation made literally from Hebrew letters and brought to life by a rabbinical student for his own purpose. To the man's surprise, his golem has its own agenda, which is to fulfill its destiny as a vengeful agent of God's Word. Several of these stories are puzzling and lack clear resolutions; they make readers ponder what they mean and how they end-just what speculative fiction should do. An anthology that's thought-provoking and intellectually challenging.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Declaring that short stories are the heart and soul of fantastical fiction, prolific and venerable editor Datlow collects 16 impressive original stories in this unthemed anthology. Standout selections include Margo Lanagan's deeply disturbing The Goosle, which eloquently corrupts the Hansel and Gretel fable with bubonic plague, sexual slavery and mass murder; Jason Stoddard's The Elephant Ironclads, which describes an emergent 20th-century Navajo nation struggling to become a world power while staying true to its culture; Elizabeth Bear's Sonny Liston Takes the Fall, a poignant tale about the life, death and sad legacy of the troubled heavyweight fighter; and Pat Cadigan's Jimmy, a strange and supernatural coming-of-age story set in the moments just after John F. Kennedy's assassination. The thematic diversity and consistently high quality of narrative throughout make for a solid and enjoyable anthology. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Datlow’s new anthology shows her picking up from where her duties as story editor for SciFi.com left off in 2007. With the popular Web site’s recent move toward covering only television and film, Datlow takes her philosophy of showcasing the short story’s far-reaching possibilities back to the printed page. As in its Internet counterpart, the book emphasizes her embrace of the widest possible assortments of voices and ideas. Established authors, such as Barry N. Malzberg and Pat Cadigan, mingle with relative newcomers, such as Jason Stoddard and Nathan Ballingrud. Lucy Sussex contributes a suspenseful tale about a volcano enthusiast whose uncanny knack for filming the precise moment of eruption becomes a deadly liability. Margo Lanagan’s “The Goosle” combines Australian myth with horror in a gruesome sequel to Hansel and Gretel. Other tales explore alternate world history, the anxious realm of nightmares, and the fate of a miniature city. Datlow’s keen eye for talent results in a sumptuous and engaging collection of narrative gems from speculative fiction’s cutting edge. --Carl Hays