T Anthology
An excellent anthology of good horror stories at 3.60, with a couple reaching greater heights. Gateway Drug : Timing Chains of the Heart – Scott Nicholson Gateway Drug : In The Family – Scott Nicholson Gateway Drug : The Cutting Room – Shane Jiraiya Cummings Gateway Drug : Work In Progress – Scott Nicholson Gateway [...]
Another 3.30 type anthology from Nicholson – with one dead sheep standout. Zombie Bits : A Farewell to Arms – Scott Nicholson Zombie Bits : Bleeding Ink – Scott Nicholson Zombie Bits : Need – Scott Nicholson Zombie Bits : Survivors – Joe McKinney Zombie Bits : Carnival Knowledge – Scott Nicholson Zombie Bits : [...]
A horror anthology this time, however only a 3.22. Head Cases : Fear Goggles – Scott Nicholson Head Cases : Beggar’s Velvet – Scott Nicholson Head Cases : The White House – John Everson Head Cases : Heal Thyself – Scott Nicholson Head Cases : Metabolism – Scott Nicholson Head Cases : Letters and Lies [...]
This time a crime story anthology with a couple of guests. At 3.31 again the same quality as the last two. Curtains : Dog Person – Scott Nicholson Curtains : Dead Air – Scott Nicholson Curtains : How to Build Your Own Coffin – Scott Nicholson Curtains : The Name Game – Scott Nicholson Curtains [...]
An excellent collection of essays on the Watchmen comic series. Minutes to Midnight : Obsolete Models a Specialty: An Introduction – Richard Bensam Minutes to Midnight : Reassembling the Components in the Correct Sequence: Why You Shouldn’t Read Watchmen First – Walter Hudsick Minutes to Midnight : How the Ghost of You Clings: Watchmen and [...]
Continue reading about Minutes to Midnight: Twelve Essays on Watchmen – Richard Bensam
A very bad anthology that manages a woeful 2.87 full. Full of dull mediocre adn poor stories, Sherman, Butcher and Shepard aside. And a little imagination from Kressel, at least. Speaking of imagination, lot of writers can’t imagine outside the USA when all of fantasy is there to play with. Avoid. Naked City : Curses [...]
Not really as advertised, and the description data seems completely unrelated to the title. A hell of a lot of mundane and dull for something that is supposed to be ‘Extreme’. Far less successful than the science fiction version. Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy : Senator Bilbo – Andy Duncan Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy – Mike Ashley
An excellent original anthology of tightly put together stories in this shared world of deliberately reduced technology level. Which of course leads to lots of skullduggery. New Ceres Nights : Smuggler’s Moon – Lee Battersby New Ceres Nights : Murder in Laochan – Aliette de Bodard New Ceres Nights : Fair Trade – Stephen Dedman [...]
Just an ok original themed horror anthology at 3.19. Walls Of Fear : Out of Sight Out of Mind – Jack Womack Walls Of Fear : Tales from a New England Telephone Directory – James Morrow Walls Of Fear : Firetrap – Greg Cox Walls Of Fear : The Art of Falling Down – Jonathan [...]
An ok for original anthology bunch of stories for kids at 3.25. Life On Mars : Attlee and the Long Walk – Kage Baker Life On Mars : The Old Man and the Martian Sea – Alastair Reynolds Life On Mars : Wahala – Nnedi Okorafor Life On Mars : On Chryse Plain – Stephen [...]
Just a 3.24 – mostly average and decent stories in 50-50 ratio, with one standout by Janis Ian. I Alien : Diary of a galactic emigre – Laura Resnick I Alien : Injustice collector – Kristine Kathryn Rusch I Alien : Creature for hire – Paul E. Martens I Alien : Pedagogy – Michael A. [...]
A fund raising anthology of higher quality than expected for a quick whipup, with a good variety of stories and subgenres. After the Rain : From the dry heart to the sea – Joanne Anderton After the Rain : Powerplant – Dave Luckett After the Rain : Daughters of the deluge – Lyn Battersby After [...]
Continue reading about After the Rain: after the floods edition – Tehani Wessely
3.33 for an original anthology is not too bad. Mostly your garden variety average to good stories here, with two standounts. Partridge’s Lesser Demons and by far the best Barron’s Broadswords. As you would expect, some rubbish like Kiernan and Smith’s shopping list. Although at least the latter you could use as an insomnia cure. [...]
A fixup of Moorcock’s Sojan The Swordsman stories so that they resemble a novel with some alteration. An ex-Earthman and now mercenary warrior puts his talents to good use with sword and shield and pistol where he can help or just relieve his own boredom. 3 out of 5 A man out of place and [...]
At 3.72, an excellent reprint anthology. The editor gives an introduction as to how he chose the stories which is also of some interest. There’s a good variety of work. Alien Contact : The Thought War – Paul J. McAuley Alien Contact : How to Talk to Girls at Parties – Neil Gaiman Alien Contact [...]
Too many bad stories and nothing of any note in this 2.79 original anthology. Eclipse 4 : Slow as a Bullet – Andy Duncan Eclipse 4 : Tidal Forces – Caitlin R. Kiernan Eclipse 4 : The Beancounter’s Cat – Damien Broderick Eclipse 4 : Story Kit – Kij Johnson Eclipse 4 : The Man [...]
A solid and consistent anthology at 3.37, which is decent for originals. One standout in Dave Hutchinson’s Watchmenesque superhuman story. One waste of space rubbish writer story by Hamilton at the end. Solaris Rising : A Smart-Mannered Uprising of the Dead – Ian McDonald Solaris Rising : The Incredible Exploding Man – Dave Hutchinson Solaris [...]
The best of the Year’s Best SF anthologies for this year in a down year, and this one only a 3.44 average as a result. Three excellent stories from Watts, Arnason and Popkes and a greater than usual number of bad. Year’s Best Science Fiction 28 : A History of Terraforming – Robert Reed Year’s [...]
Academic focused anthology with some truly bizarre choices at times, so much so that it only comes out at 3.38. Aimed at the English student types hence it goes for the simple, often. It only covers 1960-1990. Norton Book of SF : The Handler – Damon Knight Norton Book of SF : Alpha Ralpha Boulevard [...]
Continue reading about The Norton Book of Science Fiction – Ursula K. Le Guin and Brian Attebery
A collection of stories of soldiers of various types from historical fiction to science fiction. Ok for an original anthology at 3.30. Warriors : The King of Norway – Cecelia Holland Warriors : Forever Bound – Joe Haldeman Warriors : The Triumph – Robin Hobb Warriors : Clean Slate – Lawrence Block Warriors : And [...]
Continue reading about Warriors – Gardner Dozois and George R. R. Martin
Just about a very good anthology at a 3.48 average. A mixture of reprint and originals, with some very good in the former such as Jihad Over Innsmouth and some reasonable in the latter like The Men From Porlock. All the usual multiformat DRM-free webscriptions goodness, too. Book of Cthulhu : Andromeda Among the Stones [...]
Continue reading about The Book of Cthulhu – Ross E. Lockhart
A short anthology of planetary romance stories, with Brackett by far the highlight. The Anderson is reasonable and Hamilton’s is fun, complete with lightsaber duels. Swordsmen In the Sky : Swordsman of Lost Terra – Poul Anderson Swordsmen In the Sky : The People of the Crater – Andre Norton Swordsmen In the Sky : [...]
Continue reading about Swordsmen In the Sky – Donald A. Wollheim
At a 2.88 average this is the worst Year’s Best volume I have ever seen of the long way over 100 I have said. Exceptions are the excellent Watts standout and the very good Anders tale, along with decent stories by Hand and Gaiman. A nice price and DRM free, however, which is very cool [...]
Continue reading about The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2011 – Rich Horton
A reprint anthology covering many decades of dystopian short stories that cover the range from over the top fantasy in the manner on George Orwell’s 1984 to tweaks on more possible near futures. There’s a brief intro and a dystopian reading list at the end, which some will find useful. As is usual, there is [...]
Too much mediocre and poor in this for a Year’s Best anthology, although definitely a down year for SF stories to go along with that. Two standouts with Reynolds and Popkes – and a couple of very good stories from Schroeder and Sparks are the next best. But only a 3.38 average is low. Year’s [...]
Continue reading about Year’s Best sf 16 – David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer
A quite consistent anthology with a lot of solid stories from the likes of Irvine, Di Filippo and Finch, but no standouts. Quite a variety of approaches to be found here, as well. So the editors have done a solid job for an original anthology. The theme is the Fermi Paradox – why, despite all [...]
Continue reading about Is Anybody Out There? – Marty Halpern and Nick Gevers
Just about the same as last year, at 3.20ish. A rather poor year for science fiction stories barring a couple of Reed and Watts. Little of much interest in the fantasy vein, although the man-eating unicorn story was funny. SF and F Best 05 : Elegy for a Young Elk – Hannu Rajaniemi SF and [...]
Continue reading about The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year 5 – Jonathan Strahan
A good anthology of stories that is very consistent, none rising to any great heights, but several are good and none are below average, so well worth a look. Gets the feel of the thing pretty well. Domino Lady: Sex As A Weapon : The Domino Lady and the Crimson Dragon – K. G. McAbee [...]
Continue reading about Domino Lady: Sex As A Weapon – Lori Gentile
Adams continues the clever work of making a Baen Free Library book out of his anthologies by doing just what the title says. This anthology of dystopian stories comes out at 3.56 with only one average, so really a 4.25, but we’ll round up. Selections From Brave New Worlds : AMARYLLIS – Carrie Vaughn Selections [...]
Continue reading about Selections From Brave New Worlds – John Joseph Adams
For an original anthology, Engineering Infinity is extremely strong at 3.61. All stories are above average, with a few reaching very good. The editor has wisely put two of these at the start and finish. The third is Karl Schroeder’s tale of online Soviets and Mars missions. Malak is the story of the programming of [...]
Continue reading about Engineering Infinity – Jonathan Strahan
A late seventies book, and it shows, with an average of 3 only. Colin Kapp as it usually seems is intriguing. Best of British SF 2 : Tableau – James White Best of British SF 2 : Starting Course – Arthur Sellings Best of British SF 2 : Advertise Your Cyanide – Kenneth Bulmer Best [...]
Continue reading about The Best of British SF 2 – Mike Ashley
A good anthology of stories about the world coming to an end – and sometimes there are survivors, and sometimes not. Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : The Rain at the End of the World – Dale Bailey Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : The Books – Kage Baker Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book of the End of the World – Mike Ashley
A good anthology of stories about the world coming to an end – and sometimes there are survivors, and sometimes not. Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : The Rain at the End of the World – Dale Bailey Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : The Books – Kage Baker Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF : [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF – Mike Ashley
Apexology is a better than good book, with a broad range of styles and sub-genres of horror selected. It turned out to be better than I thought it would be, with the selections solidly and consistently readable, with the upper tier being as different as the exponentially increasing weird dread of Paul Jessup to the [...]
Updated – I was wrong, there is an ebook now – at least mobi, Amazon, Books On Board, etc. At the start of the year when I bought it and noted it there wasn’t, as I would have bought that. http://www.amazon.com/Shine-ebook/dp/B003IWOBX4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=A1HC3MLVT7QPHY An anthology that was better than I thought it would be, given the lineup [...]
An odd idea for an anthology, pick a bunch of first stories from some writers. Not ‘famous first stories’ or anything, just first stories, whether they were written later or actually are ‘juvenilia’ as Stross calls his. So several poor stories and a few average ones, too. Not what you want to build a reprint [...]
Continue reading about Before They Were Giants – James L. Sutter
Somewhat disappointing at around 3.25 for fiction quality, especially for a Year’s Best. However, the format is good – with the ever useful summary and Honorable Mentions – and given that anyone can buy this digitally, a useful reference. You are hardly likely to carry around large books like this to browse horror of interest, [...]
Continue reading about The Best Horror of the Year 2 – Ellen Datlow
There’s a brief introduction and a list of recommended reading at the end other than what is in the book. Touching on types of stories, where they came from, etc. Knowing that the editor writes at length about this sort of thing, there is a failure to use the digital possibilities properly – that is, [...]
Continue reading about The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2010 – Rich Horton
A fine anthology and very high quality at 3.88, the down notes being I find David Drake’s Hammers Slammers stories very tedious, and the Benford tale is weak. Authors managed to find one non-American, amazingly. Pretty sure there are others that could have taken the place of the Benford. Best Military Science Fiction of the [...]
A sampling of stories from some late-90s era and slightly beyond magazines. A few very good ones, the rest is pretty run of the mill at 3.23. Digital Domains : Thirteen Phantasms – James P. Blaylock Digital Domains : Mr. Goober’s Show – Howard Waldrop Digital Domains : Get a Grip – Paul Park Digital [...]
Thankfully, someone has set out to do a serious orginal superhero anthology. And also decided to actually ask people that actually know something about it two stories. Unlike the stupid publisher that chose John Varley to edit an anthology where he admitted he was unfamiliar with anything in the last few decades. Or the not-very-good [...]
Another Renaissance double. McDowell has some good stories, this one, while colourful, wasn’t up to the rest. The Brackett tale is very good. Planets of Adventure 4 : Red Witch of Mercury – Emmett McDowell Planets of Adventure 4 : The Beast-Jewel of Mars – Leigh Brackett Chanteuse and revolutionary 2.5 out of 5 A [...]
Continue reading about Planets of Adventure 4 – Jean Marie Stine
This is a decent effort given the amount of work that must be involved. Especially as any major publishers these days are unwilling to pay for such efforts (and can barely manage anthologies at all), so pulling it off at all is impressive given the paucity of such projects over SF history (the odd Euro, [...]
Continue reading about The Apex Book of World SF – Lavie Tidhar
This is a great anthology. It average 4.17, which is extremely impressive. Even more so for an original anthology. It is also very rare to get a bunch of novellas, either. Interestingly, the editor says that Williams and Reed came up with stories for him quickly, presumably after other pikers pulled out. Good thing they [...]
Continuing what was seen in the Hartwell book, a definite down year for SF stories, this only coming in at 3.59. In other words, lots of 3.5s and not so many 4s. Griffith and Cornell the highlights, followed by Watts and McDonald. The usual interesting lengthy overview of the year, too. Year’s Best Science Fiction [...]
Continue reading about The Year’s Best Science Fiction 27th Annual Collection – Gardner Dozois
Continuing what was seen in the Hartwell book, a definite down year for SF stories, this only coming in at 3.59. In other words, lots of 3.5s and not so many 4s. Griffith and Cornell the highlights, followed by Watts and McDonald. The usual interesting lengthy overview of the year, too. Year’s Best Science Fiction [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 23 – Gardner Dozois
Definitely a down year for SF, a few very good stories, but a lot of average, and only one standout by Cornell – a 3.40 average is just a garden variety anthology number. Year’s Best SF 15 : Infinities – Vandana Singh Year’s Best SF 15 : This Peaceable Land or the Unbearable Vision of [...]
Continue reading about Year’s Best SF 15 – David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer
As a sword and sorcery anthology this generally succeeds, and in general the writers understand what that actually means. Except for Gene Wolfe. Having read a lot of stuff by Wolfe, I see no evidence of him ever having the ability to produce a sword and sorcery story. And I still don’t. As a story [...]
Continue reading about Swords and Dark Magic – Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders
Pretty much the same quality as 11 at 3.27. With the same comprehensive overview of what came out that was related, although the litany of small press limited editions gets rather tedious. Especially after the editor complains that this is a real book he is doing here with actual distribution, not POD or ebook. The [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 12 – Stephen Jones
Given the narrowness of the theme a very solid anthology. Better than your garden variety original anthology, certainly. The stories range from black humour capers (Frost) to the out and out science fictional (Chappell). The strongest work is from Ian Watson and Laird Barron. The former doomridden, the latter the tale of a supervillain who [...]
Asimov looks at the stages of SF in his introduction, and talks about where Soviet SF was, as he thought. More Soviet Science Fiction : The Heart of the Serpent – Ivan Yefremov More Soviet Science Fiction : Siema – Anatoly Dnieprov More Soviet Science Fiction : The Trial of Tantalus – Victor Saparin More [...]
Continue reading about More Soviet Science Fiction – Isaac Asimov
Last year 3.70, this year, 3.21. A rather large drop. A whole lot of not very fantastic fantasy being the culprit. A rather serious lack of imagination shown here – in fact the SF you could say is more fantastic than the fantasy, which is a worry. Considering the whacky loopiness of the Swanwick/Gunn or [...]
Continue reading about Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year 4 – Jonathan Strahan
Only a 3.18 average, but a few strong stories including the famous Keyes work. Judith Merril 05 : The Handler – Damon Knight Judith Merril 05 : The Other Wife – Jack Finney Judith Merril 05 : No Fire Burns – Avram Davidson Judith Merril 05 : No No Not Rogov! – Cordwainer Smith Judith [...]
A good quality original anthology, which is a more impressive effort given the Australian author focus. A couple of standouts by Sussex and Livings, and a strong story from Flinthart. Agog! Terrific Tales : Kijin Tea – Kyla WardAgog! Terrific Tales : Waiting at Golgotha – Simon BrownAgog! Terrific Tales : Runaway – Lucy SussexAgog! [...]
An anthology of stories set on the planets of this region. Throws in some others like asteroids and comets to round it out. Most of them aren’t any good, though. Science-Fictional Solar System : The Weather on the Sun – Theodore L. ThomasScience-Fictional Solar System : Brightside Crossing – Alan E. NourseScience-Fictional Solar System : [...]
This is high quality for an original anthology at 3.59. As the title suggests, a lot of stories of the space and other worlds variety, which is definitely my thing. Forbidden Planets : Passion Ploy – Matthew Hughes Forbidden Planets : Lehr Rex – Jay Lake Forbidden Planets : Dust – Paul J. McAuley Forbidden [...]
A not so good anthology with a couple of ok bits. Hoyt, Freer, Resnick and Kelly going for a different angle at least. Dean Wesley Smith produces a fun twist, too. Future We Wish We Had : A Rosé for Emily – Esther M. FriesnerFuture We Wish We Had : Waiting For Juliette – Sarah [...]
Continue reading about The Future We Wish We Had – Martin H. Greenberg and Rebecca Lickiss
An anthology that features the three Eric John Stark novellas, the Star Kings novel and fix-up, and the crossover story Stark and the Star Kings – the only time that the two writers worked together. Brackett of course is far the superior talent, but the Star Kings stuff is diverting enough. The three Brackett stories [...]
Continue reading about Stark and the Star Kings – Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton
The second in this anthology series after Space Opera, the first volume, continues in similar fashion. It is divided into story sections, and shows a little more variety than the first book. Actually a stronger volume, too. Space Odysseys : The Sentinel – Arthur C. Clarke Space Odysseys : Galactic Patrol [Excerpt] – Edward E. [...]
I’ve now read three Roger Elwood anthologies. Verdicts terrible, poor and bad, or 1, 2.5 and 2. That is not what you call a good strike rate. This one is science fiction stories about young people. Other Side Of Tomorrow : Come Sing the Moons of Moravenn – Leigh Brackett Other Side Of Tomorrow : [...]
Continue reading about The Other Side Of Tomorrow – Roger Elwood
As the title suggests, this is a shorter anthology made from the Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to put in the Baen Free Library. A shrewd move, I think. As far as Sherlock Holmes pastiche goes, the quality of these is reasonable enough. My favorite of these is Dominic Green’s dino story. It also inclues [...]
Adams continues to show he is a clever editor. The Night Shade honchos, too. Night Shade are selling books through webscriptions, as some people now. However, many more people have heard of The Baen Free Library. Some Baen customers won’t have heard of Night Shade, I am sure (and have seen it on the forums). [...]
Continue reading about Selections From By Blood We Live – John Joseph Adams
There is not much at the top end in this anthology – with the clear best story being F. Paul Wilson’s Aftershock, followed by Lebbon’s White. Only a 3.26 average for this volume because of lots of average. The introduction is lengthy and excellent, covering multiple media. Best New Horror 11 : Halloween Street – [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 11 – Stephen Jones
The problem with pastiche of something of that is the best ever example of its kind is that it will always disappoint. In the sense that it won’t live up to the original at its best. That is certainly what I have found with Sherlock Holmes pastiche in general, having read several anthologies of such. [...]
Continue reading about The Improbable Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes – John Joseph Adams
The tag line says 17 stories of vampirism, which is a bit cheesy as it is actually 15 stories and 2 poems. This anthology is a hybrid, some reprint and some original. It comes out as right on 3.33, the standard average for an original anthology. Leading with Simmons is smart, that is the best [...]
An ok Australian anthology with one very good story. Also, Head For the Year is an amusing twisted school sports story, sort of a Monty Python-Rippign Yarns cross. 3.11 overall. Transmutations : The Wide Waters Waiting – Bruce GillespieTransmutations : Paddy Four-Finger – Kevin McKayTransmutations : Inhabiting the Interspaces – Philippa C. MaddernTransmutations : Albert’s [...]
A few average stories are balanced by multiple 5 star efforts to give this reprint anthology’s overview a 3.91 average. There is an introduction about the history and transformation of cyberpunk over time – and the odd argument between the authors involved now and then. A high quality publication. Rewired : Bicycle Repairman – Bruce [...]
Continue reading about Rewired – James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel
A libertarian story anthology that isn’t any good, at a 2.94 average. Seems to be common with these. Resnick and Sawyer’s are worth a look, though. Visions of Liberty : The Unnullified World – Lloyd BiggleJr.Visions of Liberty : The Right’s Tough – Robert J. SawyerVisions of Liberty : The Shackles of Freedom – Mike [...]
Continue reading about Visions Of Liberty – Martin H. Greenberg and Mark Tier
One of the earlier Australian SF anthologies, and a fairly reasonable one in general. Zeitgeist Machine : The Inheritors – G. M. GlaskinZeitgeist Machine : Spaceman – Lee HardingZeitgeist Machine : The Kitten – Stephen CookZeitgeist Machine : Incubation – John Romeril and Damien BroderickZeitgeist Machine : Illumination – Michael WildingZeitgeist Machine : The Wonderfully [...]
Continue reading about The Zeitgeist Machine – Damien Broderick
A bit down for a Year’s Best bunch, at 3.37. This new series does have an overview of various media and the horror contained therein – with a focus on prose. However, all written by Datlow by the looks, so rather more succinct than in the Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror series version. Probably have [...]
Continue reading about The Best Horror Of the Year 1 – Ellen Datlow
A collection of novellas related to ongoing series, Honor Harrington, Belisarius and Hammer’s Slammers. Never read any of the Belisarius work, seems interesting enough – something to do with aliens or future people providing advanced tech to ancient times – the General appears to have artillery and telegraph communications for example. The first two are [...]
A round up to average original anthology at 3.21. Two strong stories by Dozois and Wolfe, but also some poor and a chunk of ordinary. Orbit 07 : April Fool’s Day Forever – Kate WilhelmOrbit 07 : Eyebem – Gene WolfeOrbit 07 : Continued on Next Rock – R. A. LaffertyOrbit 07 : To Sport [...]
An original anthology from an older series. At 3.19, just about average. New Writings In SF 3 : The Subways Of Tazoo – Colin KappNew Writings In SF 3 : The Fiend – Frederik PohlNew Writings In SF 3 : Manipulation – John KingstonNew Writings In SF 3 : Testament – John BaxterNew Writings In [...]
An anthology that is somewhat disappointing, at only 3.06. The greatest is last, with Connie Willis’ Jack. Other of note include Nancy A. Collins, Elizabeth Hand, Tanya Huff, Christa Faust and Gala Blau. Mammoth Book of Vampire Stories By Women : The Master of Rampling Gate – Anne RiceMammoth Book of Vampire Stories By Women [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Vampire Stories By Women – Stephen Jones
The first mass market Australian horror anthology. From the 1980s, so that shows how backward we were/are. The introduction details this and a brief history of Australian horror all the way from 19th century writers like Guy Boothby up to Greg Egan and beyond. An interesting book, and reasonable quality at 3.31. Terror Australis : [...]
An editorial that seems a bit pleased with itself. The title is the theme for the stories, so fairly broad. SF except perhaps for Hoch’s fable. Only a 3.15 – so a 2.75 book. Not enough of note to round up here, though, Brackett aside. Crisis : The Day the Founder Died – Robert Silverberg [...]
This is numbered as #1, so apparently supposed to be a series. Unfortunately there are no more. There’s a fine introduction on why she likes this particular type of story: ““Planet, unashamedly, published ‘space opera’. Space opera, as every reader doubtless knows, is a pejorative term often applied to a story that has an element [...]
Continue reading about The Best Of Planet Stories – Leigh Brackett
An anthology of European science fiction. The editor gives an introduction that traces the history of the growth of SF in various European countries. Best from the Rest : Party Line – Gerard KleinBest from the Rest : Pairpuppets – Manuel Van LoggemBest from the Rest : The Scythe – Sandro SandrelliBest from the Rest [...]
Rather disappointing, given how good we know that Hartwell anthologies can be. I had seen other keen SF readers mention this isn’t very good, and they are right. Quite a few WTF moments here. First of all, apparently the world is a hemisphere. Now, translations of work not in English are reasonly rare, certainly. But [...]
Continue reading about The World Treasury Of Science Fiction – David G. Hartwell
An anthology that took a shot at a series of a Year’s Best variety. The editor mentions that prior to the fifties European SF was extremely limited in scope and style, and as such, waves of American writing etc. entered the market due to their own failures of innovation. It wasn’t until after this that [...]
An older volume, and not so good. More than half of these are average or worse, only a 3.21 average. The yearly overview and dead people lists are much, much shorter here, too. Kim Newman has a very good Diogenes Club type story, but Harlan Ellison takes it at the end. Best New Horror 05 [...]
Continue reading about Best New Horror 05 – Stephen Jones and Ramsey Campbell
A 3.43 average, so not quite as good as some of the others – a bit more average to be found, and no standouts. There are several good stories, however. It is hard to choose the best of the 4 star stories for me, this time. Bishop/Lee/King/Finch, dunno. The introduction is comprehensive and most excellent, [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 20 – Stephen Jones
An almost all reprint vampire anthology. It isn’t a best vampire stories of all time, as it pretty much only states with Stephen King’s era. Probably not such a bad idea as a ton of anthologies will have the famous Victorian era ghost stories contained therein. I’ve read quite a lot of vampire anthologies, and [...]
A dumb title, but actually relevant. Deliberately cheesy, too, I think. A mixed bag this original anthology at only 3.13 The Harris story is a bit like what Leinster or Kuttner might have come up with in the 30s – and funnily enough it has a 30s character in it, so may be deliberate. She [...]
Continue reading about Must Love Hellhounds – Anonymous Anonymous
An anthology as it turns out, mostly for kids. So lots of the stories are poor from an adult perspective. Whereas Shillitoe, McMullen, Blackford, Routley etc. mostly sidestep that sort of dumbed down restriction. So read those, and skip the rest if you have passed the double figure age marker. The introduction, however, is worth [...]
Just about 3.50 this book, with a short novel by Kim Newman to finish the story section in this volume the highlight. Long list of dead people still where really I’d rather more stories, but I guess lots would appear to like talking about dead mediarati. A good long horror overview in all forms, even [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 18 – Stephen Jones
An anthology of fantasy of the hillbilly/backwoods/mountain man variety. Manly Wade Wellman, David Drake’s homage to such, and a joint novella by Flint and Spoor. Mountain Magic : 01 Diamonds Are Forever – Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor Nathan is an elderly backwoods ‘Cunning Man’. In an article on his website David Drake talks [...]
A 3.41 average, so pretty reasonable for one of these. The usual good epic overview – the editor stating that too many books get published each year, and that in this particular year more were published in the UK than the USA. That is certainly very crazypants. Good stories here from Massie, Hirshberg, Morrell and [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 17 – Stephen Jones
Another book in this particular Worlds series, with stories ranging from bad to outstanding. Overall a 3.17, so a bit ordinary, but it is only a one country original anthology in the overwhelming majority. A couple of notables though, and one of my all time favorites here. Alien Worlds : Transition – Wynne WhitefordAlien Worlds [...]
A reasonable volume for a Year’s Best, at 3.70. However, here’s a quote from the editorial introduction: “The other trends that stood out in 2008, beyond the simple dominance of science fiction over fantasy (it seemed this year that there was much more interesting SF published than fantasy at shorter lengths—something that may directly correlate [...]
Continue reading about The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Of the Year 3 – Jonathan Strahan
The subtitle for this book is ‘SF Adventures to Far Horizons’, and it definitely means it. Depending on the story this can be the Solar System, or somewhere much, much further away through other galaxies and other existences. This is a very strong collection, with a 3.80 average, full of acknowledged masters and the occasional [...]
This is impressive – an anthology that has grown out of a podcast, and is now available a ebook and dead tree in more than one variety. Especially given it has Michael Moorcock and Alastair Reynolds in it. Both of whom are in my all-time favorite authors. A classy and generous act by the auctorial [...]
Continue reading about Starship Sofa Stories – Tony C. Smith
An overview of this style of story, with a brief introduction detailing among other things the relationship between the two editors. Doesn’t particularly say so, this is basically an American anthology. There were a handful of writers here I was not familiar with. I’m only an occasional reader of crime fiction, but this sort of [...]
Continue reading about A Century Of Noir – Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane
The nineteenth Wild Cards volume is quite solid. Having Cameo and Billy Ray involved also adds a little to the ‘bunch of kids’ story, too. Martin and helpers again do a fine job of editing. They seem to be able to get more and better writing out of Wild Cards contributors than those people are [...]
Unlike the first ‘Thriller’ anthology, this is original, not reprint. Ergo, the quality will be lower, in general. That is the case, as at 3.28 number we have a pretty standard run of the mill original anthology number. As such, a couple of good stories, several decent entries, and the rest. Jeffrey Deaver and Philip [...]
Just a 3.04 for this anthology. Takes a bit more of a localised view than the others in this particular series, being views of bad things that could happen to our planet. Evil Earths : The Last Word – Chad Oliver and Charles Beaumont Evil Earths : Film of Death – J. S. Campbell Evil [...]
Just a 3.29 average for this volume. Somewhat longer, so the yearly summation is epic, marred by a complete load of crap copyright rant near the end. Best New Horror 16 : Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire – Neil Gaiman Best New Horror 16 [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 16 – Stephen Jones
A reasonable volume at 3.45, with the second half considerably superior to the first, with several strong stories. A bit of a shorter volume, so the introductory yearly summation appears to be somewhat shorter. Although the editor does mention there were slightly fewer books to cover. Best New Horror 06 : Dead Babies – Lawrence [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 06 – Stephen Jones
Again a very comprehensive overview of the year, even with micro plot summaries for novels and other media. The fiction is only a poor 3.16, though, with Navarro easily the best. More than one example of the extremely tedious writers writing about being writers story, too. Best New Horror 09 : Dying Words – David [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 09 – Stephen Jones
Another fine UK (better cover art generally) edition with the usual quality lengthy introduction, which focuses a bit on some corporate publishing bloodletting. The average is 3.85, so a few 3′s floating around. The glaring omission here is the other 5 star story is missing, in Ted Chiang’s Exhalation. A deliberate choice to pike on [...]
Continue reading about The Mammoth Book Of Best New SF 22 – Gardner Dozois
