The Locus Awards: An Indispensable Anthology of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Fiction

The Locus Awards: An Indispensable Anthology of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Fiction

Now, for the first time, the best of the Locus Awards for short fiction are gathered in one volume. Spanning the absolute finest in science fiction and fantasy short fiction for the last thirty years, this anthology is an indispensable guide to speculative fiction from the classic to the outrageous by the leaders of the field. Adult/High School–This outstanding anthology presents "the best of the best," culled from 30 years of awards. It includes many of the now-classic stories that have become emblematic of major developments in the genre, such as James Tiptree, Jr.'s "The Only Neat Thing to Do" (still a must-read for any serious teenage science-fiction reader) and Terry Bisson's remarkable "Bears Discover Fire." The most recent awards present the brilliant new writer Ted Chiang and the popular and critically acclaimed Neil Gaiman. Other masters of science fiction and fantasy short fiction represented here: Gene Wolf, Ursula K. LeGuin, Harlan Ellison, John Varley, George R.R. Martin, Joanna Russ, Octavia E. Butler, Pat Murphy, Lucius Shepard, Connie Willis, John Kessel, John Crowley, Bruce Sterling, and Greg Egan. A brief introduction to the author's career precedes each story. Whether readers are catching up on legendary science fiction and fantasy, becoming reacquainted with old favorites, or grazing the field in hopes of discovering new ones, this anthology delivers some of the finest science fiction and fantasy ever written. –Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA No surprise, this is an excellent collection, including many of the best sf stories of the last 30 years, culled from the winners of awards for short fiction bestowed by readers of Locus , the trade monthly of the sf and fantasy field. The selections are presented by decade, and the 1990s stories, from Terry Bisson's hilarious, accurately titled "Bears Discover Fire" to Bruce Sterling's futuristic trust network in "Maneki Neko," hold their own with '70s classics like "The Death of Doctor Island," Gene Wolfe's look at the future of psychotherapy, and '80s evergreens including Ursula Le Guin's "The Day before the Revolution," about the founder of the revolutionary movement in her novel The Dispossessed (1974); John Varley's "The Persistence of Vision," on sight and its pitfalls; and Connie Willis' "Even the Queen," which proves that feminism can have a sense of humor. If the newest, post-2000 stories are too new to be classics, they verify the promise of growth in the field; see Ted Chiang's "Hell Is the Absence of God," for instance, and Neil Gaiman's creepy-sweet, almost ghost story, "October in the Chair." Regina Schroeder Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “Anyone whose interest in SF extends beyond reading it to wanting to read about it should be aware of Locus.” - New York Times “It’s essential reading in this house.” - Terry Pratchett Now, for the first time, the best of the Locus Awards for short fiction are gathered in one volume. Spanning the absolute finest in science fiction and fantasy short fiction for the last thirty years, this anthology is an indispensable guide to speculative fiction from the classic to the outrageous by the leaders of the field. The founder and publisher of "Locus Magazine", Charles N. Brown has been involved in science fiction and fantasy for over 60 years. The editor of "Locus" for over 30 years, Charles has won more Hugos (23) than anyone else and is one of the most respected names in the genre. He lives in Oakland, CA. Jonathan Strahan has co-edited The Year's Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy series of anthologies for HarperCollins Australia, co-edits the Science Fiction: The Best of . . . and Fantasy: The Best of . . . anthology series with Karen Haber for Simon & Schuster/ibooks, edits the Best Short Novels anthology series for the Doubleday Science Fiction Book Club, and co-edited The Locus Awards for Eos with Charles N. Brown. He is also the Reviews Editor for Locus: The Magazine of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Fields , and reviews for the magazine regularly. He is currently working on The New Space Opera II .