Last week for FFB, I reviewed Gardner Dozois’s The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Best Science Fiction. You can read that review here. For this week’s FFB, I decided to review the second volume: The Best of the Best, Volume 2: 20 Years of the Best Short Science Fiction Novels. These short novels display the variety of themes science fiction deals with. I really like Robert Silverberg’s Sailing to Byzantium and Mr. Boy by James Patrick Kelly (no relation). Several of these stories are award winners. Once again, Gardner Dozois opts for variety in his choices. If you’re a fan of SF short novels, you’ll find a lot of quality in this anthology.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PREFACE,
SAILING TO BYZANTIUM • by Robert Silverberg,
SURFACING • by Walter Jon Williams,
THE HEMINGWAY HOAX • by Joe Haldeman,
MR. BOY • by James Patrick Kelly,
BEGGARS IN SPAIN • by Nancy Kress,
GRIFFIN’S EGG • by Michael Swanwick,
OUTNUMBERING THE DEAD • by Frederik Pohl,
FORGIVENESS DAY • by Ursula K. Le Guin,
THE COST TO BE WISE • by Maureen F. McHugh,
OCEANIC • by Greg Egan,
TENDELÉO’S STORY • by Ian McDonald,
NEW LIGHT ON THE DRAKE EQUATION • by Ian R., MacLeod,
TURQUOISE DAYS • by Alastair Reynolds,
I’ve read the Silverberg and Haldeman. I’ll try and check out the rest, though I still am behind on older “short novels” on the shelves.
Jeff, this BEST OF THE BEST, VOLUME 2 presents a nice batch of short SF novels. I bought it for a penny (plus Shippng & Handling) on AMAZON. Well worth it!
I’ve read the same two Jeff has read. I’m about 40 years behind in my SF reading.
Bill, reading THE BEST OF THE BEST, VOLUME 2 would be a quick way to catch up on contemporary SF. All the short novels are good, but some are better than others.
I’m currently overwhelmed with SF anthologies, those edited by Dozois and others, so I’ve clamped a lid on buying more. I also have read the two stories Bill and Jeff have read.
Rick, I just ordered another bunch of SF anthologies recommended on BLACK GATE. You can see what I bought here: https://www.blackgate.com/2016/02/24/vintage-treasures-the-science-fiction-book-club-original-anthologies/
And, again, I was about to purchase most of them for a penny each (plus Shipping & Handling). I love the Internet!
I saw that piece, but wasn’t tempted, for the reason stated above. My new motto is DON’T BUY, READ! We’ll see how that works out…….
Rick, my motto is BUY and then READ! Especially when these wonderful books are so inexpensive!