{"id":4792,"date":"2018-09-01T00:46:14","date_gmt":"2018-09-01T04:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.e357.net\/beingernest\/?p=4792"},"modified":"2018-08-01T02:07:27","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T06:07:27","slug":"the-years-best-science-fiction-thirty-fifth-annual-collection-by-gardner-dozois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e357.net\/beingernest\/the-years-best-science-fiction-thirty-fifth-annual-collection-by-gardner-dozois\/","title":{"rendered":"The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection by Gardner Dozois"},"content":{"rendered":"

For thirty-five years Gardner Dozois helped define not only what the best science fiction of the year was, but what the genre itself was. Every year since I started reading his annual collection (I’m not sure when that was, but the earliest copy on my shelf is from year\u00a0seven) I’ve looked forward to reading it on vacation and saving it as a special treat.<\/p>\n

Since\u00a0SFRevu began in 1997 I looked forward to the little dopamine hit that I got from seeing this publication mentioned in his annual summary, despite the fact it always (and yes, I did tell him more than once) gave our\u00a0URL as being hosted by the now-shuttered\u00a0SFSite.<\/p>\n

But, as you no doubt know, shortly before the publication of this year’s edition, Gardner passed away, which was a tremendous loss to the science fiction community. I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends, but I liked him as well as admired and respected him, and the thought that this is his last collection saddens me.<\/p>\n

Will there be a Thirty Sixth annual collection next year with a new editor?<\/p>\n

I don’t know, and if not, then editor’s like Neil Clarke, bionic heart and all, and \u00a0Jonathan Strahan. will keep the flame alive with their own collections. Just the year before we lost editor David Hartwell, though his Year’s Best SF series seemed to have petered out in 2013.<\/p>\n

But more than enough about the past and future. On with the present.<\/p>\n

The 35th annual collection has 38 stories in it, as well as the usual insightful summation at the beginning and honorable mentions at the end.<\/p>\n

There is no shortage of regulars. Nancy Kress managed to get in twice (DEAR SARAH, CANOE), and names like Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick, Harry Turtledove,\u00a0Alastair Reynolds,\u00a0Sean McMullen, James S.A. Corey, Greg Eagan, and Tobias S. Buckell promise more of the stuff we know and love.<\/p>\n

There are also newcomers, like\u00a0Indrapramit Das (THE MOON IS NOT A BATTLEFIELD) whom I don’t know but am delighted to read for the first time, which is much of what this is all about. Others, like Linda Ngata (THE MARTIAN OBELISK) are here for the first time (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on that) and I was pleased to see\u00a0Silvia Moreno-Garcia (PRIME MERIDIAN) which I had just reviewed for this issue on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

This collection represents more than each of the stories, it puts a mark down on what Gardner considered worthy. Science fiction goes on, and will always be a genre in flux, but think about that when you read, and enjoy the stories.<\/p>\n

Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n