The Best of the Best Volume 2: 20 Years of the Best Short Science Fiction Novels. edited by Gardner Dozois. 2007
The Best of the Best Volume 2: 20 Years of the Best Short Science Fiction Novels.
RATED 96% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE: 4.3 OF 5
13 STORIES : 5 GREAT / 7 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Is the the novella the perfect length for science fiction? Gardner Dozois certainly thinks so … and this anthology supports that hypothesis.
the novella or short novel is a perfect length for a science fiction story: long enough to enable you to flesh out the details of a strange alien world or a bizarre future society, to give such a setting some depth, complexity, and heft . . . and yet, still short enough to pack a real punch, some power and elegance and bite, unblunted and unobscured by padding.
Dozois has assembled a very impressive collection of stories written between 1985 and 2002. You’ll travel to the farthest future to the cities of the past, commune with giant alien monsters of the deep seas, become blessed/cursed with sleeplessness, become a refugee after alien life absorbs your hometown, and more. Some of the stories in this anthology are some of SF’s greatest ever and all of them are quite good. There is a good reason this book has stayed in print for over 15 years.
Other Gardner Dozois Anthologies Reviewed on This Blog
Five Novellas make the cut for my All-Time Great List:
Sailing to Byzantium • (1985) • novella by Robert Silverberg. One of the greatest stories of the far future. A man from the 20th century is transported to far far future where people build and explore cities of the past. A wealth of lush detail, believably strange situations, and deep worth-building. This is an hypnotic epic.
Surfacing • (1988) • novella by Walter Jon Williams. A slow-burn novella about a deeply broken man attempting to communicate with “Dwellers” - huge life below the ocean of an alien planet - and using transplanted whales to do so. Mix in some very toxic romance and aliens that can take over the bodies of people. A really immersive story that I found enthralling.
Beggars in Spain • [Sleepless] • (1991) • novella by Nancy Kress. Children are altered to beborn without the need for sleep and have a huge advantage over those who do. Society’s reaction is violent. This is Kress’ masterpiece and a challenging story about the inequalities of birth, status, wealth, and more. It is also a haunting look into a possible future.
Griffin's Egg • (1991) • novella by Michael Swanwick. Hard edges SF. Weapon manufacturing for earth has been transplanted to the moon., along with even more dangerous science that rewrites the human brain. Eventually the wars of earth flare up to an extreme level and that spills onto the moon. Suspenseful, exciting, smart.
Tendeléo's Story • [Chaga] • (2000) • novella by Ian McDonald. An exceptional tale a of a young African woman who’s small town is destroyed by an encroaching nanotech that is destroying/reshaping the Southern Hemisphere. Visceral with scenes of a crowded, collapsing Nairobi as the Changa slowly moves to absorb the city and its people.
THE BEST OF THE BEST VOLUME 2: 20 YEARS OF THE BEST SHORT SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS IS RATED 96% POSITIVE
13 STORIES : 5 GREAT / 7 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Sailing to Byzantium • (1985) • novella by Robert Silverberg
Great. One of the greatest stories of the far future. A man from the 20th century is transported to far far future where people build and explore cities of the past. A wealth of lush detail, believably strange situations, and deep worth-building. This is an hypnotic epic.
Surfacing • (1988) • novella by Walter Jon Williams
Great. A slow-burn novella about a deeply broken man attempting to communicate with “Dwellers” - huge life below the ocean of an alien planet - and using transplanted whales to do so. Mix in some very toxic romance and aliens that can take over the bodies of people. A really immersive story that I found enthralling.
The Hemingway Hoax • (1990) • novella by Joe Haldeman
Good. What starts out as a fun idea to fake the lost manuscripts of Hemingway becomes a madcap adventure. An entity from out of space and time appears as Hemingway to convince him that his hoax will damage the entire multiverse. Lots of references to Hemingway for anyone who is a fan.
Mr. Boy • (1990) • novella by James Patrick Kelly
Average. I’ve read this multiple times but always forget that I’ve read it. Tells the story of a very wealthy boy keep as a 12 year old child by use of gene therapy. His friends are all modified - one is a stegosaurus - and his mother is the size of the Statue of Liberty. Despite not being physically able to age, he psychologically matures.
Beggars in Spain • [Sleepless] • (1991) • novella by Nancy Kress
Great. Children are altered to beborn without the need for sleep and have a huge advantage over those who do. Society’s reaction is violent. This is Kress’ masterpiece and a challenging story about the inequalities of birth, status, wealth, and more. It is also a haunting look into a possible future.
Griffin's Egg • (1991) • novella by Michael Swanwick
Great. Hard edged SF. Weapon manufacturing for earth has been transplanted to the moon., along with even more dangerous science that rewrites the human brain. Eventually the wars of earth flare up to an extreme level and that spills onto the moon. Suspenseful, exciting, smart.
Outnumbering the Dead • (1990) • novella by Frederik Pohl
Good. In a world where everyone lives forever, it is very hard to be the only person that is mortal. But you’d also be a celebrity.
Forgiveness Day • [Yeowe and Werel • 2] • (1994) • novella by Ursula K. Le Guin
Good. An envoy to a human planet is captured alongside a very conservative guard and they must find a way to overcome their differences and survive. A very simplistic plot made more interesting by Le Guin’s excellent abilities of prose and character.
The Cost to Be Wise • (1996) • novelette by Maureen F. McHugh
Good. An action-packed story on a cold icy world that has lost connection with the people and views high technology as inappropriate. The story follows a young woman, whose family and life is shredded when attacked by roving criminals.
Oceanic • (1998) • novella by Greg Egan
Good. There is a genre of SF that I call “Surprise! Your religion is fake!” This is a solid example of this. A barely disguised analog for Christianity that centers around a god Beatrice and a drowning ceremony. The main character is brought into the faith as a young man and eventually makes discoveries that refute his faith. Some interestingly weird sex stuff where partners swap genitalia after the sex act.
Tendeléo's Story • [Chaga] • (2000) • novella by Ian McDonald
Great. An exceptional tale a of a young African woman who’s small town is destroyed by an encroaching nanotech that is destroying/reshaping the Southern Hemisphere. Visceral with scenes of a crowded, collapsing Nairobi as the Changa slowly moves to absorb the city and its people.
New Light on the Drake Equation • (2001) • novella by Ian R. MacLeod
Good. A man in future France has spent his life dedicated to SETI. When he reconnects with a former lover, he reexamines was his life has become.
Turquoise Days • [Revelation Space] • (2002) • novella by Alastair Reynolds
Good. This is the story of a girl who studies the local luminescent moss-like species on an isolated sea planet. The first third is magnificent as two sisters take a dangerous risk and submerge themselves within the species and experience the memories of all who have done this before. It is atmospheric, beautiful, suspenseful, and should have been the whole story. The second two-thirds tells an action-packed story of interaction with a spacecraft who brings people who want to study the species.
