Synopses & Reviews
Twenty-First Century Science Fiction is an enormous anthology of short stories—close to 250,000 words—edited by two of the most prestigious and award-winning editors in the SF field and featuring recent stories from some of science fictions greatest up-and-coming authors.
David Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden have long been recognized as two of the most skilled and trusted arbiters of the field, but Twenty-First Century Science Fiction presents fans first opportunities to see what their considerable talents come up with together, and also to get a unique perspective on whats coming next in the science fiction field.
The anthology includes authors ranging from bestselling and established favorites to incandescent new talents including Paolo Bacigalupi, Cory Doctorow, Catherynne M. Valente, John Scalzi, Jo Walton, Charles Stross, Elizabeth Bear, and Peter Watts, and the stories selected include winners and nominees of all of the science fiction fields major awards.
One of Publishers Weekly's Best Science Fiction Books of 2013
Review
Praise for Twenty-First Century Science Fiction:
"A bumper crop of 34 stories from authors who first came to prominence in the 21st century, compiled by two of the most highly respected editors in the business....Grab this book. Whether newcomer or old hand, the reader will not be disappointed." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"In my more than 40 years working in the science fiction publishing industry, Ive seen this notion crop up every 10 years or so: 'Science fiction has exhausted itself. There are no good new writers coming along anymore. The genre is finished!' Tor editors Hartwell and Nielsen Hayden thoroughly refute such claims….Twenty-First Century Science Fiction will certainly be recognized as one of the best reprint science fiction anthologies of the year, and it belongs in the library of anyone who is interested in the evolution of the genre." (--Gardner Dozois, Publishers Weekly)
Praise for the editors:
“One of the definitive anthologies of the genre.”
—Des Moines Register on The Science Fiction Century
“An editor extraordinaire.” —Publishers Weekly on David Hartwell
“We are in the hands of a loving expert.”
—John Updike on The Hard SF Rennaissance
“The finest collection of SF short stories published specifically for young adult readers in recent memory.” —VOYA on New Skies
“Superior—Nielsen Hayden deserves a medal. There hasnt been an original anthology series so consistently satisfying since Damon Knights Orbit.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review on Starlight 3
About the Author
DAVID G. HARTWELL, widely acclaimed as the most influential SF editor of his age, lives in Pleasantville, New York. PATRICK NIELSEN HAYDEN, called “one of the most literate and historically aware editors in science fiction” by The Washington Post, lives in Brooklyn, New York. They have both won the World Fantasy Award and multiple Hugo Awards for their editorial work.
Table of Contents
Preface
Infinities by Vandana Singh
Rogue Farm by Charles Stross
The Gambler by Paolo Bacigalupi
Strood by Neal Asher
Eros, Philia, Agape by Rachel Swirsky
The Tale of the Wicked by John Scalzi
Bread and Bombs by M. Rickert
The Waters of Meribah by Tony Ballantyne
Tktktk by David Levine
The Nearest Thing by Genevieve Valentine
Erosion by Ian Creasey
The Calculus Plague by Marissa Lingen
One of Our Bastards is Missing by Paul Cornell
Tideline by Elizabeth Bear
Finisterra by David Moles
Evil Robot Monkey by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Education of Junior Number 12 by Madeline Ashby
Toy Planes by Tobias Buckell
The Algorithms for Love by Ken Liu
The Albian Message by Oliver Morton
To Hie from Far Cilenia by Karl Schroeder
Savant Songs by Brenda Cooper
Ikiryoh by Liz Williams
The Prophet of Flores by Ted Kosmatka
How to Become a Mars Overlord by Catherynne M. Valente
Second Person, Present Tense by Daryl Gregory
Third Day Lights by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Balancing Accounts by James Cambias
A Vector Alphabet of Interstellar Travel by Yoon Ha Lee
His Masters Voice by Hannu Rajaniemi
Plotters and Shooters by Kage Baker
The Island by Peter Watts
Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction by Jo Walton
Chicken Little by Cory Doctorow