The Annual World’s Best SF
Encyclopedia
The Annual World's Best SF was a series of annual paperback anthologies published by DAW Books
from 1972 to 1990 under the editorship of publisher Donald A. Wollheim
and Arthur W. Saha
from 1972 to 1990. Some volumes were also issued in hardcover through the Science Fiction Book Club. It was a continuation of the earlier anthology series World's Best Science Fiction
, edited by Wollheim and Terry Carr
, published from 1965 to 1971 by Ace Books
(Carr also issued his own separate continuation, The Best Science Fiction of the Year
, from 1972 to 1987.) DAW also issued the companion series The Year's Best Horror Stories
from 1971 to 1994, and The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
from 1975 to 1980.
Each volume carried the year of publication in the title between the first and second recurring words. The first four volumes were subsequently reprinted under the title Wollheim's World's Best SF (also used as a variant title for the fifth through ninth volumes), distinguished from each other numerically, without the year designation. The third through seventh volumes were also reprinted in hardcover in the United Kingdom
, the third and fourth as The World's Best SF Short Stories, nos. 1-2, published by The Elmfield Press, and the fifth through seventh as The World's Best SF, nos. 3-5, published by Dennis Dobson.
Each annual volume reprinted what in the opinion of the editors was the best science fiction
short stories appearing in the previous year. The series also aimed to discover and nurture new talent. It featured both occasionally recurring authors and writers new to the science fiction genre.
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
from 1972 to 1990 under the editorship of publisher Donald A. Wollheim
Donald A. Wollheim
Donald Allen Wollheim was an American science fiction ' editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell....
and Arthur W. Saha
Arthur W. Saha
Arthur William Saha was an American speculative fiction editor and anthologist, closely associated with publisher Donald A. Wollheim.-Life:...
from 1972 to 1990. Some volumes were also issued in hardcover through the Science Fiction Book Club. It was a continuation of the earlier anthology series World's Best Science Fiction
World's Best Science Fiction
World's Best Science Fiction was a series of annual paperback anthologies published by Ace Books from 1965 to 1971 under the editorship of Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr...
, edited by Wollheim and Terry Carr
Terry Carr
Terry Gene Carr was a U.S. science fiction author, editor, and teacher.Terry Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon...
, published from 1965 to 1971 by Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
(Carr also issued his own separate continuation, The Best Science Fiction of the Year
The Best Science Fiction of the Year
The Best Science Fiction of the Year was a series of annual paperback anthologies edited by Terry Carr. It was published by Ballantine Books from 1972 to 1980, Pocket Books from 1981 to 1983, Baen Books in 1984, and Tor Books, 1985 to 1987...
, from 1972 to 1987.) DAW also issued the companion series The Year's Best Horror Stories
The Year's Best Horror Stories
The Year’s Best Horror Stories was a series of annual anthologies published by DAW Books from 1971 to 1994 under the successive editorships of Richard Davis from 1971 to 1973, and, after a two year hiatus, Gerald W. Page from 1976 to 1979, and Karl Edward Wagner from 1980 to 1994. The series was...
from 1971 to 1994, and The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories (series)
The Year’s Best Fantasy Stories was a series of annual anthologies published by DAW Books from 1975 to 1988 under the successive editorships of Lin Carter from 1975 to 1980 and Arthur W. Saha from 1981 to 1988. The series was a companion to DAW’s The Annual World’s Best SF, issued from 1972 to 1990...
from 1975 to 1980.
Each volume carried the year of publication in the title between the first and second recurring words. The first four volumes were subsequently reprinted under the title Wollheim's World's Best SF (also used as a variant title for the fifth through ninth volumes), distinguished from each other numerically, without the year designation. The third through seventh volumes were also reprinted in hardcover in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the third and fourth as The World's Best SF Short Stories, nos. 1-2, published by The Elmfield Press, and the fifth through seventh as The World's Best SF, nos. 3-5, published by Dennis Dobson.
Each annual volume reprinted what in the opinion of the editors was the best science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short stories appearing in the previous year. The series also aimed to discover and nurture new talent. It featured both occasionally recurring authors and writers new to the science fiction genre.
The series
- The 1972 Annual World's Best SFThe 1972 Annual World's Best SFThe 1972 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the initial volume in a series of nineteen...
(1972) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series One (1977) - The 1973 Annual World's Best SFThe 1973 Annual World's Best SFThe 1973 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the second volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1973, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the same...
(1973) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Two (1978) - The 1974 Annual World's Best SFThe 1974 Annual World's Best SFThe 1974 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the third volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1974, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same...
(1974) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Three (1979) - The 1975 Annual World's Best SFThe 1975 Annual World's Best SFThe 1975 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1975, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same...
(1975) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Four (1980) - The 1976 Annual World's Best SFThe 1976 Annual World's Best SFThe 1976 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fifth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1976, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the same year...
(1976) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Five - The 1977 Annual World's Best SFThe 1977 Annual World's Best SFThe 1977 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the sixth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1977, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same...
(1977) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Six - The 1978 Annual World's Best SFThe 1978 Annual World's Best SFThe 1978 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the seventh volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1978, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the same...
(1978) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Seven - The 1979 Annual World's Best SFThe 1979 Annual World's Best SFThe 1979 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the eighth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1979...
(1979) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Eight - The 1980 Annual World's Best SFThe 1980 Annual World's Best SFThe 1980 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the ninth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1980, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same...
(1980) = Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Nine - The 1981 Annual World's Best SFThe 1981 Annual World's Best SFThe 1981 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the tenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1981, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the same year...
(1981) - The 1982 Annual World's Best SFThe 1982 Annual World's Best SFThe 1982 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the eleventh volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1982, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the...
(1982) - The 1983 Annual World's Best SFThe 1983 Annual World's Best SFThe 1983 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the twelfth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1983, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same...
(1983) - The 1984 Annual World's Best SFThe 1984 Annual World's Best SFThe 1984 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the thirteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1984, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the...
(1984) - The 1985 Annual World's Best SFThe 1985 Annual World's Best SFThe 1985 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1985, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the...
(1985) - The 1986 Annual World's Best SFThe 1986 Annual World's Best SFThe 1986 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1986, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the...
(1986) - The 1987 Annual World's Best SFThe 1987 Annual World's Best SFThe 1987 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the fourteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1987, followed by a hardcover edition issued in July of the same...
(1987) - The 1988 Annual World's Best SFThe 1988 Annual World's Best SFThe 1988 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the seventeenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1988, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the...
(1988) - The 1989 Annual World's Best SFThe 1989 Annual World's Best SFThe 1989 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the eighteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1989, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the...
(1989) - The 1990 Annual World's Best SFThe 1990 Annual World's Best SFThe 1990 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the nineteenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in July 1990, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the...
(1990)