The Best Science Fiction of the Year 13
Encyclopedia
The Best Science Fiction of the Year #13 is an anthology
of science fiction
short stories edited by Terry Carr
, the thirteenth volume in a series
of sixteen. It was first published in paperback by Baen Books
in July 1984, and in hardcover and trade paperback by Gollancz
in December of the same year.
The book collects ten novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction, notes and concluding essays by Carr and Charles N. Brown
. With one exception, the stories were originally published in 1983 in the magazines Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact
, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
, Omni
, and Interzone
, and the anthology Universe 13. The exception is "Scenes from the Country of the Blind," which originally appeared in the British anthology A Book of Contemporary Nightmares in 1977. Its inclusion in Carr's best of the year anthology for 1983 stemmed from its first American publication that year in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
.
.
"Servant of the People" was nominated for the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Short Story
and placed fourth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story
.
"Slow Birds" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
and the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
, and placed third in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
.
"The Sidon in the Mirror" was nominated for the 1983 ebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
, and placed sixth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
.
"Hardfought" won the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novella
, was nominated for the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novella
and the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novella, and placed fifth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella
.
"Amanda and the Alien" placed eleventh in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story
.
"The Tithonian Factor" was nominated for the 1983 British Science Fiction Award for Short Fiction
.
"Blind Shemmy" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
and the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novelette, and placed thirteenth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
,
"Her Habiline Husband" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novella
, won the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novella, and placed first in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella
.
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of 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 edited by 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...
, the thirteenth volume in a series
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...
of sixteen. It was first published in paperback by Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
in July 1984, and in hardcover and trade paperback by Gollancz
Victor Gollancz Ltd
Victor Gollancz Ltd was a major British book publishing house of the twentieth century. It was founded in 1927 by Victor Gollancz and specialised in the publication of high quality literature, nonfiction and popular fiction, including science fiction. Upon Gollancz's death in 1967, ownership...
in December of the same year.
The book collects ten novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction, notes and concluding essays by Carr and Charles N. Brown
Charles N. Brown
Charles Nikki Brown was the co-founder and editor of Locus, the long-running news and reviews magazine covering the genres of science fiction and fantasy literature. He was born on June 24, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended City College until 1956, when he joined the military ; he served in...
. With one exception, the stories were originally published in 1983 in the magazines Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, Omni
Omni (magazine)
OMNI was a science and science fiction magazine published in the US and the UK. It contained articles on science fact and short works of science fiction...
, and Interzone
Interzone
Interzone may refer to:* International zone, such as in Tangiers* Interzone , the title of a short story collection by William Burroughs; it is also a setting in his 1959 novel Naked Lunch...
, and the anthology Universe 13. The exception is "Scenes from the Country of the Blind," which originally appeared in the British anthology A Book of Contemporary Nightmares in 1977. Its inclusion in Carr's best of the year anthology for 1983 stemmed from its first American publication that year in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
.
Contents
- "Introduction" (Terry CarrTerry CarrTerry Gene Carr was a U.S. science fiction author, editor, and teacher.Terry Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon...
) - "Servant of the People" (Frederik PohlFrederik PohlFrederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
) - "Slow Birds" (Ian WatsonIan WatsonIan Watson may refer to:* Ian Watson * Ian Watson , British science fiction author* Ian Watson , British cricketer* Ian Watson , British footballer...
) - "The Sidon in the Mirror" (Connie WillisConnie WillisConstance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear...
) - "Hardfought" (Greg BearGreg BearGregory Dale Bear is an American science fiction and mainstream author. His work has covered themes of galactic conflict , artificial universes , consciousness and cultural practices , and accelerated evolution...
) - "Amanda and the Alien" (Robert SilverbergRobert SilverbergRobert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
) - "Kaleidoscope" (Cherry WilderCherry WilderCherry Wilder was the pseudonym of science fiction and fantasy writer Cherry Barbara Grimm, née Lockett, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand....
) - "The Tithonian Factor" (Richard Cowper)
- "Blind Shemmy" (Jack DannJack DannJack Dann is an American writer best known for his science fiction, an editor and a writing teacher, who has lived in Australia since 1994. He has published over seventy books, in the majority of cases as editor or co-editor of story anthologies in the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres...
) - "Scenes from the Country of the Blind" (John SladekJohn SladekJohn Thomas Sladek was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels.- Life and work :...
) - "Her Habiline Husband" (Michael BishopMichael BishopMichael Bishop may refer to:* Michael Bishop, Baron Glendonbrook , British businessman and politician* Michael Bishop , American science fiction/fantasy author...
) - "The Science Fiction Year" (Charles N. BrownCharles N. BrownCharles Nikki Brown was the co-founder and editor of Locus, the long-running news and reviews magazine covering the genres of science fiction and fantasy literature. He was born on June 24, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended City College until 1956, when he joined the military ; he served in...
) - "Recommended Reading" (Terry CarrTerry CarrTerry Gene Carr was a U.S. science fiction author, editor, and teacher.Terry Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon...
)
Awards
The anthology placed third in the 1985 Locus Poll Award for Best AnthologyLocus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"Servant of the People" was nominated for the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Short Story
Hugo Award for Best Short Story
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
and placed fourth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"Slow Birds" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Winners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...
and the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
, and placed third in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"The Sidon in the Mirror" was nominated for the 1983 ebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novelette
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
, and placed sixth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"Hardfought" won the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novella
Nebula Award for Best Novella
Winners of the Nebula Award for Best Novella. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.-Winners and other nominees:-External links:**...
, was nominated for the 1984 Hugo Award for Best Novella
Hugo Award for Best Novella
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
and the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novella, and placed fifth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"Amanda and the Alien" placed eleventh in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.
"The Tithonian Factor" was nominated for the 1983 British Science Fiction Award for Short Fiction
BSFA award
The BSFA Awards are literary awards presented annually since 1970 by the British Science Fiction Association to honor works in the genre of science fiction. Nominees and winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members...
.
"Blind Shemmy" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Winners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...
and the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novelette, and placed thirteenth in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
,
"Her Habiline Husband" was nominated for the 1983 Nebula Award for Best Novella
Nebula Award for Best Novella
Winners of the Nebula Award for Best Novella. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.-Winners and other nominees:-External links:**...
, won the 1984 SF Chronicle Award for Best Novella, and placed first in the 1984 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
.