Original anthology published by the Science Fiction Book Club featuring novellas by British science fiction writers Peter F. Hamilton, Neal Asher, Robert Reed, Alastair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter and Ian McDonald. Preface by Gardner Dozois, the editor.

The thirty-two stories in this collection imaginatively take us far across the universe, into the very core of our beings, to the realm of the gods, and the moment just after now. Included here are the works of masters of the form and of bright new talents, including:John Barnes, Elizabeth Bear, Damien Broderick, Karl Bunker, Paul Cornell, Albert E. Cowdrey, Ian Creasey, Steven Gould, Dominic Green, Nicola Griffith, Alexander Irvine, John Kessel, Ted Kosmatka, Nancy Kress, Jay Lake, Rand B. Lee, Paul McAuley, Ian McDonald, Maureen F. McHugh, Sarah Monette, Michael Poore, Robert Reed, Adam Roberts, Chris Roberson, Mary Rosenblum, Geoff Ryman, Vandana Singh, Bruce Sterling, Lavie Tidhar, James Van Pelt, Jo Walton, Peter Watts, Robert Charles Wilson, and John C. Wright. Supplementing the stories are the editor's insightful summation of the year's events and a lengthy list of honorable mentions, making this book both a valuable resource and the single best place in the universe to find stories that stir the imagination, and the heart.xiii • Summation: 2009 (The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Seventh Annual Collection) • essay by Gardner Dozois1 • Utriusque Cosmi • (2009) • novelette by Robert Charles Wilson18 • A Story, with Beans • [7th Sigma] • (2009) • shortstory by Steven Gould25 • Under the Shouting Sky • (2009) • shortstory by Karl Bunker32 • Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance • (2009) • novelette by John Kessel55 • Useless Things • (2009) • shortstory by Maureen F. McHugh68 • Black Swan • (2009) • novelette by Bruce Sterling86 • Crimes and Glory • (2009) • novella by Paul J. McAuley127 • Seventh Fall • (2009) • novelette by Alexander C. Irvine [as by Alexander Irvine ]141 • Butterfly Bomb • (2009) • shortstory by Dominic Green154 • Infinities • (2008) • novelette by Vandana Singh175 • Things Undone • (2009) • novelette by John Barnes205 • On the Human Plan • (2009) • shortstory by Jay Lake213 • The Island • (2009) • novelette by Peter Watts240 • The Integrity of the Chain • (2009) • shortstory by Lavie Tidhar246 • Lion Walk • (2009) • novelette by Mary Rosenblum274 • Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction • (2009) • shortstory by Jo Walton282 • Three Leaves of Aloe • (2009) • novelette by Rand B. Lee296 • Mongoose • [Boojum] • (2009) • novelette by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear312 • Paradiso Lost • (2009) • novella by Albert E. Cowdrey353 • It Takes Two • (2009) • novelette by Nicola Griffith377 • Blocked • (2009) • shortstory by Geoff Ryman391 • Solace • (2009) • shortstory by James Van Pelt404 • Act One • (2009) • novella by Nancy Kress441 • Twilight of the Gods • (2009) • novelette by John C. Wright459 • Blood Dauber • (2009) • novelette by Michael Poore and Ted Kosmatka486 • This Wind Blowing, and This Tide • (2009) • novelette by Damien Broderick502 • Hair • (2009) • novelette by Adam Roberts521 • Before My Last Breath • (2009) • shortstory by Robert Reed535 • One of Our Bastards Is Missing • (2009) • novelette by Paul Cornell553 • Edison's Frankenstein • (2009) • novelette by Chris Roberson567 • Erosion • (2009) • shortstory by Ian Creasey577 • Vishnu at the Cat Circus • (2009) • novella by Ian McDonald

Here are the short story collaborations of legendary editor and multiple Nebula Award winning author Gardner Dozois with some of the greatest writers of modern science fiction. Each story is followed by an essay by the collaborator discussing Dozois and his influence on science fiction and beyond. Includes collaborative stories and appreciations by: Michael BishopPat CadiganMichael SwanwickJack Dann Jack C. Haldeman, II Susan Casper

For years, The Year's Best Science Fiction has been the most widely read short science fiction anthology of its kind. Now, after twenty-one annual collections, comes the ultimate in science fiction anthologies, The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction, in which legendary editor Gardner Dozois selects the very best short stories for this landmark collection. Contributors include: * Stephen Baxter * Greg Bear * William Bigson * Terry Bisson * Pat Cadigan * Ted Chiang * John Crowley * Tony Daniel * Greg Egan * Molly Gloss * Eileen Gunn * Joe Haldeman * James Patrick Kelly * John Kessel * Nancy Kress * Ursula K. Le Guin * Ian R. MacLeod * David Marusek * Paul McAuley * Ian McDonald * Maureen F. McHugh * Robert Reed * Mike Resnick * Geoff Ryman * William Sander * Lucius Shepard * Robert Silverberg * Brian Stableford * Bruce Sterling * Charles Stross * Michael Swanwick * Steven Utley * Howard Waldrop * Walter Jon Williams * Connie Willis * Gene WolfeWith work spanning two decades, The Best of the Best stands as one of the ultimate science fiction anthologies ever published.

A trip report of Gardner’s travel to Intersection, the Glasgow Worldcon, plus many of his otherwise unavailable science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. Individual story introductions by Stephen Baxter, Michael Bishop, Pat Cadigan, Susan Casper, Jack Dann, Andy Duncan, Eliot Fintushel, Joe Haldeman, James Patrick Kelly, John Kessel, nancy Kress, George R.R. martin, Paul McAuley, Ian McLeod, Mike Resnick, Kim Stanley Robinson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Robert Silverberg, Michael Swanwick, Walter Jon Williams, Connie Willis, and Jane Yolen. Dustjacket art by Stephen Youll.From Publishers WeeklyStrange Days: Fabulous Journeys with Gardner Dozois, edited by Timothy P. Szczesuil and Ann A. Broomhead, features new and previously published short stories by the veteran and beloved SF editor of Asimov's and of numerous anthologies, who is the Guest of Honor for the Millennium Philcon on Labor Day weekend. Turns out, Dozois can write, too! Introduced by different authors, including James Patrick Kelly, Connie Willis and Paul McAuley, the stories will delight SF biz devotees. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review(...) Ultimately, the alchemy created by this mix of often-somber fiction and friendly introductions makes for a book that cannot be swollowed in a few brief sittings. Readers will want to take their time with every story, absorbing it carefully and then taking a pause to see how it goes down. -- Alyx Dellomonica, Locus, 11/2001