The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-second Annual Collection
Gardner Dozois (editor)
St. Martin's, Jul 2005, $19.95, 662 pp.
ISBN: 0312336608

Each year this series is always one of the best anthologies on the market as evidenced by the numerous awards including several over the last year. As always the compilation provides readers with insight into what is happening in the genre. The twenty-eight chosen tales run the gamut displaying a widening genre that proves no boundaries exist except that of the imagination. The stories are all well written and fun to read especially contrasting styles and sub-genres. Of most interest to at least this reader is the increase of contributions that initially appeared on-line; fans will be hard pressed to figure out which first appeared in electronic media vs. print without the insightful introduction that laments the slow decline of publications. As usual Mr. Dozois does his terrific yeomen job (sort of reminding this reviewer he and me need to get a life beyond the classic bookworm) of bringing together a broad sample of science fiction that showcases the trends of 2004 inside of superb tales.

Harriet Klausner