The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction

Titles in bold are on the Classics of Science Fiction Short Stories v2 list.

Title Author/Editor Year↥ Citations Reviews
"Blood Music" Greg Bear 1983
15
Hugo Award - Story Winner
Nebula Award - Story Winner
1973The Penguin Science Fiction Omnibus (1974) / A Science Fiction Omnibus (2007)
1984The Year's Best Science Fiction: First Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1984The 1984 Annual World's Best SF edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha
1996Visions of Wonder: The Science Fiction Research Association Anthology edited by Hartwell & Wolf
1999Locus All Time Poll
2000The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Garyn G. Roberts
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2010Nancy Kress Recommended Short Stories
2011Sense of Wonder: A Century of Science Fiction edited by Leigh Ronald Grossman
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
2012Locus All Centuries Poll
2016The Big Book of Science Fiction edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
2018Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - story
"A Cabin on the Coast" Gene Wolfe 1984
3
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1985The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Salvador" Lucius Shepard 1984
6
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1985The 1985 Annual World's Best SF edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha
1985The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1992Modern Classics of Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Trinity" Nancy Kress 1984
5
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
Gardner Dozois Recommended Short Stories
1985Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year #14 edited by Terry Carr
1985The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Dinner in Audoghast" Bruce Sterling 1985
4
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
1986The Year's Best Science Fiction: Third Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2007Asimov's Science Fiction: 30th Anniversary Anthology edited by Sheila Williams
"Flying Saucer Rock & Roll" Howard Waldrop 1985
5
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1986Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year #15 edited by Terry Carr
1986The Year's Best Science Fiction: Third Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Roadside Rescue" Pat Cadigan 1985
2
1986The Year's Best Science Fiction: Third Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Snow" John Crowley 1985
8
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1986Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year #15 edited by Terry Carr
1986The Year's Best Science Fiction: Third Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1993The Norton Book of Science Fiction edited by Le Guin and Attebery
2001Masterpieces edited by Orson Scott Card
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2016The Big Book of Science Fiction edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
"The Winter Market" William Gibson 1985
6
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1987The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1992Modern Classics of Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
"The Pure Product" John Kessel 1986
3
1987The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1992Modern Classics of Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Kirinyaga" Mike Resnick 1988
7
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
Hugo Award - Story Winner
1989The Year's Best Science Fiction: Sixth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1993The Norton Book of Science Fiction edited by Le Guin and Attebery
1999Locus All Time Poll
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
"Stable Strategies for Middle Management" Eileen Gunn 1988
4
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
1989The Year's Best Science Fiction: Sixth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1993The Norton Book of Science Fiction edited by Le Guin and Attebery
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Tales from the Venia Woods" Robert Silverberg 1989
2
1990The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventh Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Bears Discover Fire" Terry Bisson 1990
16
Sturgeon winner
Nebula Award - Story Winner
Hugo Award - Story Winner
1991The Year's Best Science Fiction: Eighth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
1996Visions of Wonder: The Science Fiction Research Association Anthology edited by Hartwell & Wolf
2001Masterpieces edited by Orson Scott Card
2004The Locus Awards: Thirty Years of the Best in Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Brown & Strahan
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
2011Sense of Wonder: A Century of Science Fiction edited by Leigh Ronald Grossman
2012Locus All Centuries Poll
2018ISFDB Most Viewed Short Stories
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
2018Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - story
2022Hugo Award Hindsight by Dave Hook
2024Rich Horton - SF Hall of Fame 1989-2018 - Short Stories
"Even the Queen" Connie Willis 1992
9
Nebula Award - Story Winner
Sturgeon finalist
Hugo Award - Story Winner
1993The Year's Best Science Fiction: Tenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2004The Locus Awards: Thirty Years of the Best in Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Brown & Strahan
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2012Locus All Centuries Poll
2018Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - story
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
"Guest of Honor" Robert Reed 1993
2
1994The Year's Best Science Fiction: Eleventh Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"None So Blind" Joe Haldeman 1994
5
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
Hugo Award - Story Winner
1995The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twelfth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
"Coming of Age in Karhide" Ursula K. Le Guin 1995
3
1996Year's Best SF edited by David G. Hartwell
1996The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"The Lincoln Train" Maureen F. McHugh 1995
8
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
Hugo Award - Story Winner
1996The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2010Nancy Kress Recommended Short Stories
2011Sense of Wonder: A Century of Science Fiction edited by Leigh Ronald Grossman
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
2024Rich Horton - SF Hall of Fame 1989-2018 - Short Stories
"Mortimer Gray's History of Death" Brian Stableford 1995
4
Sturgeon finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1996The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Wang's Carpets" Greg Egan 1995
6
1996The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2002The Hard SF Renaissance edited by Hartwell & Cramer
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
2019Rich Horton Recommended Short Stories
2024Rich Horton - SF Hall of Fame 1989-2018 - Short Stories
"The Dead" Michael Swanwick 1996
4
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1997The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"A Dry, Quiet War" Tony Daniel 1996
2
1997The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Recording Angel" Ian McDonald 1996
2
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
"Second Skin" Paul J. McAuley 1997
2
1998The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"The Undiscovered" William Sanders 1997
6
Sturgeon finalist
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
1998The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2010Nancy Kress Recommended Short Stories
"Story of Your Life" Ted Chiang 1998
15
Sturgeon winner
Nebula Award - Story Winner
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
1973The Penguin Science Fiction Omnibus (1974) / A Science Fiction Omnibus (2007)
1999Year's Best SF 4 edited by David G. Hartwell
1999The Year's Best Science Fiction: Sixteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2010Nancy Kress Recommended Short Stories
2011Science Fiction: Stories and Contexts edited by Heather Masri
2012Locus All Centuries Poll
2016The Big Book of Science Fiction edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
2018Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - story
2018ISFDB All Time Short Stories
2018ISFDB Most Viewed Short Stories
2024Rich Horton - SF Hall of Fame 1989-2018 - Novellas
"10 to 16 to 1" James Patrick Kelly 1999
3
Hugo Award - Story Winner
2000The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventeenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Daddy's World" Walter Jon Williams 1999
5
Nebula Award - Story Winner
Sturgeon finalist
2000The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventeenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2010Nancy Kress Recommended Short Stories
"People Came from Earth" Stephen Baxter 1999
2
2000The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventeenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"The Wedding Album" David Marusek 1999
4
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
Sturgeon winner
2000The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventeenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"The Real World" Steven Utley 2000
2
2001The Year's Best Science Fiction: Eighteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Have Not Have" Geoff Ryman 2001
3
Sturgeon finalist
2002The Year's Best Science Fiction: Nineteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Lobsters" Charles Stross 2001
9
Sturgeon finalist
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
2002The Year's Best Science Fiction: Nineteenth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
2007Asimov's Science Fiction: 30th Anniversary Anthology edited by Sheila Williams
2011Sense of Wonder: A Century of Science Fiction edited by Leigh Ronald Grossman
2012Locus All Centuries Poll
2018Sci-Fi Lists Top 200 - story
"Breathmoss" Ian R. MacLeod 2002
5
Sturgeon finalist
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
2003The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twentieth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
"Lambing Season" Molly Gloss 2002
4
Hugo Award - Story Finalist
Nebula Award - Story Finalist
2003The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twentieth Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
2005The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois
Stories: 36