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↧
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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 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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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 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 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
Stories: 36