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Science Fiction: The Best Of 2004
A collection of the best science fiction prose written in 2004, by some of the genre's greatest writers, and selected by two of SF's most respected editors. Best Sci Fi '03 had more Nebula and Hugo finalists than competing Dozois and Hartwell books!
Paperback
First published January 25, 2005
About the author
Karen Haber
133 books20 followersKaren Haber is the author of nine novels including Star Trek Voyager: Bless the Beasts, and co-author of Science of the X-Men. In 2001 she was nominated for a Hugo for Meditations on Middle Earth, an essay collection celebrating J.R.R. Tolkien. With her husband, Robert Silverberg, she co-edited Best Science Fiction of 2001, 2002, and the Best Fantasy of 2001 and 2002 for ibooks and later, co-edited the series with Jonathan Strahan through 2004.
Her recent work includes Crossing Infinity, a science fiction novel of gender identity and confusions. Other publications include Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present, a collection of essays by leading science fiction writers and artists, Kong Unbound: an original anthology, an essay in The Unauthorized X-Men edited by Len Wein, and Transitions: Todd Lockwood, a retrospective of the artist's work.
Her short fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and many anthologies. She reviews art books for LOCUS magazine and profiles artists for various publications including Realms of Fantasy. She is currently at work on a major survey of fantasy and science fiction artists to be published in 2011.
Her recent work includes Crossing Infinity, a science fiction novel of gender identity and confusions. Other publications include Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present, a collection of essays by leading science fiction writers and artists, Kong Unbound: an original anthology, an essay in The Unauthorized X-Men edited by Len Wein, and Transitions: Todd Lockwood, a retrospective of the artist's work.
Her short fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and many anthologies. She reviews art books for LOCUS magazine and profiles artists for various publications including Realms of Fantasy. She is currently at work on a major survey of fantasy and science fiction artists to be published in 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 1, 2024
I picked this one up mainly because some good authors that I like are in it--I was particularly interested in Haldeman, Baxter, Nancy Kress, and Robert Reed. The stories they wrote are OK or good, especially Reed's, but I thought the outstanding story in the collection was "The People of Sand and Slag" by Paolo Bacigalupi. I am not very familiar with him and hadn't read anything by him, but now I will look for more of his work--short stories and books. This story is grim to be sure, taking place in a completely devastated industrial landscape. And there's a dog somehow surviving there.. (OK, I'm a sucker for a good story that has a dog in it!).
There's an excellent story by Gene Wolfe, "The Lost Pilgrim." Wolfe, of course, was one of the greats of SF since the late 60s (and passed away in 2019). This story by him did not disappoint--a time travel story. Robert Reed came through with a story, " Opal Ball," short and to the point. I would not be surprised that some would consider this story the best in the book.
The worst? "The Voluntary State" by an author I had never heard of--Christopher Rowe. Just could not make sense of it, except it's about a Tennessee of the future, being raided by those barbarians from up in Kentucky...
Here are my ratings story by story:
The Best Christmas Ever by James Patrick Kelly 3 stars
The Voluntary State by Christopher Rowe 1 star
The Lost Pilgrim by Gene Wolfe 4.5 stars
Momento Mori by Joe Haldeman 3 stars
Periandry's Quest by Stephen Baxter 4 stars
Three Days in a Border Town by Jeff VanderMeer 3 stars
Elector by Charles Stross 3.5 stars
Opal Ball by Robert Reed 4.5 stars
My Mother Dancing by Nancy Kress 4 stars
The People of Sand and Slag by Paolo Bacigalupi 5 stars
Tourists by M. John Harrison 4 stars
All of Us Can Almost...by Carol Emshwiller 2 stars
The Tang Dynasty Underwater Pyramid by Walter Jon Williams 4 stars
There's an excellent story by Gene Wolfe, "The Lost Pilgrim." Wolfe, of course, was one of the greats of SF since the late 60s (and passed away in 2019). This story by him did not disappoint--a time travel story. Robert Reed came through with a story, " Opal Ball," short and to the point. I would not be surprised that some would consider this story the best in the book.
The worst? "The Voluntary State" by an author I had never heard of--Christopher Rowe. Just could not make sense of it, except it's about a Tennessee of the future, being raided by those barbarians from up in Kentucky...
Here are my ratings story by story:
The Best Christmas Ever by James Patrick Kelly 3 stars
The Voluntary State by Christopher Rowe 1 star
The Lost Pilgrim by Gene Wolfe 4.5 stars
Momento Mori by Joe Haldeman 3 stars
Periandry's Quest by Stephen Baxter 4 stars
Three Days in a Border Town by Jeff VanderMeer 3 stars
Elector by Charles Stross 3.5 stars
Opal Ball by Robert Reed 4.5 stars
My Mother Dancing by Nancy Kress 4 stars
The People of Sand and Slag by Paolo Bacigalupi 5 stars
Tourists by M. John Harrison 4 stars
All of Us Can Almost...by Carol Emshwiller 2 stars
The Tang Dynasty Underwater Pyramid by Walter Jon Williams 4 stars
xx-dnf-skim-reference
February 29, 20202.5 stars on average for the stories that I finished. There were 3 that I did not.
"Tourists" by M. John Harrison was only a three star story but the writing was good and I'll look for more by the author.
"Opal Ball" by Robert Reed and "The People of Sand and Slag" by Paolo Bacigalupi were 4.5 stories because they explored the What If and had the Sense of Wonder for which I read SF. I already know of PB and am not interested in his, erm, dark intensity, but I will look for more by Reed. I particularly recommend Opal Ball for its speculation and its emotional wallop.
The rest were more focused on world-building and/or experimental show-offy writing which is too much work for a short story. I like stories that have a point and get to it, thank you.
So, I did read 10 stories, marking it DNF mostly to have an excuse not to rate.
"Tourists" by M. John Harrison was only a three star story but the writing was good and I'll look for more by the author.
"Opal Ball" by Robert Reed and "The People of Sand and Slag" by Paolo Bacigalupi were 4.5 stories because they explored the What If and had the Sense of Wonder for which I read SF. I already know of PB and am not interested in his, erm, dark intensity, but I will look for more by Reed. I particularly recommend Opal Ball for its speculation and its emotional wallop.
The rest were more focused on world-building and/or experimental show-offy writing which is too much work for a short story. I like stories that have a point and get to it, thank you.
So, I did read 10 stories, marking it DNF mostly to have an excuse not to rate.
December 12, 2015
A mixed bag. 'The people of sand and slag' is probably the standout story for me, I definitely grabbed my dog for a long hug after reading it.
'The voluntary state' was an interesting puzzle read, and did a good job of piquing my interest for more.
Skipped through several stories that failed to hold me. 'The lost pilgrim' was a notable miss for me, a little surprising for a Gene Wolfe story.
'The voluntary state' was an interesting puzzle read, and did a good job of piquing my interest for more.
Skipped through several stories that failed to hold me. 'The lost pilgrim' was a notable miss for me, a little surprising for a Gene Wolfe story.
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August 23, 2008Science Fiction: The Best of 2004 (Science Fiction: The Best of ...) by Karen Haber (2005)
June 7, 2015
I started this book last night, before I even made it to page ten, I added the author to my list of authors to look for other books by him! Truly gifted writer!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews