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The Year's Best Fantasy: Volume One
Escape on a journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary with award-winning fantasy editor Paula Guran. This superbly curated collection explores myth and fable, dark and light—a heroic creature facing a dangerous demon; an earthly love facing the mossy decay of death. With tales of living ball gowns and timid monsters, of modern witches and multidimensional magic, these twenty-four stories will transport you from fantastical realms that push the limits of imagination to alternative realities mirroring much of our own. Discover bewitchment and wonder, the surreal and the chimerical, in a fantasy anthology representing a diverse array of accomplished talent from around the world . . . and perhaps beyond.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published June 18, 2024
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43 people want to read
About the author
Paula Guran
97 books211 followersPaula Guran is senior editor for Prime Books. She edited the Juno fantasy imprint from its small press inception through its incarnation as an imprint of Pocket Books. She is also senior editor of Prime's soon-to-launch digital imprint Masque Books. Guran edits the annual Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror series as well as a growing number of other anthologies. In an earlier life she produced weekly email newsletter DarkEcho (winning two Stokers, an IHG award, and a World Fantasy Award nomination), edited Horror Garage (earning another IHG and a second World Fantasy nomination), and has contributed reviews, interviews, and articles to numerous professional publications.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 18, 2024
This antholology was so much fun. I was in a bit of a reading rut from continuous epics, and this gem crafted by Paula Guran was perfect for letting me move through so many worlds at a much quicker pace than I have been able to as of late. Fair warning, the mood of these short stories lean more grim/horrorish than the average fantasy goer might expect.
Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.: 3.5/5 Excellent premise and characterization, but the concluding 'punishment' of the manager felt unmotivated. I almost feel that the story would've been stronger ending with the freedom of the mother from her dress, or just a tad after.
Small Monsters: 4.5/5 I adored this story. The growth of the small monster, inherent discussion of nurture vs nature, symbiosis, horrifying mentors... Positively gripping. I loved the voice of this author (E. Lily Yu), and look forward to more of their work. Upon reflection, this was my favorite of the anthology!
L'Esprit de L'Escalier: 4/5 This is a horrifyingly compelling take on Orpheus' tale, featuring what if the return of his wife was incomplete? A wonderful telling, and I loved how the author did not rely on a familiarity with Orpheus' story in building their characters from the realm of Greek gods and demigods.
Frost's Boy: 2.5/5 Another tale, featuring Winter's sadistic apprentice. I enjoyed the plot's familiarity, but did not feel a ton of individuality from the author, apart from their sly interludes of what might be in the face of an incomplete history.
The Tale of Jaja and Canti: 4/5 Beautifully written. I find it compelling that Tobi Ogundiran includes foreshadowing so well in a story so confined by page length. A child's first and last journey, somehow hopeful, despite the logistics of spending one's life chasing the end. I feel I almost missed something deeper in this story that makes me want to revisit it.
The Cloud Lake Unicorn: 3/5 A solid tale of motherhood. I feel that this story is tangentially fantastic, and instead is a interesting perspective of the power of women. So much personality in the characters!
The White Road; Or How a Crow Carried Death Over a River: 3.5/5 This haunts me a little! The discussion of morality in such scales is compelling and highly enjoyable. The comedic relief is a bit forced in the Firsts, but I recognize the need with such a story.
The Red Mother: 2/5 Such a fun plot, but I really needed more in the way of characterization and motivation. Familial bonds have lost their pull in storytelling, for me personally. With dragons and drought, there are so many options to make the stakes more personal than to recount the death of a sibling through a third person narrative.
Her Garden, the Size of Her Palm: 4/5 I could feel the numbed desperation to get away, and I loved it. The fantastic elements here were so unique, though I am still pleasantly confused by Grandmother. I will need more of Yukimi Ogawa.
Gisla and the Three Favors: 2/5 Gisla is an inspiring heroine, and I am sure could do anything. My problem is that I was never left in any doubt of this, and thus the story failed to compel me with the stakes presented.
Passing Fair and Young: 3.5/5 Oooh, prophecy and Lancelot! I greatly enjoyed this plot and the twist in fulfillment. Some people are entirely too creative, and Roshani Chokshi hit upon a 'historical' plot I had never encountered.
Quintessence: 4/5 Andrew Dykstal hit the plot beats harder than I expected. At every turn I was struggling to see how the story could end so succinctly, and he executed the transitions so compellingly that I only am slightly sad that this couldn't be a full length novel. I am honestly heartbroken for the surviving cast in this tragedy.
Brickomancer: 2/5 Beautiful descriptions, but I just do not get the feelings stated from the perspective of the narrator. What was/is her reason for dedicating her life and mission to the city that disrespects her. Why the inherent lack of communication that has to exist for this type of conflict to arise? I feel like this is an socioeconomic statement masked as a fantastic novel, and while the two can mix, one does not necessarily enhance the other.
The Demon Sage's Daughter: 3.5/5 This story had me rolling! The constant shift in perspective offered by Varsha Dinesh had me second guessing whether the daughter was vicious, myopic, victimized, greedy, desperate, and everything in between. The plot is tangential to the strengths of this author, and I am intrigued!
Gray Skies, Red Wings, Blue Lips, Black Hearts: 2.5/5 I am intrigued. This could be the setting of a particularly good gritty epic, but I do not know if this story utilized the setting to its full potential. At its essence, this was a fetch the stolen goods quest, where we were constantly fed backstory that seemed entirely more interesting than the story told. Is there more that I am missing? Regardless, I find myself wanting to read that story.
Drunkard's Walk: 3.5/5 Oh my, I love the hardened genius drunkard/merc stereotype. The storybeats were well told, and the apparent expanse of the world make me hope for more by James Enge. I felt the scenes, and admired the doggedness of Reckoner.
If the Martians Have Magic: 2/5 The settings is well described, but I struggle with character relations quite a bit. This story feels like one told with a much larger one in mind. That is not a negative inherently, but I find that often motivating dynamics between colleagues is difficult if not done from the ground up.
A Minnow, or Perhaps a Colossal Squid: 4/5 I love that the narrator was absolutely not the traditional protagonist here. It reminds me of such a rich Russian-lit story telling device. The story brings up the conflict of morality, and the duty to provide for those in your charge, despite their morality. The bridge between magic and philosophy here is interesting, and I want to see more from Carlos Hernandez and C. S. E. Cooney.
The Fox's Daughter: 3/5 This was a slice of life story revolving around mixed race responsibility. The story arc is not well foreshadowed, and potential conflicts do not hold their weight on the page. The writing is gorgeous however, and I highly would recommend spending some time in these sentences.
Three Tales from the Blue Library: 3/5 Hmm. I believe there are tricks and swindling afoot, but I do not understand the purpose. Parent/child responsibility is a hard topic, one that the author breeches not once but twice. Similarly with the responsibilities with the enfeebled in general. I just do not understand the statement presumably the author was trying to make... Unless there was no statement, and this was meant to be an uncomfortable glance into hard decisions...
Breath of the Dragon King: 4/5 This was a powerful narrative. I found myself a bit teary-eyed at its implications, while laughing at most points along the way. So much stress on the youngest generation nowadays, and in all reality always...
The Piper: 4/5 I want to know if this was the story, or the made up story. Does anyone know? Prose is wonderful, characterization is deep, and the backdrop of war had me turning each page.
The Spell for Foolish Hearts: 3.5/5 This was such a good time! I do not love the use of miscommunication, especially for professional adults, but in general it was tastefully done here. Engaging dialogue, time passes, and I cheer for the fictional love!
Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.: 3.5/5 Excellent premise and characterization, but the concluding 'punishment' of the manager felt unmotivated. I almost feel that the story would've been stronger ending with the freedom of the mother from her dress, or just a tad after.
Small Monsters: 4.5/5 I adored this story. The growth of the small monster, inherent discussion of nurture vs nature, symbiosis, horrifying mentors... Positively gripping. I loved the voice of this author (E. Lily Yu), and look forward to more of their work. Upon reflection, this was my favorite of the anthology!
L'Esprit de L'Escalier: 4/5 This is a horrifyingly compelling take on Orpheus' tale, featuring what if the return of his wife was incomplete? A wonderful telling, and I loved how the author did not rely on a familiarity with Orpheus' story in building their characters from the realm of Greek gods and demigods.
Frost's Boy: 2.5/5 Another tale, featuring Winter's sadistic apprentice. I enjoyed the plot's familiarity, but did not feel a ton of individuality from the author, apart from their sly interludes of what might be in the face of an incomplete history.
The Tale of Jaja and Canti: 4/5 Beautifully written. I find it compelling that Tobi Ogundiran includes foreshadowing so well in a story so confined by page length. A child's first and last journey, somehow hopeful, despite the logistics of spending one's life chasing the end. I feel I almost missed something deeper in this story that makes me want to revisit it.
The Cloud Lake Unicorn: 3/5 A solid tale of motherhood. I feel that this story is tangentially fantastic, and instead is a interesting perspective of the power of women. So much personality in the characters!
The White Road; Or How a Crow Carried Death Over a River: 3.5/5 This haunts me a little! The discussion of morality in such scales is compelling and highly enjoyable. The comedic relief is a bit forced in the Firsts, but I recognize the need with such a story.
The Red Mother: 2/5 Such a fun plot, but I really needed more in the way of characterization and motivation. Familial bonds have lost their pull in storytelling, for me personally. With dragons and drought, there are so many options to make the stakes more personal than to recount the death of a sibling through a third person narrative.
Her Garden, the Size of Her Palm: 4/5 I could feel the numbed desperation to get away, and I loved it. The fantastic elements here were so unique, though I am still pleasantly confused by Grandmother. I will need more of Yukimi Ogawa.
Gisla and the Three Favors: 2/5 Gisla is an inspiring heroine, and I am sure could do anything. My problem is that I was never left in any doubt of this, and thus the story failed to compel me with the stakes presented.
Passing Fair and Young: 3.5/5 Oooh, prophecy and Lancelot! I greatly enjoyed this plot and the twist in fulfillment. Some people are entirely too creative, and Roshani Chokshi hit upon a 'historical' plot I had never encountered.
Quintessence: 4/5 Andrew Dykstal hit the plot beats harder than I expected. At every turn I was struggling to see how the story could end so succinctly, and he executed the transitions so compellingly that I only am slightly sad that this couldn't be a full length novel. I am honestly heartbroken for the surviving cast in this tragedy.
Brickomancer: 2/5 Beautiful descriptions, but I just do not get the feelings stated from the perspective of the narrator. What was/is her reason for dedicating her life and mission to the city that disrespects her. Why the inherent lack of communication that has to exist for this type of conflict to arise? I feel like this is an socioeconomic statement masked as a fantastic novel, and while the two can mix, one does not necessarily enhance the other.
The Demon Sage's Daughter: 3.5/5 This story had me rolling! The constant shift in perspective offered by Varsha Dinesh had me second guessing whether the daughter was vicious, myopic, victimized, greedy, desperate, and everything in between. The plot is tangential to the strengths of this author, and I am intrigued!
Gray Skies, Red Wings, Blue Lips, Black Hearts: 2.5/5 I am intrigued. This could be the setting of a particularly good gritty epic, but I do not know if this story utilized the setting to its full potential. At its essence, this was a fetch the stolen goods quest, where we were constantly fed backstory that seemed entirely more interesting than the story told. Is there more that I am missing? Regardless, I find myself wanting to read that story.
Drunkard's Walk: 3.5/5 Oh my, I love the hardened genius drunkard/merc stereotype. The storybeats were well told, and the apparent expanse of the world make me hope for more by James Enge. I felt the scenes, and admired the doggedness of Reckoner.
If the Martians Have Magic: 2/5 The settings is well described, but I struggle with character relations quite a bit. This story feels like one told with a much larger one in mind. That is not a negative inherently, but I find that often motivating dynamics between colleagues is difficult if not done from the ground up.
A Minnow, or Perhaps a Colossal Squid: 4/5 I love that the narrator was absolutely not the traditional protagonist here. It reminds me of such a rich Russian-lit story telling device. The story brings up the conflict of morality, and the duty to provide for those in your charge, despite their morality. The bridge between magic and philosophy here is interesting, and I want to see more from Carlos Hernandez and C. S. E. Cooney.
The Fox's Daughter: 3/5 This was a slice of life story revolving around mixed race responsibility. The story arc is not well foreshadowed, and potential conflicts do not hold their weight on the page. The writing is gorgeous however, and I highly would recommend spending some time in these sentences.
Three Tales from the Blue Library: 3/5 Hmm. I believe there are tricks and swindling afoot, but I do not understand the purpose. Parent/child responsibility is a hard topic, one that the author breeches not once but twice. Similarly with the responsibilities with the enfeebled in general. I just do not understand the statement presumably the author was trying to make... Unless there was no statement, and this was meant to be an uncomfortable glance into hard decisions...
Breath of the Dragon King: 4/5 This was a powerful narrative. I found myself a bit teary-eyed at its implications, while laughing at most points along the way. So much stress on the youngest generation nowadays, and in all reality always...
The Piper: 4/5 I want to know if this was the story, or the made up story. Does anyone know? Prose is wonderful, characterization is deep, and the backdrop of war had me turning each page.
The Spell for Foolish Hearts: 3.5/5 This was such a good time! I do not love the use of miscommunication, especially for professional adults, but in general it was tastefully done here. Engaging dialogue, time passes, and I cheer for the fictional love!
April 11, 2025
My favorite story in this annual collection was Elizabeth Bear's The Red Mother. It had the feel of backstory for some longer tale of these characters in this setting. I can only hope.
Some of the best of these stories started out so cruel that I found them hard to read - it was rough going to get established in both Catherynne Valente's L'Esprit de L'Escalier and E. Lily Yu's Small Monsters.
P.H. Lee's Frost's Boy was the same but backwards; if I'd stopped one page before the end, I'd have read an entirely different story.
Also enjoyable: Tobias Buckell's Brickomancer, James Enge's Drunkard's Walk, Carlos Hernandez and C.S.E. Cooney's A Minnow, Or Perhaps a Colossal Squid.
I don't get how there are so many unrelated Year's Best collections.
Some of the best of these stories started out so cruel that I found them hard to read - it was rough going to get established in both Catherynne Valente's L'Esprit de L'Escalier and E. Lily Yu's Small Monsters.
P.H. Lee's Frost's Boy was the same but backwards; if I'd stopped one page before the end, I'd have read an entirely different story.
Also enjoyable: Tobias Buckell's Brickomancer, James Enge's Drunkard's Walk, Carlos Hernandez and C.S.E. Cooney's A Minnow, Or Perhaps a Colossal Squid.
I don't get how there are so many unrelated Year's Best collections.
September 21, 2022
This anthology features some of my favorite contemporary fantasy writer and it was a pleasure to read this short stories and discover new authors or read new stories.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 2, 2022
There are some great short stories lurking within these pages that will you entice you into reading more of the authors who contributed to this volume. I am already looking for more by p Djeli Clark, Elizabeth Bear and Marc Fenn Wolfmoor (gotta wonder about that name).
September 17, 2022
This is a nicely curated collection of stories from 2021, featuring leading authors like P. Djeli Clark, Catherynne Valente, E. Lily Yu, Karen Russell and Elizabeth Bear.
June 2, 2025
Many decent stories
July 24, 2025
I found this collection disappointing. It offers a narrow view of fantasy. The majority of stories are European medieval fairy tales of a rather unoriginal variety. For example, two have the protagonist winning via a game of riddles.
Also, for a book where all the stories have already been edited and published previously, there were more errors than one would expect (e.g., an entire sentence duplicated).
Also, for a book where all the stories have already been edited and published previously, there were more errors than one would expect (e.g., an entire sentence duplicated).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews