An excellent collection of stories by some of the top writers in science fiction and fantasy genres today. There is a little something here for everyone so crack it open and sit back for a great ride.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The editor has parlayed his years of experience as a reviewer of fiction for Locus and other venues into a finely-honed sense for excellence in new works as they appear. This volume contains a mix of stories by long-established greats in the SFF field with offerings from up-and-coming authors whose skills are creating future classics. Recommended for fans of short fiction, as a way to keep a finger on the pulse of what's best in contemporary SFF.

The fun of reading anthologies , especially those claiming to be the year's best, is the diversity of stories the reader get to peruse. The reader gets an introduction to new authors, new situations, and maybe stretch their reading tastes. The problem with this volume is the sheer number of tales included. Almost three dozen stories strains the reader's credulity that these are all "year's best" tales. Some are good. Some are memorable. And some are just worth dipping into to see if you should just skip to the next one. So, when you read this volume, just remember that your enjoyment will vary.