Book excerpt: “Ellen Datlow is the queen of anthology editors in America.”—Peter Straub With original stories by Jeffrey Ford, Pat Cadigan, Elizabeth Bear, Margo Lanagan, and others From Del Rey Books and award-winning editor Ellen Datlow, two of the most respected names in science fiction and fantasy, comes a collection of fifteen all-new short stories, plus a science fiction novella, that could count as a virtual “best of the year” anthology. Here you will find slyly twisted alternate histories, fractured fairy tales, topical science fiction, and edgy urban fantasy. In “Daltharee,” World Fantasy Award–winning author Jeffrey Ford spins a chilling tale of a city in a bottle—and the demented genius who put it there. In “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall,” John W. Campbell Award–winning author Elizabeth Bear pens a poignant and eerie requiem for the heavyweight forever associated with his controversial loss to Cassius Clay. From hot new writer Margo Lanagan comes “The Goosle,” a dark, astonishing take on Hansel and Gretel. In the novella “Prisoners of the Action,” Paul McAuley and Kim Newman take a trip down a rabbit hole that leads to a Guantanamo-like prison whose inmates are not just illegal but extraterrestrial. Many of the writers you’ll recognize. Others you may not. But one thing is certain: These stars of today and tomorrow demonstrate that the field of speculative fiction is not only alive and well—it’s better than ever. PLUS TWELVE MORE STORIES “The Elephant Ironclads” by Jason Stoddard “Ardent Clouds” by Lucy Sussex “Gather” by Christopher Rowe “North American Lake Monsters” by Nathan Ballingrud “All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World” by Carol Emshwiller “Special Economics” by Maureen F. McHugh “Aka St. Mark’s Place” by Richard Bowes “Shira” by Lavie Tidhar “The Passion of Azazel” by Barry N. Malzberg “The Lagerstätte” by Laird Barron “Gladiolus Exposed” by Anna Tambour “Jimmy” by Pat Cadigan