Once done with the first 155 pages, the stories begin. Each of the stories in this volume begins with a brief biography of the author, letting curious readers know where they can find more by their favorite hitherto-unknown author. Sitting beside the likes of Stephen King and Ursula K. LeGuin are names that readers might not be so familiar with. The stories chosen from these voices, however, prove that they are worthy to stand beside the giants.
To choose favorites from this massive collection would be very much like trying to pick a favorite brush stroke in a masterpiece. Each story comes together in its own way, with its own voice, giving the reader a veritable smorgasbord to choose from. While all the stories may not be to everyone’s taste, there is at least one story in this book for every reader.
Particular attention must be paid Neil Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald,” Laird Barron’s “Old Virginia,” and Dale Bailey’s “Hunger: A Confession.” Horror poetry is a tricky thing to pull off, and included in this collection are some of the best. “Bone,” by Steve Rasnic Tem proves that it can be done and with an unsettling edge that will convert many.
Overall, The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror is just that, a collection that lives up to its name. With as many twists and turns as one could ask for, it is a welcome part of any reader’s collection.
The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror
(Seventeenth Annual Collection)
Edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, and Gavin J. Grant
St. Martin’s Press, 2004
719 Pages
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