Books: The Year`s Best Science Fiction - 35th Annual Collection By Gardner Dozois

(Drivebycuriosity) - I like science fiction. Unfortunately most science fiction novels disappoint. Therefore I usually skim collections of science fiction short stories in order to find some gems. For many years I have been reading the anthology "The Year`s Best Science Fiction" edited by Gardner Dozois. His compilations have been the market leader for 3 decades and offer a kaleidoscope of plots, ideas and styles. Dozois caters to a lot of different tastes and shows the state of art in science fiction.

I just finished reading his "Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection" which harvests the science fiction year 2017 (the paperback edition, published in July 2018, has 720 pages amazon).  As usual Dozois starts with a lengthy summation of important events, trends and publications in the world of science of fiction in 2016. For each story the author wrote an introduction where he outlines the background and most important works of the presented author.

The collection of 39 stories by different authors has something for almost everyone. I found 12 very strong stories at least, a good quota. I enjoyed the space operas, especially "Night Passage" by Alastair Reynold. The plot is told in first person by the female captain of a space ship. She has to deal with a sudden and unexpected stop on an interstellar flight which causes a dangerous situation. Who did it and why? How to escape the danger? One of the best space operas I have read recently, thrilling and spiced with science. Reynold is a professional scientist with a Ph.D. in astronomy who had worked for the European Space Agency in the Netherlands but belongs now to the most successful sci-fi writers. I also like "The Wordless" by Indrapramit Das, another space opera set on a planet which is used as a transit station for bizarre spaceships. Indian philosophy meets ultra-high tech - very exotic.

I loved the stories about the wonders of technological progress. My favorite there is "A Series of Steaks" by Vina Jie-Min Prasad. The tale is set in a near future Hong-Kong and focuses on Helena, who sees herself as an artist. Helena has an university degree and tries to make a living by producing fake steaks with the help of 3D-Printers, which is strictly illegal and brings her into deep trouble. The story is fresh & original, certainly one of my favorites in this book, I want to read more by Jie-Min Prasad. I was also impressed by “Vanguard 2:0.” by Carter Scholz. An astronaut is working in a space station owned by Uber. He is ordered to capture a historical satellite which is still circling around the earth.  "Vanguard" is a philosophical story about technology, corporation power and political influence

Gardner covers artificial intelligence (AI) of course, maybe the most important sci-fi topic of the present: "Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance" by Tobias S. Buckell is told in first person by a robot with artificial intelligence who does maintenance works on the hull of a space ship. He has to deal with a superior power which causes  a conflict of interests. Very subtle and thought provoking.  "Number Thirty Nine Skink" by Suzanne Palmer is also told in first person by a robot with artificial intelligence. This AI  has the mission to terra-form a freshly discovered planet which leads to surprises.

The collection also deals with alternate history/worlds: “Winter Time Sharer” by Ray Nayler focuses on very special tourists who are visiting a future Istanbul. There is not much happening but I enjoyed Nayler´s style and the atmosphere he creates.

Dozois also covers Cloning:  In "Triceratops" by Ian McHugh  scientists have cloned Neanderthals which causes social tensions.

And there are aliens as well: In "Canoe" by Nancy Kress scientists are exploring a moon in a distant sun system and  are confronted with a cosmic issue.

Gardner covers other interesting topics of course: "The Proving Ground" by Alec Nevala-Lee deals with global warming. The story is set in near-time future on an atoll in the South Pacific. Residents and scientists from abroad are trying to adapt the island to the rising sea level. A sophisticated story about evolution, technology, international law & more with influences by Alfred Hitchcock´s "Birds". “My English Name” by R.S. Benedict is set in contemporary China  and told in first person, but not by a real person. An entity is faking to be a human being (changeling), but has problems doing so.

“An Evening with Severin Grimes” by Rich Larson focuses on a billionaire who got abducted by a group of radical terrorist. A slick near-future thriller

Sadly this is the last edition of these wonderful collections. Gardner Dozois died shortly before the publication. Fortunately many of the 35 editions are still available as Kindle books, for about $10 and less.