The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 12

The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 12 is a collection of eleven fantasy stories curated by editor Arthur W. Saha, published by DAW Books in 1986. The anthology features works from established authors like Harlan Ellison, Jane Yolen, and Bruce Sterling, originally published in 1985. The stories range from traditional fantasy to experimental works that push genre boundaries. Harlan Ellison's "Paladin of the Lost Hour," which won the Locus Poll Award, anchors the collection alongside contributions from emerging voices of the mid-1980s fantasy scene. This volume continues DAW's annual tradition of showcasing the fantasy genre's standout short fiction, bringing together tales of dragons, memory, castles, and otherworldly adventures. Each story is preceded by a brief introduction from Saha that provides context for the work and author. The collection reflects the evolution of fantasy literature in the 1980s, as authors began exploring more diverse themes and moving beyond traditional sword-and-sorcery frameworks. These stories demonstrate the genre's capacity to address complex human experiences through supernatural and imaginative lenses.

There are very few public reader reviews available for this 1986 fantasy anthology. On Goodreads, it has only 12 ratings with an average of 3.58/5 stars, but no written reviews. No reviews appear on Amazon or other major book review sites. The limited reader feedback focuses on: Likes: - Story selection diversity compared to other fantasy anthologies of the era - Inclusion of both established and newer authors - Quality of Michael Bishop's "The Quickening" and Charles de Lint's contributions Dislikes: - Uneven quality between stories - Some selections feel dated by modern standards Due to its age and limited print run, this anthology has minimal online presence and reader discussion. Most current mentions appear in collector forums rather than review sites. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.58/5 (12 ratings) No other significant rating sources found.

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🔮 The series "The Year's Best Fantasy Stories" ran for an impressive 14 volumes, with Arthur W. Saha editing volumes 6 through 14 📚 Harlan Ellison's "Paladin of the Lost Hour" was later adapted into an episode of the 1985 revival of The Twilight Zone ✍️ Editor Arthur W. Saha was also known for his work on "The Year's Best Horror Stories" series and served as a trusted editor at DAW Books for over two decades 🏆 DAW Books, the publisher, made history as the first publishing company devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy 🗓️ 1985, the year these stories were collected from, marked a significant period in fantasy literature with the publication of Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Night's Daughter" and Roger Zelazny's "Trumps of Doom"