The 1985 Annual World's Best SF

The 1985 Annual World's Best SF is a collection of ten science fiction stories curated by editors Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha. Published by DAW Books in 1985, it represents the fourteenth volume in their respected anthology series spanning nineteen books. The collection features work from notable authors including Octavia E. Butler, John Varley, Connie Willis, and Tanith Lee. Several stories earned major recognition, with John Varley's "Press Enter []" winning both the Nebula and Hugo Awards for Best Novella, and Lucius Shepard's "Salvador" receiving multiple award nominations and wins. The stories originated from leading science fiction magazines of 1984, including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, as well as select anthologies. Two distinct editions were published - a paperback featuring Frank Kelly Freas cover art and a hardcover Science Fiction Book Club edition with artwork by Richard Powers. The anthology explores themes of human nature, alien contact, and technological advancement through varied narrative approaches. These stories capture a snapshot of science fiction's creative momentum during the mid-1980s, reflecting both the established traditions and emerging directions of the genre.

Readers note this anthology contains a mix of memorable and forgettable stories from 1984. Several reviewers mention "The Lucky Strike" by Kim Stanley Robinson and "The Man Who Had No Idea" by Thomas M. Disch as standouts. Liked: - Strong environmental and social themes throughout - Well-balanced mix of hard SF and character-focused stories - Editorial selections showcase range of 1984's SF offerings Disliked: - Some stories feel dated in their technology predictions - A few reviewers found the pacing slow in several entries - Collection lacks cohesion between stories Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating One reader noted: "Half the stories are worth reading, half are skippable. Robinson's alternate history piece alone justifies the collection." Several reviewers mentioned this as an average entry in Wollheim's "Year's Best" series, neither among the strongest nor weakest volumes.

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🔸 Donald A. Wollheim founded DAW Books in 1971, making it the first major publishing company specializing in science fiction and fantasy to be owned by its publisher rather than being a subsidiary of a larger corporation. 🔸 The anthology features "Press Enter []" by John Varley, which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella in 1985, marking one of the rare instances where a story achieved this double honor. 🔸 Octavia E. Butler, one of the featured authors, became the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 1995, breaking significant ground as an African American woman in the genre. 🔸 The series title "World's Best SF" ran annually from 1965 to 1990, establishing itself as one of the longest-running and most respected year's-best anthology series in science fiction. 🔸 Co-editor Arthur W. Saha worked with Wollheim on the "World's Best SF" series for over a decade, and later became known for introducing many emerging writers who went on to become major figures in the field.