The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourth Annual Collection is a 1987 anthology featuring 21 science fiction stories selected by Gardner Dozois from works published in 1986. The collection won the Locus Award for best anthology and marks the fourth installment in this influential series of annual compilations. The anthology includes works from established authors like Orson Scott Card, Robert Silverberg, and Connie Willis, alongside emerging voices of the era. Each story is preceded by a brief introduction from Dozois, and the book opens with his comprehensive summation of the science fiction field in 1986. Notable entries span a range of science fiction approaches, from Card's alternative history "Hatrack River" to Pat Cadigan's cyberpunk tale "Pretty Boy Crossover" and Tim Powers' "Night Moves." The book also includes a detailed list of honorable mentions that provides additional context for the year in science fiction. The collection captures the diverse storytelling approaches and thematic concerns of mid-1980s science fiction, with stories exploring technological change, human identity, and alternate realities. This volume helps document the evolution of the genre during a period of significant stylistic transformation.

Readers describe the anthology as having high-quality stories selected with care. Reviewers note the thorough introduction that analyzes science fiction trends from 1986. Readers highlight: - Mix of established authors and newer voices - Diverse range of story styles and themes - Comprehensive summaries before each story - Strong cyberpunk entries Common criticisms: - Several stories feel dated by modern standards - Uneven quality across the collection - Some selections are too experimental - Length of certain stories Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (108 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 reviews) Multiple reviewers specifically mention "R&R" by Lucius Shepard and "Surviving" by Judith Moffett as standout stories. A frequent comment is that the collection provides a good snapshot of mid-1980s science fiction, though some readers note the anthology's experimental selections may not appeal to traditional SF fans.

The Very Best of the Best: 35 Years of The Year's Best Science Fiction by Gardner Dozois A companion volume that spans three decades of science fiction short stories selected by the same editor.

The Big Book of Science Fiction by Ann, Jeff VanderMeer This anthology presents science fiction stories from the twentieth century, including works from international authors and overlooked voices.

Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century by Orson Scott Card The collection spans major movements in science fiction through carefully selected stories from 1900s through 1990s.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One by Robert Silverberg These stories were voted as the greatest science fiction short works prior to 1965 by the Science Fiction Writers of America.

Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison This groundbreaking anthology collects stories that challenged conventional science fiction boundaries when first published in 1967.

🔸 Gardner Dozois edited an astounding 35 volumes of "The Year's Best Science Fiction" series from 1984 until his death in 2018, making it one of the longest-running and most respected SF anthology series. 🔸 Before becoming a renowned editor, Dozois won two Nebula Awards for his own short fiction writing, demonstrating his deep understanding of the craft from both sides of the publishing desk. 🔸 1986, the year this collection covers, saw the release of significant sci-fi films like "Aliens" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," reflecting the genre's growing mainstream appeal. 🔸 The anthology series was instrumental in launching careers of numerous science fiction writers, with many authors considering inclusion in a Dozois anthology as a major career milestone. 🔸 Dozois's detailed introductions and annual summaries of the state of science fiction became so respected that they were considered essential reading for industry professionals and are still cited in academic works about the genre.