The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction
and Fantasy: Sixteen Original Works
by Speculative Fictions Finest Voices
An Excellent Speculative Anthology
“Ellen Datlow is the queen of anthology editors in America.”
–Peter Straub
With original stories by Jeffrey Ford, Pat Cadigan, Elizabeth Bear, Margo
Lanagan, and others
From Del Rey Books and award-winning editor Ellen Datlow, two of the
most respected names in science fiction and fantasy, comes a collection of

fifteen all-new short stories, plus a science fiction novella, that could count
as a virtual “best of the year” anthology. Here you will find slyly twisted
alternate histories, fractured fairy tales, topical science fiction, and edgy
urban fantasy.
In “Daltharee,” World Fantasy Award-winning author Jeffrey Ford spins a
chilling tale of a city in a bottle–and the demented genius who put it there.
In “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall,” John W. Campbell Award-winning author
Elizabeth Bear pens a poignant and eerie requiem for the heavyweight
forever associated with his controversial loss to Cassius Clay. From hot
new writer Margo Lanagan comes “The Goosle,” a dark, astonishing take
on Hansel and Gretel. In the novella “Prisoners of the Action,” Paul
MccAuley and Kim Newman take a trip down a rabbit hole that leads to a
Guantanamo-like prison whose inmates are not just illegal but
extraterrestrial.
Many of the writers you’ll recognize. Others you may not. But one thing is
certain: These stars of today and tomorrow demonstrate that the field of
speculative fiction is not only alive and well–it’s better than ever.
Personal Review: The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and
Fantasy: Sixteen Original Works by Speculative Fictions Finest
Voices
THE DEL REY BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY edited by
Ellen Datlow is a very different kind of speculative fiction anthology. As Ms.
Datlow indicates in the preface, you won't find a lot of space opera or
sword and sorcery in this book.
It opens with a superb alternate history by Jason Stoddard. In "The
Elephant Ironclads" two young friends, Niyol and Wallace, come across
two men seeking plutonium, which is considered "the heart of the
mountain" in Dinetah. In a short span of time, the boys learn that life is
about tough choices, progress may also mean sacrifice, and being a hero
requires more than either of them imagined. It's a story that questions the
values of contemporary society: What if our cultural myths are true? How
would we view our current lifestyles if directly faced with the values of the
past?
Lucy Sussex's "Ardent Clouds" is an interesting soft science fiction story
about a young woman's self-destructive tendencies and thirst for
adventure, and the repercussions of her disregard for her own safety. It
comes across as a dramatic peek into the lives of volcanologists and
adventurers. The characters are real, and the story ends with an expected
dose of reality that seems to be a challenge to the standards of typical
action/adventure stories.

One of my favorite stories in the collection is "The Lagerstatte" by Laird
Barron. It's a chilling, non-linear ghost story that starts off slowly, giving the
reader some necessary background information. But there is a gradual pull
as it begins to wrap the reader in a tight blanket of the main character's
darkness and suffering. Danni is a woman on the edge after losing her
husband and son to a tragic accident. Her best friend encourages her to
seek help, first in the form of an anti-suicide twelve-step program, then in
the form of one-on-one therapy. Neither seems to help, and when one of
the women in her twelve-step program introduces her to mystical forces,
she unlocks a door that she can't -- or won't -- close. The writing style is
dense and allows you to feel how the character is steadily suffocating
beneath the weight of guilt, grief, and the invitations of death. It's a
powerful story, sure to please.
"Special Economics" by Maureen F. McHugh is an engaging tale about two
young women in China trying to make a living after the bird flu wipes out a
large part of the population. Corporations like New Life exploit the situation
and use people essentially as slaves, putting those that work for them in
debt. The main character, Jieling, is savvy and finds a loophole in the
rules. This is another soft science fiction/alternate history tale that deals
with the politics of the day, and it's a very good read.
There are also many other fine stories in the anthology. Jeffrey Ford's
"Daltharee" deals with the familiar subject of the Scientist-as-God and the
potential consequences. "Jimmy" by Pat Cadigan is an interesting coming-
of-age fantasy/science fiction tale about what it's like for people who are
different, people who know too much. It revolves around two young friends
growing up during a turbulent time in the 60's and the events that force
them to grow up too fast. "Shira" is a fascinating and controversial fantasy/
science fiction/alternate history story by Lavie Tidhar. "The Goosle" by
Margo Lanagan is a brutal, horrifying fairy tale based on Hansel and
Gretel. Although well-written, it is a graphic depiction of violence and child
abuse at its worst. Elizabeth Bear's "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall" is a
fantasy that deals with the real-life problems and possible sacrifices of
those on the outskirts of history. "North American Lake Monsters" by
Nathan Ballingrud is a fantasy that deals with the fragile relationships and
flaws of a cruel man trying to connect with a family he doesn't know. In "All
Washed Up While Looking for a Better World," Carol Emshwiller creates a
curious tale about a dissatisfied young woman that finds out the grass isn't
always greener on the other side of the shore.
Other stories include "Aka St. Mark's Place" by Richard Bowes, a fantasy
that revolves around the lives of runaways and private investigators;
Christopher Rowe's "Gather" features a child-like man's fascination with
coins and God; Judaism, reincarnation and revenge take center stage in
"The Passion of Azazel" by Barry N. Malzberg; a man is obsessed with
finding the perfect bone specimen in Anna Tambour's "Gladiolus

Exposed"; and "Prisoners of the Action" by Paul McAuley and Kim
Newman is a science fiction tale with a political theme.
All of the stories in the anthology are well-written, and many readers are
also sure to recognize some nods to the masters of speculative fiction, like
Philip K. Dick. But if you're looking to read great, well-written escapist
fiction -- even if you're looking for thought-provoking but light entertainment
-- this book is not for you. If you want to read a well-written anthology of
deep stories that will disturb you, break your heart, wrap your mind in
nightmarish visions, and introduce you to new and subtly strange worlds
just around the corner, then The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and
Fantasy is the kind of work you've been looking for.
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