Comments on: The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror

By: ami

ami — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:54:43 +0000

I have nearly all the volumes and finally got impatient for this year so I did some checking. Not expecting to find this. I hate this. There are and aren’t other best ofs out there. This was the oldest, the most respected, the one you bought if you were in the field because it was the field. Hell, the one you bought when you just dreamed of being in field, or just dreamed. Yes, the summaries kept me coming back, even when I was doubtful after Windling left. Yes, the stories were always wonderful, with one or two per volume that I read over and over again. The only story that ever scared me. The story I wanted to write when I grew up. The story that I had to share with friends. Yes, the ‘also recommended’ lists were great places to hunt down more new favorites.
But the real thing for me was that it meant when times were lean I could just buy one. Now, to get anything close to the depth/breath of story I’d need to buy at least three that I can think of, and will have still given up the summaries. And not a single other antho I can think of carried the weight of a real best of—they’re just collections of stories, rather than an award to aspire towards. I used to give copies as Christmas gifts. There are places to go from here, I’m sure, but they just won’t be home.

By: AF

AF — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:37:43 +0000

I feel like I just lost a friend! I look forward to my YBF&H every year. I found many of my favorite writers that way and found it was a great way for fantasy enthusiasts to come together.

By: Award Season: World Fantasy nominees : Not a journal.

Award Season: World Fantasy nominees : Not a journal. — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:22:32 +0000

[...] in his collection, The Baum Plan, picked up another award nomination, as did the last volume of The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, and Kelly & Gavin were nominated for Small Beer & Big Mouth (what a [...]

By: lcrw

lcrw — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:11:43 +0000

Moe, the book is a labor of love for all involved so it great to see Ellen’s Year’s Best Horror is coming out soon from Night Shade Books. As for the fantasy side, we have had to let it go for now due to other demands. We have no fear of self-publishing if the book seems like a good fit with what we do already. We’ll think about it, but there won’t be one for 2009 from us.

By: moe

moe — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:05:34 +0000

Isn’t there some way to print with a different publisher?

Or even, dare I say it? Self Publish?

I think there are enough loyal readers to make it worthwhile, no?

By: Notes from the Other Side of the World » Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:24:03 +0000

[...] Grant and Kelly Link have announced that there will be no volume of The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror published in 2009. [...]

By: nan fry

nan fry — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:53:58 +0000

I am sad to hear this. I’ve enjoyed and admired this series immensely. The poems and stories were enjoyable/provocative/disturbing/wonderful, and the surveys were awesome. Thanks to Terri, Ellen, Gavin and Kelly, and Jim, and everyone who worked on it. I’m grateful for all the work you did and wish you the best in current and future endeavors.

By: lcrw

lcrw — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:32:05 +0000

Stephanie, David, Gordon, thanks for notes. Ellen has a new anthology series coming from Night Shade starting this year. Kelly and I are sorry to have seen the book go but will be working on other projects this year. Next year? Who knows.

By: Gordon Hackman

Gordon Hackman — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:08:35 +0000

Well, I’m late to the funeral, but I found out the bad news for the first time and I’m seriously bummed. I just discovered this series about 7 years ago and since then I’ve managed to collect every volume. I’m sorry to hear there will be no more. I can’t think of anywhere else where one can find such a broad and unique variety of quality fantasy and horror writing, not to mention such a vast amount of useful information and recommendations collected all in one convenient source. I will be watching for other projects from everyone involved or hoping for some kind of resurrection of the series eventually.

By: Economic doom indeed: Fantasy, SF, and horror publishers and publications scaling back and shutting down « The Teeming Brain

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:01:38 +0000

[...] has just been discontinued by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press (see the announcement at http://lcrw.net/wordpress/?p=768). There’s no indication of the reason, but it does go with the general trend here. [...]