Year's Best Weird Fiction

[Mad Madison]

Published 10.7.14

Year's Best Weird Fiction

ISBN:9780981317755

Quote

Welcome to the weird! Acclaimed author and editor Laird Barron, one of weird fiction's brightest exponents, brings his expert eye and editorial sense to the inaugural volume of the Year's Best Weird Fiction. No longer the purview of esoteric readers, weird fiction is enjoying wide popularity. Chiefly derived from early 20th-century pulp fiction, its remit includes ghost stories, the strange and macabre, the supernatural, fantasy, myth, philosophical ontology, ambiguity, and a healthy helping of the outre. At its best, weird fiction is an intersecting of themes and ideas that explore and subvert the Laws of Nature. It is not confined to one genre, but is the most diverse and welcoming of all genres. Hence, in this initial showcase of weird fiction you will discover tales of horror, fantasy, science fiction, the supernatural, and the macabre. Contributing authors include Jeffrey Ford, Sofia Samatar, Joseph S. Pulver Sr, John Langan, Richard Gavin, and W. H. Pugmire.

[Fenris Technique]

I downloaded the sample from Amazon and . . . wasn't sold. This pains me because I love weird fiction, and Laird Barron is among my favorite authors writing today.

Does anyone who has read the book feel like sharing their opinions on it? That's the curse of anthologies, if the sample text doesn't connect with a reader then the rest of the work, no matter how fabulous, goes unread. Editors must know this, so I always assume they put their strongest pieces up front . . . but maybe I'm wrong?

[Mad Madison]

Quote Originally Posted by Fenris Technique

Does anyone who has read the book feel like sharing their opinions on it?

I'll have a copy by Wednesday; I'll report back after reading a handful of the stories.

[ChildofOldLeech]

- I read it a couple weeks ago; although it is to be sure something of a mixed bag, I enjoyed and would recommend it. It starts out strong with a tale from Simon Strantzas (which suffered only from an ending that was just a touch too ambiguous), I found the dystopian sci-fi story from Chen Quifan engrossing, and I really enjoyed Sofia Somatar's oneiric Hoffman-inspired piece, which possessed an aura of the old-school european fantastique which I loved. There was good work from Gavin and Langan as usual, and as well as a couple of strong selections taken from Grimscribe's Puppets. Some of the best was saved for last, with John Fultz's gothic steampunk story set in a wonderfully realized landscape redolent of decadence and decay and reminiscent of 'Dr. Voke/Mr. Veech', the Quays' Street of Crocodiles, and Viriconium. For me, the highest note was struck at the end with Jeff Vandermeer's contribution, perhaps the best thing I've ever read by him, a genuinely nightmarish apocalyptic phantasmagoria that beggars description, but brings to mind Edward Gorey, Mervyn Peake and Lovecraft; quite amazing, and pretty much worth purchasing for that alone.

[david]

I really enjoyed it. There were a few stories I wasn't crazy about but there were a lot that I really enjoyed (like the ones ChildofOldLeech mentions). Here's my full review:

http://weirdfictionreview.com/2014/0...on-volume-one/

[Nemonymous]

I have completed my detailed review of this book: Year Volume One | DF LEWIS DREAMCATCHER REVIEWS
A good anthology but I fail to understand the rationale behind its title.

[Fenris Technique]

Well, you guys convinced me to take the plunge so I'm making my way through a paperback copy now. Just finished up “Olimpia’s Ghost” by Sofia Samatar . . . did that tale strike anyone else as Ligotti-esque?

[hopfrog]

I was deeply honour'd to have a story selected by Laird for this magnificent anthology. Don't know if I think my story actually belonged in a Year's Best anthology, but overjoy'd nonetheless. And it really pleases me to see that readers and reviewers are beginning to see those other writers who have so influenced my fiction: Clark Ashton Smith, Oscar Wilde, Robert W. Chambers. It will shock me if anything of mine is selected for any future volume.

[Fenris Technique]

Haven't gotten to your story yet, hopfrog, but looking forward to it. As a fellow scribbler in the Seattle area I'm always happy to see someone from the home team achieving success. When Laird Barron puts you in a "Best Of" anthology, I'd consider that an unqualified success. Well done!