Hartwell is back with his fourth annual high-powered collection of the year's most inventive, entertaining, and awe-inspiring science fiction. In short, the best.Here are stories from today's top name authors, plus exciting newcomers, all eager to land you on exotic planets, introduce you to strange new life forms, and show you scenes more amazing than anything you've imagined.So sit back and blast off for an amazing trip withStephen Baxter Gregory Benford David Brin Nancy Kress Bruce Sterling Michael Swanwick and many more...Contentsix • Introduction (Year's Best SF 4) • (1999) • essay by David G. Hartwell1 • Market Report • (1998) • novelette by Alexander Jablokov31 • A Dance to Strange Musics • (1998) • novelette by Gregory Benford65 • The Year of the Mouse • (1998) • shortstory by Norman Spinrad75 • The Day Before They Came • (1998) • shortstory by Mary Soon Lee83 • This Side of Independence • (1998) • shortstory by Rob Chilson103 • The Twelfth Album • (1998) • shortstory by Stephen Baxter119 • Story of Your Life • (1998) • novella by Ted Chiang183 • Whiptail • (1998) • shortstory by Robert Reed209 • The Eye of God • (1998) • novelette by Mary Rosenblum243 • Rules of Engagement • (1998) • novelette by Michael F. Flynn269 • Radiant Doors • (1998) • shortstory by Michael Swanwick291 • Unravelling the Thread • (1998) • shortstory by Jean-Claude Dunyach (variant of Déchiffrer la trame 1997)303 • That Thing Over There • (1998) • shortstory by Dominic Green323 • The Allies • (1998) • novelette by Mark S. Geston377 • My Pal Clunky • (1998) • shortstory by Ron Goulart397 • Life in the Extreme • [Uplift Universe] • (1998) • shortstory by David Brin417 • Near Enough to Home • (1998) • shortstory by Michael Skeet437 • A Game of Consequences • (1998) • shortstory by David Langford451 • State of Nature • (1998) • shortstory by Nancy Kress461 • Maneki Neko • (1998) • shortstory by Bruce Sterling

    Moon Flight is a collection of over 100,000 words of fiction, Short stories both from the two previous published collections, as well as from uncollected short fiction, the best of work from the breadth of her 15+ year career, and a brand new story set in the Vatta universe. Her fiction spans the gamut from military science fiction to cutting edge stories biotechnology, to heartfelt examinations of politics and social issues.Contents: Introduction (Moon Flights) (2007) • essay by Anne McCaffrey If Nudity Offends You (1988) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Gifts [Paksenarrion Universe] (2004) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon Politics (1990) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon And Ladies of the Club [Ladies' Aid & Armor Society • 1] (1995) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Accidents Don't Just Happen - They're Caused (1996) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon New World Symphony (1989) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon No Pain, No Gain [Ladies' Aid & Armor Society • 2] (1998) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Tradition (1998) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon Fool's Gold [Ladies' Aid & Armor Society • 3] (1999) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Judgment (2003) / novella by Elizabeth Moon Gravesite Revisited (1988) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Sweet Charity [Ladies' Aid & Armor Society • 4] (2000) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon Welcome to Wheel Days (1989) / novelette by Elizabeth Moon Say Cheese [Vatta's War] (2007) / short story by Elizabeth Moon Fencing In (1993) / short fiction by Elizabeth Moon.

    Ranging from the prophetic to the surreal, these stories demonstrate Stanislaw Lem's vast talent and remarkable ability to blend meaning and magic into a wholly entertaining and captivating work.

    Le Guin is one of the greatest science fiction writers and many times the winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Her career as a novelist was launched by the three novels contained in Worlds Of Exile And Illusion. These novels, Rocannon's World, Planet Of Exile, and City Of Illusions, are set in the same universe as Le Guin's ground-breaking classic, The Left Hand Of Darkness.Tor is pleased to return these previously unavailable works to print in this attractive new edition.

    Some of Samatar’s weird and tender fabulations spring from her life and her literary studies; some spring from the world, some from the void.