The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2023

October 1, 2023
Under the guidance of guest editor Kuang (Babel, 2022), this enduring anthology series maintains its tradition of distinction. This year it strives to showcase stories that commit to their unique premises, captivate readers' imaginations, and create immersive experiences that bridge the gap between the real and the fantastical. The anthology includes authors who appeared in previous years' editions, as well as a debut from Kim Fu, with "Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867," which follows a person's conversation with a simulation operator, seeking to experience time with their deceased mother but facing ethical limitations due to addiction risks, leading them to opt for a different fantasy. Another standout is Kristina Ten, with "Beginnings," where readers follow close friends June and Nat, living on the outskirts of town, whose lives take a drastic turn after a royal barbecue invitation. Overall, this year's anthology emphasizes embracing narrative choices and world building, showcasing stories that wholeheartedly engage with speculative elements. It's a true gem for readers of any genre.

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September 22, 2023

The 20 stories in this collection draw from both science fiction and fantasy, sometimes at the same time, even as the themes range from classic tropes to near futures ripped from today's headlines. On the fantasy side, "The Six Deaths of the Saint" by Alix E. Harrow is a haunting mobius strip of a story, while "Pellargonia: A Letter to the Journal of Imaginary Anthropology" by Theodora Goss rides the line between fantasy and SF when a group of teens deals with the consequences of fully creating a fictional country that becomes real and influences the world. Two frighteningly prescient SF tales, "Rabbit Test" by Samantha Mills and "The CRISPR Cookbook" by MKRNYILGLD, take readers down the rabbit hole of future restrictions on bodily autonomy, while "Murder by Pixel" by S.L. Huang looks into just how toxic AI chatbots can get and who might have made them that way. VERDICT Although all of the stories here have been previously published, this is always a much anticipated collection, and readers of SF/F in short form will be glad to have so many standout stories, some already award-winners, in a single volume.--Marlene Harris

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