The Good New Stuff · Adventure SF in the Grand Tradition

The Good New Stuff · Adventure SF in the Grand Tradition

This is the second of two companion anthologies that chronicle the history of the SF adventure story. With this book, editor Gardner Dozois is attempting to disprove the old adage that "they don't write 'em like that anymore." Which, of course, they do, as writers like Peter F. Hamilton, Michael Swanwick, George Turner, and John Varley amply demonstrate in these pages. The selections here date from 1977 to 1998, although Dozois has limited himself by omitting subgenres such as cyberpunk, military SF, and even hard SF. While this makes the *The Good New Stuff* somewhat dubious as a historical overview of the adventure SF field, it allows Dozois to uncover some real gems that might otherwise have gone overlooked, including a couple of stories first published in the Brit-lit SF magazine *Interzone*. It's safe to say that in the hands of authors like Robert Reed, Walter Jon Williams, and Stephen Baxter, the grand tradition of SF is alive and well. *--Craig E. Engler*

Contents

Preface (The Good New Stuff) • (1999) • essay by Gardner Dozois

Good-Bye, Robinson Crusoe • [Eight Worlds] • (1977) • novelette by John Varley

The Way of Cross and Dragon • (1979) • novelette by George R. R. Martin

Swarm • [Shaper/Mechanist] • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling

The Blind Minotaur • (1985) • shortstory by Michael Swanwick

The Blabber • [Zones of Thought] • (1988) • novella by Vernor Vinge

The Return of the Kangaroo Rex • [Mirabile] • (1989) • novelette by Janet Kagan

Prayers on the Wind • (1991) • novella by Walter Jon Williams

The Missionary's Child • (1992) • novelette by Maureen F. McHugh

Poles Apart • [Trimus] • (1992) • novella by G. David Nordley

Guest of Honor • (1993) • novelette by Robert Reed

Flowering Mandrake • (1994) • novelette by George Turner

Cilia-of-Gold • (1994) • novelette by Stephen Baxter

Gone to Glory • (1995) • novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson

A Dry, Quiet War • (1996) • novelette by Tony Daniel

All Tomorrow's Parties • (1997) • shortstory by Paul J. McAuley

Escape Route • [Confederation Universe Stories] • (1997) • novella by Peter F. Hamilton

The Eye of God • (1998) • novelette by Mary Rosenblum