Holly Black - The Years Best Dark Fantasy & Horror: 2011

THE YEARS BEST
DARK FANTASY AND HORROR
2011

Edited by
PAULA GURAN

To Gardner Dozois for (so far) twenty-eight editions of The Years Best Science Fiction and ninety-four other anthologies.

(Thanks for the privilege of compiling the list!)

Copyright 2011 by Paula Guran.

Cover art by Ivan Bliznetsov/Fotolia.

Cover design by Telegraphy Harness.

Ebook design by Neil Clarke.

ISBN: 978-1-60701-322-8 (ebook)

ISBN: 978-1-60701-281-8 (trade paperback)

All stories are copyrighted to their respective authors,and used here with their permission.

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www.prime-books.com

No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means, mechanical, electronic, or otherwise, without first obtaining the permission of the copyright holder.

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by Paula Guran

by Norman Partridge

by John Shirley

by Caitln R. Kiernan

by Steve Duffy

by Maureen McHugh

by Laird Barron

by Margo Lanagan

by Peter Atkins

by Joe R. Lansdale

by M.L.N. Hanover

by Sarah Langan

by Tanith Lee

by Stephen Graham Jones

by Jay Lake

by Angela Slatter

by Neil Gaiman

by Simon R. Green

by Gene Wolfe

by M.K. Hobson

by Steve Berman

by Ekaterina Sedia

by Michael Skeet

by Lynda E. Rucker

by Peter Watts

by Sarah Totton

by S.D. Tullis

by Holly Black

by Mike Aronovitz

by Genevieve Valentine

by Tim Powers

by George R.R. Martin

PAULA GURAN

For those of you who missed the introduction (What the Hell Do you Mean by Dark Fantasy? ) to the first volume of this series, and wish to read it, you can find it online at http://www.prime-books.com/intro-ybdfh2010. But, just so youve got the basics, heres the condensed version:

• Dark fantasy isnt universally definedthe definition depends on the context in which the phrase is used or who is elucidating it. You know it when you feel it.
• Darkness itself can be many things: nebulous, shadowy, tenebrous, mysterious, paradoxical (and thus illuminating)...
• A dark fantasy story might be only a bit unsettling or perhaps somewhat eerie. It might be revelatory or baffling. It can be simply a small glimpse of life seen through a glass, darkly.
• Since horror is something we feelits an emotion, an affectwhat each of us experiences, responds, or reacts to differs. What terrifies one may not frighten another.
• Im not offering any definitions. Im merely offering you, the reader, a diverse selection of stories that struck me as fitting the title of this tome. Each of themno matter the style of the writing, theme, or shade of darknessgrabbed me from the start and kept me reading.

This selection of storiesall originally published in 2010presents what I feel is an even wider range than included in last years inaugural edition. There are tales of demons, ghosts, shapeshifters, vampires, zombies, and monsters of several varieties: supernatural, alien, merely human. Youll encounter stories based on myth, folklore, and fairy tale. Find stories with swords (with and without sorcery) and sorcery (with or without swords). Theres also the science fictional, the amusing and quirky, retellings of the known and new tellings of the unknown, journeys into personal darkness and considerations of cosmic terrors. You will find yourself in future dystopias, the past, the present, and in between or outside any precise place in space or time. There are twists, turns, and, of course, terrific writing.

As far as writers: youll be introduced to some new up-and-comers and renew acquaintances with established masters; there are well-known authors and those just beginning to be noted. Some writers are back who were in last years edition. There may even be a few re-introductions: authors youve read previously but havent recently come across.

Of course, this is far from all the best that was published last year, it just skims the surface of an amazing depth of talent currently writing dark fiction and being published in anthologies, collections, and periodicals on paper with ink or in pixels on screens. This year, I had many sources pointed out to me Id not been aware of last year. I look foreword to discovering even more great fiction published in 2011 to consider for the next volume. But Ill continue to need your help finding it. Please keep sending suggestions, pointing out online publications, and submitting published anthologies and periodicals to darkecho@darkecho.com. (I prefer a PDF or Word .doc or RTF. But if you need to snail mail the actual book/magazine, email me for the address.)

One surprise this year was the number of stories from anthologies that made it into the final line-up. I read so many good stories in periodicals, I probably would have saidif asked along the waythat a great many selections this year were going to come from such publications. Then you get down to those final decisions and... you never know until you know. In the end, I chose more anthologized stories than first anticipated.

Andnot really a surprise, but perhaps just one of those things about a particular yearthe length of the stories averaged longer this year. More than a third fall into the longer-than-a-short-story (over 7500 words) but not-quite-a-novella length (starting at around 17,500 words or so) category some term novelette.

As I write this, were already a quarter of the way through 2011. By the time it goes to press, well be more than half way through the yearand Ill be considering short fiction for The Years Best Dark Fantasy and Horror: 2012 . What will it contain? No way to predict yetand not just because the reading goes on (and on). Theres an aspect of defining dark fantasy I didnt mention last year: the Big Picture of the times it is written and read in, the Zeitgeist , societys overall emotional attitude as well as ones personal feelings, reactions, hopes, fears, perceptions. What shade of darkness are we seeing right now?

As I mentioned in the acknowledgements last year for the inaugural volume, the scope, intent, andallow me to addtheme of The Years Best Dark Fantasy and Horror series is unique . Ill note it here this time as a more obvious reminder to those looking to compare it to other years best compilations, past or present, or who are predisposed to assuming it is something it is not. There may be stories here that can be called horror, but this is not a horror anthology per se. Not all of the dark is horrific.

One final note: Anthologies with titles including phrases like Years Best , Best of , Best (fill in the blank) are what they are. When compiling such a volume, no editor can completely and absolutely fulfill the inference of the title. Fiction is not a race to be won, there are no absolutes with which to measure it. Yet Im sure every person who edits a best anthology exerts tremendous effort in a genuine attempt to offer a book worthy of its grandiose moniker. Ultimately, decisions are arrived at with sincere intention, but personal taste is, of course, involved, andlike it or notcompromises must be made.

The job is somewhat onerous but, more often, enjoyable, and in the end, Im sure we all hope you, the readers, find satisfaction in our selections. I know I hope you will.