The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Volume 2 Read online

  PREVIOUS ANTHOLOGIES FROM Fantasy & Science Fiction

  Edited by Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction (1952)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Second Series (1953)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Third Series (1954)

  Edited by Anthony Boucher

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Fourth Series (1955)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Fifth Series (1956)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Sixth Series (1957)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Seventh Series (1958)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Eighth Series (1959)

  Edited by Robert P. Mills

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Ninth Series (1960)

  A Decade of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1960)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Tenth Series (1961)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Eleventh Series (1962)

  Edited by Avram Davidson

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Twelfth Series (1963)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Thirteenth Series (1964)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Fourteenth Series (1965)

  Edited by Edward L. Ferman

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Fifteenth Series (1966)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Sixteenth Series (1967)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Seventeenth Series (1968)

  Once and Future Tales from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1968)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Eighteenth Series (1969)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Nineteenth Series (1971)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: 20th Series (1973)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: 22nd Series (1977)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: 23rd Series (1980)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: A 30 Year Retrospective (1980)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: 24th Series (1982)

  The Best Fantasy Stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1986)

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: A 40th Anniversary Anthology (1989)

  Oi, Robot: Competitions and Cartoons from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1995)

  Edited by Edward L. Ferman and Robert P. Mills

  Twenty Years of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1970)

  Edited by Annette Peltz McComas

  The Eureka Years: Boucher and McComas’s Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 1949–1954 (1982)

  Edited by Edward L. Ferman and Anne Devereaux Jordan

  The Best Horror Stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1988)

  Edited by Edward L. Ferman and Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: A 45th Anniversary Anthology (1994)

  Edited by Edward L. Ferman and Gordon Van Gelder

  The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: The 50th Anniversary Anthology (1999)

  Edited by Gordon Van Gelder

  One Lamp: Alternate History Stories from Fantasy & Science Fiction (2003)

  In Lands That Never Were: Swords & Sorcery Stories from Fantasy & Science Fiction (2004)

  Fourth Planet from the Sun: Tales of Mars from Fantasy & Science Fiction (2005)

  The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction: Sixtieth Anniversary Anthology (2009)

  THE VERY BEST OF

  FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION

  VOLUME 2

  Edited by Gordon Van Gelder

  THE VERY BEST OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, VOLUME 2

  COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY GORDON VAN GELDER

  FOREWORD COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY GORDON VAN GELDER

  INTRODUCTION COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY MICHAEL DIRDA

  THIS IS A COLLECTED WORK OF FICTION. ALL EVENTS PORTRAYED IN THIS BOOK ARE FICTITIOUS AND ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL PEOPLE OR EVENTS IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK OR PORTIONS THEREOF IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

  COVER ART AND DESIGN COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY THOMAS CANTY

  INTERIOR DESIGN COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY JOHN COULTHART

  TACHYON PUBLICATIONS

  1459 18TH STREET #139

  SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107

  WWW.TACHYONPUBLICATIONS.COM

  [email protected]

  SERIES EDITOR: JACOB WEISMAN

  PROJECT EDITOR: JILL ROBERTS

  BOOK ISBN 13: 978-1-61696-163-3

  EBOOK ISBNS:

  (EPUB) 978-1-61696-184-8

  (KINDLE) 978-1-61696-185-5

  (PDF) 978-1-61696186-2

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES BY WORZALLA

  FIRST EDITION: 2014

  9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  For Jacob, Rina, and Jill

  ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS MADE FOR PERMISSION TO PRINT THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL:

  “The Third Level” by Jack Finney. Copyright © 1950 by the Crowell Collier Publishing Company, 1957, renewed 1985 by Jack Finney. Reprinted by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc.

  “The Cosmic Expense Account” by C. M. Kornbluth. Copyright © 1956 by C. M. Kornbluth. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 1956. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Curtis Brown Ltd.

  “The Country of the Kind” by Damon Knight. Copyright © 1956 by Damon Knight. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 1956. Reprinted by permission of the author’s estate.

  “The Anything Box” by Zenna Henderson. Copyright © 1956 by Zenna Henderson. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October. 1956. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Virginia Kidd Literary Agency.

  “The Prize of Peril” by Robert Sheckley. Copyright © 1958 by Robert Sheckley. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, May 1958. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, the Donald Maass Literary Agency.

  “‘—All You Zombies—’” by Robert A. Heinlein. Copyright © 1959 by Robert A. Heinlein. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March 1959. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, the Spectrum Literary Agency.

  “A Kind of Artistry” by Brian W. Aldiss. Copyright © 1962 by Brian W. Aldiss. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1962. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Green Magic” by Jack Vance. Copyright © 1963. Copyright renewed 2000 by Jack Vance. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, June 1963. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, the Lotts Agency.

  “Narrow Valley” by R. A. Lafferty. Copyright © 1966 by R. A. Lafferty. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, September. 1966. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Virginia Kidd Literary Agency.

  “Sundance” by Robert Silverberg. Copyright © 1969 by Agberg Ltd. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, June 1969. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Attack of the Giant Baby” by Kit Reed. Copyright © 1975 by Kit Reed. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January. 1976. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Hundredth Dove” by Jane Yolen. Copyright © 1977 by Mercury Press. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April. 1977. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Curtis Brown Ltd.

  “J
effty Is Five” by Harlan Ellison®. Copyright © 1977 by The Kilimanjaro Corporation, renewed © 2005. All rights reserved. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1977. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Salvador” by Lucius Shepard. Copyright © 1984 by Lucius Shepard. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1984. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything” by George Alec Effinger. Copyright © 1984 by George Alec Effinger. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1984. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Richard Curtis Associates, Inc.

  “Rat” by James Patrick Kelly. Copyright © 1986 by James Patrick Kelly. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, June 1986. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Friendship Light” by Gene Wolfe. Copyright © 1989 by Gene Wolfe. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1989. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agents, Virginia Kidd Literary Agency.

  “The Bone Woman” by Charles de Lint. Copyright © 1993 by Charles de Lint. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, August 1993. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Lincoln Train” by Maureen F. McHugh. Copyright © 1995 by Maureen McHugh. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1995. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Maneki Neko” by Bruce Sterling. Copyright © 1998 by Bruce Sterling. First published in Hayakawa's SF in 1998. Published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, May 1998. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Winemaster” by Robert Reed. Copyright © 1999 by Mercury Press, Inc. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1999. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Suicide Coast” by M. John Harrison. Copyright © 1999 by M. John Harrison. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1999. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Have Not Have” by Geoff Ryman. Copyright © 2001 by Geoff Ryman. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 2001. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The People of Sand and Slag” by Paolo Bacigalupi. Copyright © 2004 by Spilogale, Inc. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 2004. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Echo” by Elizabeth Hand. Copyright © 2005 Spilogale, Inc. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/ November 2005. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates” by Stephen King. Copyright © 2008 by Stephen King. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/ November 2008. Reprinted by arrangement with the author.

  “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu. Copyright © 2011 by Ken Liu. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, May/June 2011. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  Foreword GORDON VAN GELDER

  Introduction MICAHEL DIRDA

  The Third Level JACK FINNEY

  The Cosmic Expense Account C. M. KORNBLUTH

  The Country of the Kind DAMON KNIGHT

  The Anything Box ZENNA HENDERSON

  The Prize of Peril ROBERT SHECKLEY

  “‘—All You Zombies—’” ROBERT A. HEINLEIN

  A Kind of Artistry BRIAN W. ALDISS

  Green Magic JACK VANCE

  Narrow Valley R. A. LAFFERTY

  Sundance ROBERT SILVERBERG

  The Attack of the Giant Baby KIT REED

  The Hundredth Dove JANE YOLEN

  Jeffty Is Five HARLAN ELLISON®

  Salvador LUCIUS SHEPARD

  The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything GEORGE ALEC EFFINGER

  Rat JAMES PATRICK KELLY

  The Friendship Light GENE WOLFE

  The Bone Woman CHARLES DE LINT

  The Lincoln Train MAUREEN F MCHUGH

  Maneki Neko BRUCE STERLING

  Winemaster ROBERT REED

  Suicide Coast M. JOHN HARRISON

  Have Not Have GEOFF RYMAN

  The People of Sand and Slag PAOLO BACIGALUPI

  Echo ELIZABETH HAND

  The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates STEPHEN KING

  The Paper Meagerie KEN LIU

  Foreword

  GORDON VAN GELDER

  My nickname for this book is “F&SF’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2,” which has prompted several of the contributors to suggest getting Ed Ferman, Kris Rusch, and me to put on sweaters, sit by a fireplace, and read poorly scripted infomercial copy about how we love curling up with old favorites. Then the book’s table of contents scrolls up the screen over moody clips of writers reading their own work while David Bowie’s “Golden Years” plays. (Is there a rendition of that song on the theremin?)

  But let us banish all thoughts of infomercials to the nether plane where they belong. What we have here is proof that The Very Best of F&SF, the anthology I assembled five years ago, barely lives up to its title. When you’ve got more than six decades’ worth of material from which to choose, you’re never going to fit all the finest works in one volume. (Or two, for that matter.)

  But here in the second volume, I’ve tried to assemble a good representation of the magazine’s whole history, from the “Eureka Years” when Tony, Mick, Phyllis, and Annette established the magazine’s standards, on through the second decade of the twenty-first century, when I’ve done my best to maintain them.

  The last five years have not been an era of big changes. We’ve switched from a monthly publishing schedule to bi-monthly and electronic publishing is a bigger part of our endeavor, but by and large, F&SF continues to do what it has done since 1949: publish the best works of speculative fiction that it can. And every once in a while, we collect the best of the best into a book.

  Here’s hoping you enjoy the nightmares, speculations, and flights of fancy assembled here.

  —Gordon Van Gelder

  Introduction

  MICHAEL DIRDA

  (THIS INTRODUCTION CONTAINS NO SPOILERS.)

  Not long ago, I met a young man at a literary festival who told me he was an ardent science fiction fan. He even showed me the words “Use the Force” tattooed on his upper arm. Naturally, he’d read Kurt Vonnegut and Phil Dick and Neil Gaiman. I’m sure he must have seen The Avengers and Iron Man, watched A Game of Thrones and the latest Star Trek movie.

  As we chatted, he casually asked me about my favorite science fiction novels. I reeled off a few titles, almost at random: The Time Machine, Last and First Men, The Stars My Destination, More Than Human, Double Star, Pavane, The Left Hand of Darkness…I paused. He was shaking his head, looking distraught. He hadn’t read a single one.

  Sigh.

  So I told him the plot of The Stars My Destination and watched as he grew more and more excited. “I’ve got to read that. It sounds really amazing.” I said it was all that and more. He made me repeat my little list of novels and carefully wrote them down on a bar napkin. “I’m going to look for these.”

  I hope he does.

  Having taught occasionally at various colleges and universities, I’ve grown increasingly distressed over a widespread “presentism” among young people. English majors know the hot authors of the moment—whether Raymond Carver or Lorrie Moore, Cormac McCarthy or Gary Shteyngart—and well they should. But venture beyond the twenty or thirty most familiar names, or mention slightly unusual writers, such as Wilkie Collins or Stella Gibbons or Ford Madox Ford, and you will have entered what is for them terra incognita. Yet how can you love English literature, let alone major in it, while ignoring The Woman in White, perhaps the greatest “sensation” novel of the nineteenth century, or the hilarious Cold Comfort Farm, one of the world’s best comic novels, or The Good Soldier, with its famous opening sentence: “This is the saddest story I have ever heard”?

  Stick with me for a moment longer. We are coming round to the sup
erb anthology you now hold in your hands.

  For a long time science fiction and fantasy fans were pretty much expected to know the classics and past masters of the field. And, if they didn’t, at least they wanted to. But in recent years some writers and readers have announced that they see no need to be familiar with the works of, say, Robert A. Heinlein. One of those old pulp writers, wasn’t he? Misogynistic and militaristic, too. Who needs him?

  This is roughly like saying, “William Faulkner, didn’t he write about hillbillies and Southern degenerates?”

  The great works of literature—and by literature I mean science fiction and fantasy, as well as horror and children’s books and crime novels and all the more canonical suspects—are not old or fusty or out of date or corny or irrelevant. We read the classics because they continue to deliver esthetic pleasure, because they illuminate our human experience, because they show us how varied and marvelous verbal artistry can be. Most of all, we read these stories because they are extraordinary and wonderful.

  Which is also what this anthology is, i.e., extraordinary and wonderful.

  Fantasy & Science Fiction has been publishing exceptional imaginative fiction for almost two-thirds of a century. While there have been other terrific magazines in the field, F&SF nonetheless possesses a special cachet, in part because it has showcased so many ground-breaking and influential works. Volume 1 of this two-part “Greatest Hits” collection features, to name just four examples, “Flowers for Algernon,” “Harrison Bergeron,” “The Deathbird,” and “One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts.” I would hope that there’s no real need to name the authors. If you don’t already know these stories and who wrote them, you have been missing out. Or, to put it another, more positive way, you are in for a treat.

  The same goes for the contents of this new volume, which is just as good as its predecessor. Here, for instance, is the greatest time-paradox story ever written, “ ‘—All You Zombies—’ ” by none other than Robert A. Heinlein. A young writer or would-be writer could learn a lot about plotting by analyzing these dazzling, dizzying, Escher-like few pages. In “The Country of the Kind”—a shocking and heartbreaking parable about loneliness and alienation—Damon Knight reveals the cruelty of a supposedly humane society, and how achingly pitiable a monster can be. Just as powerful, in its way, is Jane Yolen’s “The Hundredth Dove,” a fairy tale so perfect you’ll think you’ve known it all your life.