The Minion Master Lays Down the Word

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Okay, so yesterday I wrote:

One of the Best of the Year editors contacted me yesterday to say that two of my stories were being picked up for this year's volume.

I won't specify which editor or which stories because these guys like to keep their lineups close to the vest until they're ready to issue a press release.

And shortly thereafter, Gardner emailed me:

I don't care if you tell people.

--Gardner

To which I replied:

No, no, no.  You're a proud man and quick to anger.  It would be worth my life to cross you in even the slightest way. 

Anonymous

And Gardner counter-replied:

I would send my dread and fell minions out against you!

--Gardner

The man has minions!  No wonder all of science fiction quakes at his slightest frown.
But, luckily, Gardner posted the following on Facebook today:

For those of you who are interested, here's the Table of Contents for my THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, Twenty-Ninth Annual Collection:

THE CHOICE, Paul McAuley

SILENTLY AND VERY FAST, Catherynne M. Valente

THE MAN WHO BRIDGED THE MIST, Kij Johnson

THE ANTS OF FLANDERS, Robert Reed

A SOLDIER OF THE CITY, David Moles

THE INVASION OF VENUS, Stephen Baxter

LAIKA'S GHOST, Karl Schroeder

THE BEANCOUNTER'S CAT, Damien Broderick

THE VICAR OF MARS, Gwyneth Jones

DOLLY, Elizabeth Bear

MARTIAN HEART, John Barnes

ASCENSION DAY, Alastair Reynolds

THE SMELL OF ORANGE GROVES, Lavie Tidhar

AFTER THE APOCALYPSE, Maureen McHugh

A LONG WAY HOME, Jay Lake

WHAT WE FOUND, Gepff Ryman

THE INCREDIBLE EXPLODING MAN, Dave Hutchinson

THE COPENHAGEN INTERPRETATION, Paul Cornell 

THE WAY IT WORKS OUT AND ALL, Peter S. Beagle

THE DALA HORSE, Michael Swanwick

EARTH HOUR, Ken MacLeod

THE ICE OWL, Carolyn Ives Gilman

DIGITAL RITES, Jim Hawkins

CODY, Pat Cadigan

GHOSTWEIGHT, Yoon Ha Lee

A RESPONSE FROM EST17, Tom Purdom

DIGGING, Ian McDonald

A MILITANT PEACE, David Klecha & Tobias S. Bucknell

FOR I HAVE LAID ME DOWN ON THE STONE OF LONELINESS AND I'LL NOT BE BACK AGAIN, Michael Swanwick

THE IRON SHIRTS, Michael Flynn

THE BONELESS ONE, Alec Nevala-Lee

CANTERBURY HOLLOW, Chris Lawson

THE COLD STEP BEYOND, Ian R. Macleod

THE VORKUTA EVENT, Ken MacLeod

DYING YOUNG, Peter M. Ball

So it's probably safe to admit that two of my stories were picked up by Gardner Dozois for his best of the year volume.But just to be safe, I'll be hiding in Undisclosed Subterranean Location with a year's supply of food and a surplus minion costume to help me escape any sudden attacks.  Just in case.Above: Miss Helen Hope Mirrlees is not in the least impressed by any of this.*