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The Best Science Fiction of the Year 12
Contents (view Concise Listing)
* 1 • Introduction (The Best Science Fiction of the Year #12) • (1983) • essay by Terry Carr
* 5 • The Pope of the Chimps • (1982) • novelette by Robert Silverberg
* 27 • Swarm • [Shaper/Mechanist] • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling
* 55 • Souls • (1982) • novella by Joanna Russ
* 103 • Burning Chrome • (1982) • novelette by William Gibson
* 125 • Farmer on the Dole • (1982) • novelette by Frederik Pohl
* 155 • Meet Me at Apogee • (1982) • novelette by Bill Johnson
* 179 • Sur • (1982) • shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin
* 197 • Understanding Human Behavior • (1982) • novelette by Thomas M. Disch
* 221 • Relativistic Effects • (1982) • novelette by Gregory Benford
* 243 • Firewatch • [Time Travel] • (1982) • novelette by Connie Willis (aka Fire Watch)
* 283 • The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie • [Springfield] • (1982) • shortstory by George Alec Effinger [as by O. Niemand ]
* 293 • With the Original Cast • (1982) • novelette by Nancy Kress
* 323 • When the Fathers Go • (1982) • novelette by Bruce McAllister
* 351 • The Science Fiction Year (1982) • (1983) • essay by Charles N. Brown
* 359 • Recommended Reading - 1982 • (1983) • essay by Terry Carr
* 1 • Introduction (The Best Science Fiction of the Year #12) • (1983) • essay by Terry Carr
* 5 • The Pope of the Chimps • (1982) • novelette by Robert Silverberg
* 27 • Swarm • [Shaper/Mechanist] • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling
* 55 • Souls • (1982) • novella by Joanna Russ
* 103 • Burning Chrome • (1982) • novelette by William Gibson
* 125 • Farmer on the Dole • (1982) • novelette by Frederik Pohl
* 155 • Meet Me at Apogee • (1982) • novelette by Bill Johnson
* 179 • Sur • (1982) • shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin
* 197 • Understanding Human Behavior • (1982) • novelette by Thomas M. Disch
* 221 • Relativistic Effects • (1982) • novelette by Gregory Benford
* 243 • Firewatch • [Time Travel] • (1982) • novelette by Connie Willis (aka Fire Watch)
* 283 • The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie • [Springfield] • (1982) • shortstory by George Alec Effinger [as by O. Niemand ]
* 293 • With the Original Cast • (1982) • novelette by Nancy Kress
* 323 • When the Fathers Go • (1982) • novelette by Bruce McAllister
* 351 • The Science Fiction Year (1982) • (1983) • essay by Charles N. Brown
* 359 • Recommended Reading - 1982 • (1983) • essay by Terry Carr
179 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
1 person is currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Terry Carr
219 books31 followersCarr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley from 1954 to 1959.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 19, 2024
I recently picked this up and wanted to share my thoughts on each story and whether it lives up to the title.
The Pope of the Chimps by Robert Silverberg: This story is about a decades-long scientific study in which chimpanzees who have been taught sign languages for generations are introduced to ideas of theology and mortality. This story was perfect for me because it explores these ideas in a small space. I need to seek out more Silverberg. Rating: 10/10.
Swarm by Bruce Sterling: This story takes place in a future where humanity is divided into two groups: The Shapers, who use genetics to become posthuman, and the Mechanists, who use cybernetics as their path to evolving. The story starts in an alien hive world fashioned out of an asteroid, and two humans, Simon Afriel and Galina Mirny, try to survive there naked, coexisting in the hive ecology of many symbiotic species. I thought this was great and creepy. The ideas are incredibly compelling, and this work exists within a larger universe that Sterling has created, and I'm intrigued to seek more of it. Rating: 9/10
Souls by Joanna Russ: In 12th-century Germany, Radulphus tells the story of Radegunde, abbess of the abbey where he spent his childhood, and of what she did "when the Norsemen came" and of how he discovered her true nature. This was a good novella, but it left me wanting more science fiction elements because the elements revealed towards the end weren't science fiction but fantasy. This character-driven narrative explores gender relations, religious doctrine, and violence through a feminist lens, and it exceeds that. Still, as a work of science fiction, it leaves me feeling hollow. Rating: 7.5/10.
Burning Chrome by William Gibson: Two freelance hackers, Bobby Quine, and Automatic Jack, try to break into the system of a notorious and vicious criminal called Chrome, who handles money transfers for organized crime, while Bobby falls in love with Rikki, who is his motivation for the job. I thought this story was good. Gibson has a way of making you feel like you are there in this futuristic cyberpunk setting. He might have some of the best prose in science fiction. There's more to the setting that you must infer, but overall, this story made me want to seek out more of Gibson's work. Rating: 8/10
Farmer on the Dole by Frederik Pohl: A robot, Zeb, has spent the first part of his life as a soybean farmer, but his owner falls on hard times and sells the farm, forcing his robots to move on. Zeb is sent to Chicago, where he is given a new job as a mugger. Most humans have left the planet, and only a few remain on Earth. The robots are employed to keep society appearing the same as before humanity escaped into space. On two occasions, Zeb violates protocol and mugs a human being. Forced to run from the law, he eventually falls in with other robot malcontents and finds himself at the head of a burgeoning robot liberation march.
I thought this was good. The story had many lines implying a bigger world than what I was reading. The characters were well-rounded and dealt with themes of a slave race rebelling against their oppressors. This story is a small part of a larger book called Midas World that I own. Rating: 8.5/10
Meet Me at Apogee by Bill Johnson is a treasure hunt tale set in orbit around a black hole. A man is hired to help retrieve some religious artifacts from an abandoned spaceship but soon finds himself involved in lethal religious fanaticism and schism. The world-building in this story was incredible in such a limited amount of space, but I had hoped this story leaned more toward cosmic horror, given the setting. However, I did enjoy it despite it. Rating: 7/10
Sur by Ursula K. Le Guin: The story follows an expedition to the South Pole by a group of women from South America from Chile years before the first expedition arrived in 1912. It's an alternate history story written in the form of an unpublished letter. This story could have been more impressive, considering it's by one of my favorite authors who has written many books I love. My lack of knowledge of Antarctica expeditions also hindered my enjoyment. I did like how the story was written. Rating: 6/10
Understanding Human Behavior by Thomas M. Disch: This story is set in a futuristic world where people sometimes have their memories erased to make a fresh start in life. We follow a man who is an erasee trying to come to terms with who he was and who he is now. I loved this story, and I thought it executed on all cylinders. The plot had an intriguing mystery that kept you reading; it was an emotionally charged story. The questions of identity, who we are without our memories, and what it means to be human were explored thoroughly, and the worldbuilding was well-thought-out and a perfect story. Rating: 10/10.
Relativistic Effects by Gregory Benford: This story is about a starship that has lost its ability to stop its voyage, eventually passing whole galaxies as other starships might pass individual stars. The starship accelerates near the speed of light and flies between two galaxies that are about to collide. I thought this story was dull in every aspect, and I didn't finish it. It was clear that this story was about science and how everything worked rather than telling a compelling story. I don't hate Hard SF, but don't seek it out. Nothing else was interesting enough to compel me to finish this story. People who like hard SF might like this. Rating: 4/10.
Fire Watch by Connie Willis: This story is about a student historian from the future, where historians use time travel to study history directly. He had prepared to visit Paul the Apostle in the first century but was sent to St Paul's Cathedral in 1940. He develops a deep emotional attachment to the cathedral. He is highly devoted to his role in defending it – especially due to his bitter knowledge that St. Paul's would survive the World War II bombings but would be obliterated in a terrorist attack nearer to the protagonist's own time.
The story was told in diary entries. I thought this story started off fine because I'm not that in love with the time travel subgenre, but eventually, I grew to enjoy it as the narrator's love of history and desire to preserve the cathedral moved me. There was a small mention of memorizing enhancing technology since he had little time to memorize living in the 1940s. There was no mention of how the narrator travels back in time or what device is used, but this only bothered me a little. The ending was a gut punch. I want to read more, Connie Willis. Rating: 8.5/10.
The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie by O. Niemand (George Alec Effinger): This story is about an officer looking for Beshta Shon, the wealthiest man in the world. This leads to the officer meeting the title character. I thought this was a perfect five. It's not a good story, but I don't think it's a bad story either. There's nothing remarkable about it. This story was basically if O. Henry had written science fiction. Rating: 5/10
With The Original Cast by Nancy Kress: This story was set in a future 1998, where people use a technology called ESIR (Electronically Stimulated Incarnation Recall), which allows actors to become historical figures in theater. We follow a man named Austin who is trying to help a woman named Barbara Bishop play the role of Joan of Arc until they meet a woman named Ann Friedland, who is, in fact, the real Joan of Arc. This story was compelling as the nature of reality and creating art and identity would change how art was made if such a technology existed. It was thought-provoking, similar to today's world, as we discuss the use of AI in the arts. It was quite an emotional story, too, and ended with a hopeful message. Rating: 8.5/10.
When the Fathers Go by Bruce McAllister: This story follows Dorothea, whose husband Jory returns from an interstellar voyage. He has fathered a child with an alien species, and now that child is coming to live with her. Jory constantly tells lies, making it hard for both Dorothea and the reader to determine the truth and the lies. In this particular world, multiple alien species exist alongside humanity, and throughout the story, there are details that you get that flesh out the aliens. How they work biologically, the planets they live on, and their history. Ultimately, this is a story about lies and how harmful they can be but change how we view and live our lives. Rating: 10/10.
13 Stories: 4 Great / 5 Good / 2 Average / 1 Poor / 1 DNF
Overall, I enjoyed reading this anthology. It lives up to its title and has many stories worth your time.
The Pope of the Chimps by Robert Silverberg: This story is about a decades-long scientific study in which chimpanzees who have been taught sign languages for generations are introduced to ideas of theology and mortality. This story was perfect for me because it explores these ideas in a small space. I need to seek out more Silverberg. Rating: 10/10.
Swarm by Bruce Sterling: This story takes place in a future where humanity is divided into two groups: The Shapers, who use genetics to become posthuman, and the Mechanists, who use cybernetics as their path to evolving. The story starts in an alien hive world fashioned out of an asteroid, and two humans, Simon Afriel and Galina Mirny, try to survive there naked, coexisting in the hive ecology of many symbiotic species. I thought this was great and creepy. The ideas are incredibly compelling, and this work exists within a larger universe that Sterling has created, and I'm intrigued to seek more of it. Rating: 9/10
Souls by Joanna Russ: In 12th-century Germany, Radulphus tells the story of Radegunde, abbess of the abbey where he spent his childhood, and of what she did "when the Norsemen came" and of how he discovered her true nature. This was a good novella, but it left me wanting more science fiction elements because the elements revealed towards the end weren't science fiction but fantasy. This character-driven narrative explores gender relations, religious doctrine, and violence through a feminist lens, and it exceeds that. Still, as a work of science fiction, it leaves me feeling hollow. Rating: 7.5/10.
Burning Chrome by William Gibson: Two freelance hackers, Bobby Quine, and Automatic Jack, try to break into the system of a notorious and vicious criminal called Chrome, who handles money transfers for organized crime, while Bobby falls in love with Rikki, who is his motivation for the job. I thought this story was good. Gibson has a way of making you feel like you are there in this futuristic cyberpunk setting. He might have some of the best prose in science fiction. There's more to the setting that you must infer, but overall, this story made me want to seek out more of Gibson's work. Rating: 8/10
Farmer on the Dole by Frederik Pohl: A robot, Zeb, has spent the first part of his life as a soybean farmer, but his owner falls on hard times and sells the farm, forcing his robots to move on. Zeb is sent to Chicago, where he is given a new job as a mugger. Most humans have left the planet, and only a few remain on Earth. The robots are employed to keep society appearing the same as before humanity escaped into space. On two occasions, Zeb violates protocol and mugs a human being. Forced to run from the law, he eventually falls in with other robot malcontents and finds himself at the head of a burgeoning robot liberation march.
I thought this was good. The story had many lines implying a bigger world than what I was reading. The characters were well-rounded and dealt with themes of a slave race rebelling against their oppressors. This story is a small part of a larger book called Midas World that I own. Rating: 8.5/10
Meet Me at Apogee by Bill Johnson is a treasure hunt tale set in orbit around a black hole. A man is hired to help retrieve some religious artifacts from an abandoned spaceship but soon finds himself involved in lethal religious fanaticism and schism. The world-building in this story was incredible in such a limited amount of space, but I had hoped this story leaned more toward cosmic horror, given the setting. However, I did enjoy it despite it. Rating: 7/10
Sur by Ursula K. Le Guin: The story follows an expedition to the South Pole by a group of women from South America from Chile years before the first expedition arrived in 1912. It's an alternate history story written in the form of an unpublished letter. This story could have been more impressive, considering it's by one of my favorite authors who has written many books I love. My lack of knowledge of Antarctica expeditions also hindered my enjoyment. I did like how the story was written. Rating: 6/10
Understanding Human Behavior by Thomas M. Disch: This story is set in a futuristic world where people sometimes have their memories erased to make a fresh start in life. We follow a man who is an erasee trying to come to terms with who he was and who he is now. I loved this story, and I thought it executed on all cylinders. The plot had an intriguing mystery that kept you reading; it was an emotionally charged story. The questions of identity, who we are without our memories, and what it means to be human were explored thoroughly, and the worldbuilding was well-thought-out and a perfect story. Rating: 10/10.
Relativistic Effects by Gregory Benford: This story is about a starship that has lost its ability to stop its voyage, eventually passing whole galaxies as other starships might pass individual stars. The starship accelerates near the speed of light and flies between two galaxies that are about to collide. I thought this story was dull in every aspect, and I didn't finish it. It was clear that this story was about science and how everything worked rather than telling a compelling story. I don't hate Hard SF, but don't seek it out. Nothing else was interesting enough to compel me to finish this story. People who like hard SF might like this. Rating: 4/10.
Fire Watch by Connie Willis: This story is about a student historian from the future, where historians use time travel to study history directly. He had prepared to visit Paul the Apostle in the first century but was sent to St Paul's Cathedral in 1940. He develops a deep emotional attachment to the cathedral. He is highly devoted to his role in defending it – especially due to his bitter knowledge that St. Paul's would survive the World War II bombings but would be obliterated in a terrorist attack nearer to the protagonist's own time.
The story was told in diary entries. I thought this story started off fine because I'm not that in love with the time travel subgenre, but eventually, I grew to enjoy it as the narrator's love of history and desire to preserve the cathedral moved me. There was a small mention of memorizing enhancing technology since he had little time to memorize living in the 1940s. There was no mention of how the narrator travels back in time or what device is used, but this only bothered me a little. The ending was a gut punch. I want to read more, Connie Willis. Rating: 8.5/10.
The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie by O. Niemand (George Alec Effinger): This story is about an officer looking for Beshta Shon, the wealthiest man in the world. This leads to the officer meeting the title character. I thought this was a perfect five. It's not a good story, but I don't think it's a bad story either. There's nothing remarkable about it. This story was basically if O. Henry had written science fiction. Rating: 5/10
With The Original Cast by Nancy Kress: This story was set in a future 1998, where people use a technology called ESIR (Electronically Stimulated Incarnation Recall), which allows actors to become historical figures in theater. We follow a man named Austin who is trying to help a woman named Barbara Bishop play the role of Joan of Arc until they meet a woman named Ann Friedland, who is, in fact, the real Joan of Arc. This story was compelling as the nature of reality and creating art and identity would change how art was made if such a technology existed. It was thought-provoking, similar to today's world, as we discuss the use of AI in the arts. It was quite an emotional story, too, and ended with a hopeful message. Rating: 8.5/10.
When the Fathers Go by Bruce McAllister: This story follows Dorothea, whose husband Jory returns from an interstellar voyage. He has fathered a child with an alien species, and now that child is coming to live with her. Jory constantly tells lies, making it hard for both Dorothea and the reader to determine the truth and the lies. In this particular world, multiple alien species exist alongside humanity, and throughout the story, there are details that you get that flesh out the aliens. How they work biologically, the planets they live on, and their history. Ultimately, this is a story about lies and how harmful they can be but change how we view and live our lives. Rating: 10/10.
13 Stories: 4 Great / 5 Good / 2 Average / 1 Poor / 1 DNF
Overall, I enjoyed reading this anthology. It lives up to its title and has many stories worth your time.
August 14, 2016
It took me awhile, but I finally arranged my thoughts on this short story into a haiku. More or less.
"Motivation's game.
Being an emblem suits some.
For all that effort."
"Motivation's game.
Being an emblem suits some.
For all that effort."
June 12, 2017
Interesting short story read for my Sci-Fi Lit class.
June 15, 2020
2 stars for William Gibson's Burning Chrome
I just couldn't get into it.
I just couldn't get into it.
April 29, 2019
I tend to think that most compilations of shirt stories are usually pretty hit or miss. For every decent story, there's usually two or three that are tough to get through. This collection wound up being much better than expected. Most stories were thoughtful, engaging, and well written with a variety of interesting scenarios. Of course there were a few that weren't up to the same level, but overall this was quite enjoyable.
June 24, 2021
Found this book in a public book case and took it because I saw Le Guin's name on the cover - I might be biased but her story was also my favourite. The three stars are for the coherence of the chosen books - I liked the settings and ideas which were explored in those stories without repetition. But a lot of them have weird endings or I didn't like the execution, you can tell that they are older works. Overall, the collection is fine.
December 24, 2022
13 stories from 1982.
**** The Pope of the Chimps • Robert Silverberg
**** Swarm • Bruce Sterling
***** Souls • Joanna Russ
*** Burning Chrome • William Gibson
(0 stars) Farmer on the Dole • Frederik Pohl
**** Meet Me at Apogee • Bill Johnson
***** Sur • Ursula K. Le Guin
*** Understanding Human Behavior: A Romance of the Rocky Mountains • Thomas M. Disch
** Relativistic Effects • Gregory Benford
*** Firewatch • Connie Willis
** The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie • George Alec Effinger (as O. Niemand)
**** With the Original Cast • Nancy Kress
**** When the Fathers Go • Bruce McAllister
Notes:
Meeting high expectations: Le Guin, Russ
Quality stories from writers I don't really know: Sterling, Johnson, Kress. McAllister
Underwhelming stories from writers I expect more of: Benford, Disch
Meeting mediocre expectations: Willis
The one-of-the-worst-stories-I-have-ever-read, sf-grandmaster-lazy, race-problematic contribution: Pohl
**** The Pope of the Chimps • Robert Silverberg
**** Swarm • Bruce Sterling
***** Souls • Joanna Russ
*** Burning Chrome • William Gibson
(0 stars) Farmer on the Dole • Frederik Pohl
**** Meet Me at Apogee • Bill Johnson
***** Sur • Ursula K. Le Guin
*** Understanding Human Behavior: A Romance of the Rocky Mountains • Thomas M. Disch
** Relativistic Effects • Gregory Benford
*** Firewatch • Connie Willis
** The Wooing of Slowboat Sadie • George Alec Effinger (as O. Niemand)
**** With the Original Cast • Nancy Kress
**** When the Fathers Go • Bruce McAllister
Notes:
Meeting high expectations: Le Guin, Russ
Quality stories from writers I don't really know: Sterling, Johnson, Kress. McAllister
Underwhelming stories from writers I expect more of: Benford, Disch
Meeting mediocre expectations: Willis
The one-of-the-worst-stories-I-have-ever-read, sf-grandmaster-lazy, race-problematic contribution: Pohl
March 7, 2013
A good collection of stories which are all well written. If you like short stories this is well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews