Best of British Science Fiction 2017

by Donna Scott (Editor), Tyler Keevil, Adam Roberts

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, parallel universes, aliens, and paranormal abilities. Editor Donna Scott has selected the very best short fiction by British authors published during 2016. Twenty-two stories chosen from established names and rising stars of genre fiction alike.
Contents:
Introduction (Best of British Science Fiction 2017) • essay by Donna Scott
Blinders (2017) •/ novelette by Tyler Keevil
In the Night of the Comet (2017) / short story by Adam Roberts
The Walls of Tithonium Chasma (2017) / short story by Tim Major
3.8 Missions (2017) / short story by Katie Gray
Over You [Maelstrom's Edge] (2017) / short fiction by Jaine Fenn
The Ghosts of Europa Will Keep You Trapped in a Prison You Make for Yourself (2017) / short story by Matt Dovey
Uniquo (2017) / short story by Aliya Whiteley
Looking for Laika (2017) / short fiction by Laura Mauro
A Good Citizen (2017) / short story by Anne Charnock
Mercury Teardrops (2017) / short story by Jeff Noon
The Nightingales in Plátres (2017) / short story by Natalia Theodoridou
The Road to the Sea (2017) / short story by Lavie Tidhar
When I Close My Eyes (2017) / short story by Chris Barnham
Targets (2017) / short story by Eric Brown
London Calling (2017) / short story by Philip A. Suggars
The Last Word (2017) / short story by Ken MacLeod
After the Atrocity (2017) / short story by Ian Creasey
Voicemail (2017) / short story by Karen McCreedy
Green Boughs Will Cover Thee (2017) / short story by Sarah Byrne
Airless (2017) / short fiction by N. J. Ramsden
Product Recall (2017) / short story by Robert Bagnall
The Endling Market (2017) / short story by E. J. Swift

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Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

282 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2018

About the author

Donna Scott is a writer, poet, stand-up comic, and editor.
She is the BSFA-Award-winning editor of NewCon Press's Best of British Science Fiction series and founder of The Slab Press.

Reviews

[Karl]

This hardcover is numbered 25 of 50 numbered copies and is signed by:

Liz Scott
Jeff Noon
Chris Barnham


Contents:

009 - Introduction by Donna Scott
011 - "Blinders" by Tyler Keevil
035 - "The Walls of Tithonium Chasma" by Tim Major
047 - "In the Night of the Comet" by Adam Roberts
061 - "3.8 Missions" by Katie Gray
075 - "Over You" by Jaine Fenn
093 - "The Ghosts of Europa Will Keep You Trapped in a Prison You Make for Yourself" by Matt Dovey
099 - "Uniquo" by Aliya Whiteley
105 - "Looking for Laika" by Laura Mauro
133 - "A Good Citizen" by Anne Charnock
141 - "Mercury Teardrops" by Jeff Noon
163 - "The Nightingales in Plàtres" by - Natalia Theodoridou
177 - "The Road to the Sea" by Lavie Tidhar
185 - "When I Close My Eyes" by Chris Barnham
203 - "Targets" by Eric Brown
209 - "London Calling" by Philip A. Suggars
219 - "The Last Word" by Ken MacLeod
225 - "After the Atrocity" by Ian Creasey
237 - "Voicemail" by Karen McCreedy
239 - "Green Boughs Will Cover Thee" by Sarah Byrne
243 - "Airless" by N.J. Ramsden
255 - "Product Recall" by Robert Bagnall
259 - "The Endling Market" by E. J. Swift
273 - About the Authors
279 - Other Books From Newcon Press

[Diann · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a good number of authors contributing short tales to this book. I note that I'd never heard of any of them before. The stories as per usual with most collections of shorts are uneven. I'm noting here a few I want to read more from:

Best authors in my opinion (alphabetical): Robert Bagnall Chris Barnham, Ian Creasey, Jaine Fenn, Adam Roberts.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different!

Some of the stories left me in absolute awe! So well-written! I have some new fav authors now and am REALLY looking forward to seeing them in 'print' again and again! Great anthology! Thanks so much!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[Dr. Ann Coker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch

A truly wonderful collection of talented writers who demonstrate facility with written language and incredible imagination. One of the best anthologies I have ever read.

[Raj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel quite bad about giving this book just two stars, and I should say off the bat that it's not a reflection on the quality of the stories, but on my (personal) enjoyment of them. I appreciate that writers don't write in a vacuum, and the editor is up front about her choices being a reaction to the events of 2016, but dear goodness, surely someone was writing optimistic science fiction in 2017!? This collection is almost entirely dark and gloomy, with the tone set by the opening story, Blinders, about those who repair orbital solar sails delivering power to earth, and the corrupt corporation and unions around them.

Some of the stories do contain dark humour or rays of light and some really don't. Adam Roberts' In the Night of the Comet is utterly bleak, as is Eric Brown's Targets and Natalia Theodoridou's The Nightingales in Plátres.

I don't know if some of the stories really are hopeful, or if they just felt like that, given the darkness around them. I know that the world seem completely awful at the moment, but I think the editor could have balanced the choice of stories a bit better.

And to try to avoid being resolutely doomy and gloomy myself, here's a link to one of my favourite stories of 2017, without a malicious word in its body (I may be biased as I know the author, but honestly, this story left me warm and fuzzy for ages after finishing it): Rab the Giant versus the Witch of the Waterfall. You may need it after finishing this collection.