Monday, March 14, 2011

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2011

Paula Guran has slapped a Cthulhu-sized bear-trap on "Lesser Demons,"grabbing the tale for The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2011. In my book that's good news times two, because Ellen Datlow chose the same novella for her own Best Horror of the Year compilation just a few weeks ago.

Conclusion? I guess I should write stories about monster-killing sociopathic sheriffs more often.

Here's the complete TOC for Ms. G's anthology:

  • How Bria Died, Michael Aronovitz (Weird Tales #356)
  • Frumpy Little Beat Girl, Peter Atkins (Rolling Darkness Revue 2010)
  • The Broadsword, Laird Barron (Black Wings)
  • Thimbleriggery and Fledglings, Steve Berman (The Beastly Bride)
  • The Dog King, Holly Black (The Poison Eaters and Other Stories)
  • Tragic Life Stories, Steve Duffy (Tragic Life Stories)
  • The Thing About Cassandra, Neil Gaiman (Songs Of Love And Death, Tales Of Star-Crossed Love)
  • He Said, Laughing, Simon R. Green (Living Dead 2)
  • Hurt Me, M.L.N. Hanover (Songs Of Love And Death, Tales Of Star-Crossed Love)
  • Oaks Park, M.K. Hobson (Haunted Legends)
  • Crawlspace, Stephen Graham Jones (The Ones That Got Away)
  • Red as Red, CaitlĂ­n R. Kiernan (Haunted Legends)
  • Mother Urban’s Booke of Dayes, Jay Lake (Dark Faith)
  • A Thousand Flowers, Margo Lanagan (Zombies vs. Unicorns)
  • Are You Trying To Tell Me This Is Heaven? Sarah Langan (Living Dead 2)
  • The Stars Are Falling, Joe R. Lansdale (Stories)
  • Sea Warg, Tanith Lee (Full Moon City)
  • The Mystery Knight, George R.R. Martin (Warriors)
  • The Naturalist, Maureen McHugh (Subterranean Magazine, Spring 2010)
  • Raise Your Hand If You’re Dead, John Shirley (Dark Discoveries #17)
  • Lesser Demons, Norman Partridge (Black Wings/Lesser Demons)
  • Parallel Lines, Tim Powers (Stories)
  • The Moon Will Look Strange, Lynda E. Rucker (Black Static #16)
  • You Dream, Ekaterina Sedia (Dark Faith)
  • Red Blues, Michael Skeet (Evolve)
  • Brisneyland at Night, Angela Slatter (Sprawl)
  • Malleus, Incus, Stapes, Sarah Totton (Fantasy Magazine, 20 December 2010)
  • The Return, S.D. Tullis (Null Immortalis)
  • The Dire Wolf, Genevieve Valentine (Running With the Pack)
  • The Things, Peter Watts (Clarkesworld, January 2010)
  • Bloodsport, Gene Wolfe (Swords & Dark Magic)