Year's Best Fantasy

I'm not an anthology fan, generally speaking, unless done by specific editors with whom I'm familar. I tried this on a whim. I found the selection varied and often engrossing. I was able to sample many authors I've thought of trying but didn't want to waste money in case I didn't like their style. This book gave me a taste of some of those authors. LOL. My library is already extensive. If all their work is as good as the stories in this book, room is going to be a real problem! :-)

Response to review below... I can see the point of the reviewer below in regards to George R.R. Martin and Terry Goodkind's work as excerpted or relating to their best-selling series. But I think this review is missing some details. First the collection is titled "Year's Best Fantasy", not "Best fantasy this editor could find from your very favorite authors that you have never seen before `cuz I picked their brains for fresh stuff and then they promised never to use any of it again in a series". This kind of anthology is ALWAYS made up of the good, the bad and the excerpted. Second collections are great for those already in love with the genera, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they are really about drawing in the readers who do not normally seek out Fantasy books. Although I like Sci/Fi and Fantasy work just fine I would NEVER have picked up George R.R. Martin's beefy series Song of Ice and Fire series without this intro to the series. The series is just too far off my usual list of interest. I do sympathize with the other reviewer, if you have read it already then if feels like you're being cheated. But you can't really think that every anthology ever would have only fresh new stories. If having excerpts pulls even a few readers over, then so much the better.

This is my all time favorite fantasy short story collection. It includes fantasy of all shapes and colors and has a surprisingly high density of really good stories from both newbies and old hands.I'd recommend this book to anyone. I buy copies for my friends.

I bought this first "inaugural" volume of short fantasy stories on a whim. Some of the longer stories (George R.R. Martin & the Terry Goodkind stories I have already read, but read them again!). This collection doesn't limit itself to "sword & sorcery" stories. There really is something for everyone here. If you are a reader, who truly enjoys something imaginative,intelligent, & entertaining, you DESERVE this book. I think you will find it's many twists, turns, and writing styles irresistible. Take a chance on this one. I truly think you will find yourself unable to put it down for long!This is one of the best short story collections I have ever read... Go on... pick up a copy!j

I really enjoyed this collection, particularly George Martin's contribution (I can't remember the title, for fans of his series, it deals with Daenerys Targaryen- "Drogon, *Dracryas*"... and the air was full of blood and dragonfire') The first story was also a favorite, Taliax gives a new perspective to all those mighty dragons knigts go around slaying in traditional heroic fantasy. A few of the stories were disappointing, the one about the golem didn't seem to exploit the situation to its potential. But that could be a matter of personal taste, none of the stories were really mediocre. This is an excellent collection of stories, and highly recomended.