Short Story Complilations of Fantasy/Sci-Fi

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

So, I read George R. R. Martin's Dreamsongs, a compilation of his short stories, and in between stories he talks about his career, and a lot of the time he talks about books that collect short stories of fantasy and sci-fi, and since I'm always looking for new authors, wanted to check some of them out. But I have no idea what they are. So, could someone give me same direction?

Thanks!

[husker du]

They make short story compilations of the best science fiction stories ever year. I think there are probably four or five different compilations like this every year. Just seek out the Hugo and Nebula award winners every year and you will be good.

[Dark Muse]

I have a couple books which are collections of short fantasy stories, though I have not yet read them so I cannot say how good they are.

The Book of Kings and Tales of the White Wolf

[Drkshadow03]

You definitely want to read:

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman (http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Mirrors-Neil-Gaiman/dp/B001E1JULY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257215352&sr=8-3)

The Fantasy Writer's Assistant by Jeffery Ford (http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Writers-Assistant-Other-Stories/dp/1930846576/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257215432&sr=1-1)

Beluthahatchie and Other Stories by Andy Duncan (http://www.amazon.com/Beluthahatchie-Other-Stories-Andy-Duncan/dp/0965590119/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257215507&sr=1-1)

Little gods by Tim Pratt (http://www.amazon.com/Little-Gods-Tim-Pratt/dp/0809556863/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257215551&sr=1-1)

Stranger Things May Happen by Kelly Link (http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Things-Happen-Kelly-Link/dp/1931520003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257215603&sr=1-1)

This is a good start.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Are those short story collections by various authors, or just one?

[OrphanPip]

Ya I believe there are a couple yearly anthologies of selections from the years best sci-fi/fantasy short fiction. I have a couple but none of them that I would recommend.

There are some good anthologies of Heinlein's writing. Any reader of sci-fi must read Heinlein, he invented the water bed after all.

[Drkshadow03]

Are those short story collections by various authors, or just one?

Those are short story collections by each author. So it's one of Neil Gaiman's short story collections (he has two). It's one of Jeffery Ford's short story collection (he has three, I think), etc.

[Dinkleberry2010]

One of the best sci fi/fantasy compilations is Harlan Ellison's "Dangerous Visions"

[Red-Headed]

There are some good anthologies of Heinlein's writing. Any reader of sci-fi must read Heinlein, he invented the water bed after all.

Well almost (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_bed#History) lol!

[Red-Headed]

The last good sci fi anthology I read was The Mammoth Book of Short Science Fiction Novels. (http://www.pjfarmer.com/bimages/mbosf.jpg)

It has an introduction by Asimov where he discusses the actual lengths of novellas & short stories. There seems to be some contention about this. A novella is between 30,000 & 50,000 words as opposed to a novel (70,000 words +) or a short story which is usually around 5000 - 7000 words.

I liked the anthology particularly because it had John W. Campbell's Who Goes There? which has been made into at least two movies. (http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0044121/)

Although my favourite story in the anthology was Gordon R. Dickson's The Mortal & the Monster.