The Horror Writers Association finally got around to publishing the preliminary ballot for the 2002 Bram Stoker Awards, and most of the contents of the Datlow/Windling Year's Best Fantasy and Horror were announced. That meant more short stories to read, skewed towards horror. And, as usual, a few more publications trickled in, so I was able to read a few stories I'd missed. Nevertheless, I've also made a decent start on the novelettes.
- Short Stories
- Very Good
- Burke, Kealan-Patrick. "The Quiet". The Gallows.
- Dark, Kristy. "The Last Story". The Year's Best Writing.
- Kirtley, David Barr. "The Second Rat". On Spec Spring 2002.
- Schaller, Eric. "The Assistant to Dr. Jacob". Nemonymous #2.
- Williams, Conrad. "The Machine". The Third Alternative Summer 2002.
- Wolfe, Gene. "Mute". 2002 World Horror Convention Program Book.
- Burke, Kealan-Patrick. "The Quiet". The Gallows.
- Good
- Hood, Robert. "Number 7". Immaterial.
- Keohane, Daniel G. "White Wave of Mercy". Extremes 4: Darkest Africa.
- Lane, Joel. "The Receivers". Dark Terrors 6.
- Lees, Tim. "The Life to Come". The Third Alternative Winter 2002.
- Miéville, China. "Details". Children of Cthulhu.
- Pratt, Tim. "Bone Sigh". Twilight Showcase 3/02.
- Sanders, J.V. "Rite of the Fire Demon". Fortean Bureau 10/02.
- Saunders, George. "My Flamboyant Grandson". The New Yorker 1/28/02.
- Tremblay, Paul. "4'33". Gothic.net 5/02.
- Tremblay, Paul. "The Laughing Man Meets Little Cat". Chizine #14.
- Hood, Robert. "Number 7". Immaterial.
- Average
- Arnold, Joel. "Some Things Don't Wash Off". Weird Tales Fall 2002.
- Castle, Mort. "Disappearances". Chizine #11.
- Oliveri, Michael. "Poisoning the Wound". Extremes 4: Darkest Africa.
- O'Rourke, Monica. "Attainable Beauty". Gothic.net 5/02.
- Royle, Nicholas. "Hide And Seek". Dark Terrors 6.
- Wilson, Lisa. "Immortal Beloved". Twilight Times 10/02.
- Arnold, Joel. "Some Things Don't Wash Off". Weird Tales Fall 2002.
- Very Good
- Novelettes
- Excellent
- Card, Orson Scott. "The Polish Boy". First Meetings.
- Card, Orson Scott. "The Polish Boy". First Meetings.
- Very Good
- Asher, Neal. "Snow in the Desert". Spectrum SF #8.
- Benford, Gregory. "The Clear Blue Seas of Luna". Asimov's 10-11/02.
- Berman, Judith. "Election Day". Lord Stink and Other Stories.
- Blaylock, James P. "In for a Penny". Sci Fiction 2/02.
- Chiang, Ted. "Liking What You See: A Documentary". Stories of Your Life and Others.
- Asher, Neal. "Snow in the Desert". Spectrum SF #8.
- Good
- Aldiss, Brian. "Abort the Beatitude". DAW 30th Anniversary: Science Fiction.
- Baker, Kage. "The Likely Lad". Asimov's 9/02.
- Ballantyne, Tony. "Teaching the War Robot to Dance". Interzone 4/02.
- Benford, Gregory. "Around the Curve of a Cosmos". Sci Fiction 3/02.
- Cadigan, Pat. "Linda". Asimov's 7/02.
- Aldiss, Brian. "Abort the Beatitude". DAW 30th Anniversary: Science Fiction.
- Excellent
Note that the Card novellete is unlikely to make my top 5, though it will get an honorable mention. Set several decades before Ender's Game, it's a perfect example of a story which works really well if you're already familiar with the setting, but is less successful as a standalone story.
