A collection of original, epic science fiction stories by some of today’s best writers—for fans who want a little less science and a lot more action—and edited by two-time Hugo Award winner John Joseph Adams. Inspired by movies like The Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars, this anthology features brand-new stories from some of science fiction’s best authors including Dan Abnett, Jack Campbell, Linda Nagata, Seanan McGuire, Alan Dean Foster, Charlie Jane Anders, Kameron Hurley, and many others. Compilation and introduction © 2017 by John Joseph Adams “A Temporary Embarrassment in Spacetime” © 2017 by Charlie Jane Anders. “Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance” © 2017 by Tobias S. Buckell “The Deckhand, the Nova Blade, and the Thrice-Sung Texts” © 2017 by Becky Chambers “The Sighted Watchmaker” © 2011 by Vylar Kaftan. Originally published in Lightspeed “Infinite Love Engine” © 2017 by Joseph Allen Hill. Originally published in Lightspeed “Unfamiliar Gods” © 2017 by Adam-Troy Castro & Judi B. Castro “Seven Wonders of a Once and Future World” © 2015 by Caroline M. Yoachim. Originally published in Lightspeed “Our Specialty Is Xenogeology” © 2017 by Alan Dean Foster “Golden Ring” © 2017 by Karl Schroeder “Tomorrow When We See the Sun” © 2015 by A. Merc Rustad. Originally published in Lightspeed “Bring the Kids and Revisit the Past at the Traveling Retro Funfair!” © 2017 by Seanan McGuire “The Dragon That Flew Out of the Sun” © 2017 by Aliette de Bodard. “Diamond and the World Breaker” © 2017 by Linda Nagata “The Chameleon’s Gloves” © 2017 by Yoon Ha Lee “The Universe, Sung in Stars” © 2015 by Kat Howard. Originally published in Lightspeed “Wakening Ouroboros” © 2017 by Jack Campbell “Warped Passages” © 2017 by Kameron Hurley “The Frost Giant’s Data” © 2017 by Dan Abnett.

A collection of the best American science fiction and fantasy stories from 2017. Today’s readers of science fiction and fantasy have an appetite for stories that address a wide variety of voices, perspectives, and styles. There is an openness to experiment and pushing boundaries, combined with the classic desire to read about space ships and dragons, future technology and ancient magic, and the places where they intersect. Contemporary science fiction and fantasy looks to accomplish the same goal as ever—to illuminate what it means to be human. With a diverse selection of stories chosen by series editor John Joseph Adams and guest editor N. K. Jemisin, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018 explores the ever-expanding and changing world of SFF today, with Jemisin bringing her lyrical, endlessly curious point of view to the series’ latest edition. Rivers Run Free / Charles Payseur—Destroy the City With Me Tonight / Kate Alice Marshall—You Will Always Have Family: A Triptych / Kathleen Kayembe—Justice Systems in Quantum Parallel Probabilities / Lettie Prell—Loneliness is in Your Blood / Cadwell Turnbull—The Hermit of Houston / Samuel R. Delany—The Last Cheng Beng Gift / Jaymee Goh—Brightened Star, Ascending Dawn / A. Merc Rustad—The Resident / Carmen Maria Machado—The Greatest One-Star Restaurant in the Whole Quadrant / Rachael K. Jones—Tasting Notes on the Varietals of the Southern Coast / Gwendolyn Clare—Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue / Charlie Jane Anders—Church of Birds / Micah Dean Hicks—ZeroS / Peter Watts—Carnival Nine / Caroline M. Yoachim—The Wretched and the Beautiful / E. Lily Yu—The Orange Tree / Maria Dahvana Headley—Cannibal Acts / Maureen McHugh—Black Powder / Maria Dahvana Headley—Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance / Tobias S. Buckell