This incomparable annual compilation of the best short fiction and novellas features an unmatched variety of the quietly weird, the merely eerie, high fantasy, modern Lovecraftian horror, nightmarish near-future scenarios, the darkly humorous, the supernatural, and the monstrously mundane from the brightest new talent, legendary authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Tanith Lee, and Gene Wolfe, and bestsellers such as Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, and Sarah Langan. Includes a 36,000 word novella by George R.R. Martin set in his A Song of Fire and Ice universe. Contents How Bria Died • (2009) • shortstory by Michael Aronovitz Oaks Park • (2010) • shortfiction by M. K. Hobson Hurt Me • (2010) • shortfiction by Daniel Abraham [as by M. L. N. Hanover ] He Said, Laughing • (2010) • shortstory by Simon R. Green The Thing About Cassandra • (2010) • shortfiction by Neil Gaiman Tragic Life Stories • (2010) • shortfiction by Steve Duffy The Dog King • (2010) • shortstory by Holly Black Thimbleriggery and Fledglings • (2010) • shortfiction by Steve Berman The Broadsword • (2010) • novella by Laird Barron Frumpy Little Beat Girl • shortfiction by Peter Atkins Crawlspace • (2010) • shortfiction by Stephen Graham Jones As Red as Red • (2010) • shortfiction by Caitlín R. Kiernan Mother Urban's Booke of Dayes • (2010) • shortstory by Jay Lake A Thousand Flowers • (2010) • novelette by Margo Lanagan Are You Trying To Tell Me This Is Heaven? • (2010) • shortstory by Sarah Langan The Stars Are Falling • (2010) • novelette by Joe R. Lansdale Sea Warg • (2010) • shortfiction by Tanith Lee The Mystery Knight: A Tale of the Seven Kingdoms • [Dunk and Egg • 3] • (2010) • novella by George R. R. Martin The Naturalist • (2010) • shortfiction by Maureen F. McHugh [as by Maureen McHugh ] Raise Your Hand If You're Dead • (2010) • shortstory by John Shirley Lesser Demons • (2010) • novelette by Norman Partridge Parallel Lines • (2010) • shortstory by Tim Powers The Moon Will Look Strange • (2010) • shortstory by Lynda E. Rucker You Dream • (2010) • shortstory by Ekaterina Sedia Red Blues • (2010) • shortfiction by Michael Skeet Brisneyland by Night • (2010) • shortstory by Angela Slatter Malleus, Incus, Stapes • (2010) • shortfiction by Sarah Totton The Return • (2010) • shortfiction by S. D. Tullis The Dire Wolf • (2010) • shortfiction by Genevieve Valentine The Things • (2010) • shortstory by Peter Watts Bloodsport • (2010) • shortfiction by Gene Wolfe