An unabridged collection spotlighting the best hard science fiction stories and novellas published in 2022 by current and emerging masters of the genre, edited by Allan Kaster.“The Lichens” by Nina Allan — A 22nd century botanist asks a teacher in Scotland, at the time of Culloden, for help with her research.“Beneath the Surface, a Womb of Ice” by Deborah L. Davitt — A biochemist involved in the search for underground water on Mars finds refuge in the mechanics of science.“A Stone’s Throw” by Gregory Feeley — Romance burns hot amidst the cold moons of Neptune.“The Wine-Dark Deep” by Sheila Finch — A cephalopod researcher discovers petroglyphs on the walls of a deep underwater cave.“Cloudchaser” by Tom Jolly — A collector of rare artifacts hides his valuables on darkworlds.“**The Ploughshare and the Storm**” by Gwyneth Jones — Post-humans find a time capsule on Europa.“Nonstandard Candles” by Yoon Ha Lee — A cartographer and her apprentice map the outer darkness of space.“**Timekeepers’ Symphony**” by Ken Liu — The colonization of the cosmos transforms humanity’s sense of time.“Maryon’s Gift” by Paul McAuley — Set in the author's Jackaroo series, monks fight to keep a newly discovered pristine world free of humans.“Goldie” by Sean Monaghan — Scientists learn a lot about themselves while studying the ecosystems of an alien planet.“The Abacus and the Infinite Vessel” by Vikram Ramakrishnan — A scientist recalls the struggles of her and her mother after immigrating to Mars.“I Give You the Moon” by Justina Robson — A history student yearns for a dose of reality in an AR-immersed future.“The Difference Between Love and Time” by Catherynne M. Valente — A woman has a relationship with the space-time continuum that’s a bit different than most of us.“Critical Mass” — An avant-garde artist, past his prime, discovers his works are being vandalized.“Communion” — A pilot is caught in a life and death struggle between his ship’s AI and an alien microbe after crash landing on an ice moon.
