''The 1981 Annual World's Best SF'' is an

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short stories edited by

Donald A. Wollheim Donald Allen Wollheim (October 1, 1914 – November 2, 1990) was an American science fiction editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell, Martin Pearso ...

and

Arthur W. Saha Arthur William Saha (October 31, 1923 – November 19, 1999) was an American speculative fiction editor and anthologist, closely associated with publisher Donald A. Wollheim. Life Saha was the son of William and Henrikka Saha, a Finnish-Ameri ...

, the tenth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1981, followed by a hardcover edition issued in August of the same year by the same publisher as a selection of the Science Fiction Book Club. For the hardcover edition the original cover art of

Michael Mariano Michael Mariano ( so, Maykal Maryaano) (1914-1987) was a Somali politician and businessman best remembered for leading a delegation to Headquarters of the United Nations, UN Headquarters in New York City and advocating for the return of the Somali ...

was replaced by a new cover painting by John Gampert. The book collects ten novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction by Wollheim. The stories were previously published in 1980 in the magazines '' Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine'', '' Omni'', ''

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'', and ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher a ...

'', and the anthologies '' New Voices III'', '' Stellar #5'', ''

Universe 10 ''Universe 10'' is an American anthology of original science fiction short stories edited by Terry Carr, the tenth volume in the seventeen-volume Universe (anthology series), Universe anthology series. It was first published in hardcover by Double ...

'', and ''

Interfaces Interface or interfacing may refer to: Academic journals * Interface (journal), ''Interface'' (journal), by the Electrochemical Society * ''Interface, Journal of Applied Linguistics'', now merged with ''ITL International Journal of Applied Lin ...

''.

*"Introduction" (

) *"Variation on a Theme from Beethoven" (

Sharon Webb Sharon Lynn Webb (born in Tampa, Florida on February 29, 1936; died in Blairsville, Georgia on April 29, 2010) was a science fiction writer and nurse. Biography Born on Tampa, Florida on February 29, 1936, Sharon Lynn Webb began her career as a p ...

) *"Beatnik Bayou" (

John Varley John Varley may refer to: * John Varley (canal engineer) (1740–1809), English canal engineer * John Varley (painter) (1778–1842), English painter and astrologer * John Varley (author) (born 1947), American science fiction author * John Silvest ...

) *"Elbow Room" ( Marion Zimmer Bradley) *"The Ugly Chickens" ( Howard Waldrop) *"Prime Time" ( Norman Spinrad) *"Nightflyers" (

George R. R. Martin George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels ''A Song ...

) *"A Spaceship Built of Stone" ( Lisa Tuttle) *"

Window A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent materia ...

" (

Bob Leman Robert J. Leman (1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American science fiction and horror short story author, most associated with ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction''. He was not published until he was 45, but had been a member of First Fando ...

) *"The Summer Sweet, the Winter Wild" (

Michael G. Coney Michael Greatrex Coney (28 September 1932 - 4 November 2005) was a British science fiction writer, best known for his novel ''Hello Summer, Goodbye.'' Life Coney was born in Birmingham, England, on 28 September 1932. As an adult, he worked as ...

) *"Achronos" (

Lee Killough Karen Lee Killough (born 1942) is an American veterinary radiographer and writer of science fiction mystery novels under the name Lee Killough. She lives and works in Manhattan, Kansas. Writing career Killough began her writing career with ...

)

Awards

The anthology placed seventh in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Anthology. "Variation on a Theme from Beethoven" placed ninth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette. "Beatnik Bayou" was nominated for the 1980 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1981

Hugo Award for Best Novelette The Hugo Award for Best Novelette is one of the Hugo Awards given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. The novelette award is available for works of fiction of ...

, and placed second in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette. "The Ugly Chickens" won the 1980 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1981

World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...

, was nominated for the 1981 Balrog Award for Short Fiction and the 1981

, and placed fifth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette. "Prime Time" placed eleventh in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story. "Nightflyers" won the 1980 Analog Award for Best Novella/Novelette, was nominated for the 1981 Hugo Award for Best Novella, and placed first in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella. "Window" was nominated for the 1980

Nebula Award for Best Short Story The Nebula Award for Best Short Story is a literary award assigned each year by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for science fiction or fantasy short stories. A work of fiction is defined by the organization as a short stor ...

and placed fourth in the 1981 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:1981 Annual World's Best SF, The 1981 anthologies

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

DAW Books books

Contents

Awards

External links