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A review by misterjay
Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2014 Edition by Ellen Datlow
4.0
As Good As New by Charlie Jane Anders
— Really charming take on both the end of the world and the genie in the bottle. 4/5
The End of the End of Everything by Dale Bailey
— Fascinating look at the end times and whether art for art’s sake is enough to make life worth living in the face of the end. 5/5
Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch by Kelly Barnhill
— This was fun. Kind of a Circe for modern times, only with acceptance instead of revenge as the theme. 4/5
Sleep Walking Now and Then by Richard Bowes
— Loved the tone and atmosphere of the piece; liked the exploration of the future of live theater. Thought the actual story was a little slow and a tad obvious. 3/5
Daughter of Necessity by Marie Brennan
— Reworking of a classic with a POV shift. Didn’t really work for me, mainly because I’m not a fan of the original story. 3/5
Brisk Money by Adam Christopher
— Ooh. I really liked this one. A robot detective and his partner the mainframe that stores his memories. And there’s just this one little problem… 5/5
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Trade-Offs for the Overhaul of the Barricade by John Chu
— Fantastic world building, like a mix between high desert fantasy and math camp. Lovely story, well told. 5/5
The Color of Paradox by A.M. Dellamonica
— Great time travel story. Sometimes you have to change the past, whether you want to or not. 5/5
The Litany of Earth by Ruthanna Emrys
— Lovely, atmospheric story of the Great, Old Ones and those who keep their histories. 4/5
A Kiss with Teeth by Max Gladstone
— Quite possibly the best re-working of the vampire’s tale I’ve ever read, and certainly one of the few to give me actual chills. 5/5
A Short History of the Twentieth Century, or, When You Wish Upon a Star by Kathleen Ann Goonanan
— Lovely story about a girl who wants to ride a rocket to the moon. 5/5
Cold Wind by Nicola Griffith
— The last god left finds new prey in the heart of Seattle. 3/5
The Tallest Doll in New York City by Maria Dahvana Headley
— I love this story. It’s about New York, and guys and dolls and is just magic. 5/5
Where the Trains Turn by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen
— Hmm. Fascinating and heartbreaking by turns, but a bit too long. 4/5
Combustion Hour by Yoon Ha Lee
— Incredible world-building, a little light on plot. 4/5
Reborn by Ken Liu
— Life after the aliens win the war is tricky, memories even more so. 4/5
Midway Relics and Dying Breeds by Seanan McGuire
— The future of the circus is high tech, but some things can't change; a story about running away. Really good. 5/5
Anyway: Angie by Daniel Jose Older
— Noir-ish, atmospheric story about a bodyguard and the saves she makes and those she couldn't. 4/5
The Mothers of Voorhisville by Mary Rickert
— Took a little bit to get into, but ended up being a really interesting story about the power of the group against the unknown. 4/5
Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden’s Syndrome by John Scalzi
— I love a good oral history, and this one, for a fictional disease with some scary real-world analogues was really good. 4/5
Among the Thorns by Veronica Schanoes
— A tale of revenge set amidst Jewish folklore and medieval Germany. Good. 4/5
The Insects of Love by Genevieve Valentine
— Not sure I got this one. It’s time travel and subjective reality, but it’s also about insects and those bits are really cool. 3/5
Sleeper by Jo Walton
— The revolution will be simulated and sent out in the form of books for the masses. 3/5
The Devil in America by Kai Ashante Wilson
— Story about race relations in America; things haven’t changed, not even with the old Africa magic. 4/5
In the Sight of Akresa by Ray Wood
— Tragic love story about a betrayal through silence, forced and otherwise. Beautiful. 4/5
A Cup of Salt Tears by Isabel Yap
— Bittersweet story of a woman and the kappa who loved her. 4/5
— Really charming take on both the end of the world and the genie in the bottle. 4/5
The End of the End of Everything by Dale Bailey
— Fascinating look at the end times and whether art for art’s sake is enough to make life worth living in the face of the end. 5/5
Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch by Kelly Barnhill
— This was fun. Kind of a Circe for modern times, only with acceptance instead of revenge as the theme. 4/5
Sleep Walking Now and Then by Richard Bowes
— Loved the tone and atmosphere of the piece; liked the exploration of the future of live theater. Thought the actual story was a little slow and a tad obvious. 3/5
Daughter of Necessity by Marie Brennan
— Reworking of a classic with a POV shift. Didn’t really work for me, mainly because I’m not a fan of the original story. 3/5
Brisk Money by Adam Christopher
— Ooh. I really liked this one. A robot detective and his partner the mainframe that stores his memories. And there’s just this one little problem… 5/5
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Trade-Offs for the Overhaul of the Barricade by John Chu
— Fantastic world building, like a mix between high desert fantasy and math camp. Lovely story, well told. 5/5
The Color of Paradox by A.M. Dellamonica
— Great time travel story. Sometimes you have to change the past, whether you want to or not. 5/5
The Litany of Earth by Ruthanna Emrys
— Lovely, atmospheric story of the Great, Old Ones and those who keep their histories. 4/5
A Kiss with Teeth by Max Gladstone
— Quite possibly the best re-working of the vampire’s tale I’ve ever read, and certainly one of the few to give me actual chills. 5/5
A Short History of the Twentieth Century, or, When You Wish Upon a Star by Kathleen Ann Goonanan
— Lovely story about a girl who wants to ride a rocket to the moon. 5/5
Cold Wind by Nicola Griffith
— The last god left finds new prey in the heart of Seattle. 3/5
The Tallest Doll in New York City by Maria Dahvana Headley
— I love this story. It’s about New York, and guys and dolls and is just magic. 5/5
Where the Trains Turn by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen
— Hmm. Fascinating and heartbreaking by turns, but a bit too long. 4/5
Combustion Hour by Yoon Ha Lee
— Incredible world-building, a little light on plot. 4/5
Reborn by Ken Liu
— Life after the aliens win the war is tricky, memories even more so. 4/5
Midway Relics and Dying Breeds by Seanan McGuire
— The future of the circus is high tech, but some things can't change; a story about running away. Really good. 5/5
Anyway: Angie by Daniel Jose Older
— Noir-ish, atmospheric story about a bodyguard and the saves she makes and those she couldn't. 4/5
The Mothers of Voorhisville by Mary Rickert
— Took a little bit to get into, but ended up being a really interesting story about the power of the group against the unknown. 4/5
Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden’s Syndrome by John Scalzi
— I love a good oral history, and this one, for a fictional disease with some scary real-world analogues was really good. 4/5
Among the Thorns by Veronica Schanoes
— A tale of revenge set amidst Jewish folklore and medieval Germany. Good. 4/5
The Insects of Love by Genevieve Valentine
— Not sure I got this one. It’s time travel and subjective reality, but it’s also about insects and those bits are really cool. 3/5
Sleeper by Jo Walton
— The revolution will be simulated and sent out in the form of books for the masses. 3/5
The Devil in America by Kai Ashante Wilson
— Story about race relations in America; things haven’t changed, not even with the old Africa magic. 4/5
In the Sight of Akresa by Ray Wood
— Tragic love story about a betrayal through silence, forced and otherwise. Beautiful. 4/5
A Cup of Salt Tears by Isabel Yap
— Bittersweet story of a woman and the kappa who loved her. 4/5