Over the last few weeks I’ve been reading short stories and novellas collected in the annual anthology by Gardner Dozois (for 2013 and 1995).  Here’s a few recommendations:

2013

• Indraparamit Das, “Weep for a Day” A really nice “classical” tale of a child slowly coming of age as her society explores/conquers the wild and those who live there.
• Paul McAuley, “The Man” Bittersweet tale of our common yearning for connection, somehow.  I did not like, however, his other story in the collection, “Macy Minnot’s…’
• Megan Lindholm, “Old Paint” A sort of sweet tale, again about coming of age.  I did not know she was author of one of my sons favorite fantasy books, Assassin’s Apprentice.
• Eleanor Arnason, “Holmes Sherlock” A good description  like Le Guin of a matriarchal world, but the story ultimately not that compelling.  (I see now that Wikipedia also makes the Le Guin comparison.)
• Robert Reed, “Katabasis” Actually my favorite story in the collection.  About dealing with the past.  A nice review with spoilers is here.  But his story in the 1995 volume, “A Place with Shade” was underwhelming.

1995

• Ursula K. Le Guin.  Her two stories, “A Woman’s Liberation” and “Coming of Age in Karhide” were both quite enjoyable.
• Maureen McHugh, “The Lincoln Train” is a nice alt-history, quite short and to-the-point.
• Geoff Ryman, “Home” strikes a nerve I am sure for people over a certain age as the younger generation casts you aside.
• Paul McAuley, “Recording Angel” Very interesting even though I could barely figure it out!  The link has an afterword that is worth reading.  Notice his story in 2013 was also one of my favorites.