[mojoe]

Yes, I plan on releasing one annually, based on the best concept-driven science fiction stories from the previous year. Any more than that and it would take too much time, but one per year is sustainable for me.

I agree that there are many forgotten gems in old science fiction short stories. I just counted on my bookshelf, I own 19 of those old collections in physical form and I'm sure many more in ebook form.

[jacquesm]

Hehe, cool, we should exchange reading lists!

I really dislike Ron L. Hubbard but besides having a knack for tooting his own horn he also had a great eye for good stories.

Have you thought of asking the writers that have already 'arrived' to write a short story on commission? That would lift up the stature of all of the stories you've picked out to be curated. I saw you mentioned Greg Egan, that is definitely a big name.

[mojoe]

My favorite collection recently was "The Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge". It spans his short fiction from 1965-2001.

I've considered commissions many times, I go back and forth on it. I wouldn't want to put a commissioned story into a "Year's Best" anthology, just because I truly want it to be a "Year's Best" -- i.e. I need to evaluate ALL the stories published to the best of my ability and choose the best regardless of name recognition.

I could commission some and create a new themed book separate from the "Year's Best", but that's hit and miss. The main issue with commissions for me is that you never really know if the thing you're commissioning is going to turn out how you want. If the authors are well-known it will probably be good, but I've had many editor friends commission stuff that was just phoned in.