From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The VanderMeers (
Best American Fantasy) ably demonstrate the sheer breadth of the New Weird fantasy subgenre in this powerful anthology of short fiction and critical essays. Highlights include strong fiction by authors such as M. John Harrison, Clive Barker, Kathe Koja and Michael Moorcock whose work pointed the way to such definitive New Weird tales as Jeffrey Ford's At Reparata and K.J. Bishop's The Art of Dying. Lingering somewhere between dark fantasy and supernatural horror, New Weird authors often seek to create unease rather than full-fledged terror. The subgenre's roots in the British New Wave of the 1960s and the Victorian Decadents can lend a self-consciously literary and experimental aura, as illustrated by the laboratory, where more mainstream fantasy and horror authors, including Sarah Monette and Conrad Williams, try their hands at creating New Weird stories. This extremely ambitious anthology will define the New Weird much as Bruce Sterling's landmark
Mirrorshades anthology defined cyberpunk.
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Review
"Highly recommended for all libraries interested in the latest in sf and fantasy as well as modern horror." —Library Journal
"Ann and Jeff VanderMeer bring their expertise and affection for sci-fi and fantasy to a detailed examination of one of the latest styles to hit this constantly evolving scene." —Kirkus Reviews
"Jeff VanderMeer is one of the most remarkable practitioners of the literary fantastic in America today." —Locus
"A hip, stylistic fiction that evokes the gritty exuberance of pulp novels and dime-store comic books." —Bookgasm.com
"The first comprehensive anthology of the movement." —Guardian Unlimited
"Unique, experimental, and even lyrical stories. . . . If the reader is interested in the weird tale, genre-crossing, or dark fantasy and horror, this book is worth checking out." —Green Man Review
"These stories shine because of their attempts to subvert the normal paradigms of fantasy . . . we are truly seeing something that'll bring new life to a genre." —SF Crownest
"A collection of great stories, some of them really remarkable, a clear portrait of a multi-faceted and undefinable sub-genre and a statement that good literature has no boundaries. An anthology that certainly has conquered its place in history." —verbeat.org
Book Description
This avant-garde anthology that presents and defines the New Weird—a hip, stylistic fiction that evokes the gritty exuberance of pulp novels and dime-store comic books—creates a new literature that is entirely unprecedented and utterly compelling. Assembling an array of talent, this collection includes contributions from visionaries Michael Moorcock and China Miéville, modern icon Clive Barker, and audacious new talents Hal Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, and Sarah Monette. An essential snapshot of a vibrant movement in popular fiction, this anthology also features critical writings from authors, theorists, and international editors as well as witty selections from online debates.
