FFB: Horror and Fantasy Annuals, 1992 editions, edited by Karl Edward Wagner, Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, and Stephen Jones and Ramsey Campbell

Hachette, which had purchased the UK firm Constable and Robinson and essentially made it an imprint of their previous purchase Little, Brown, have further gone on to announce essentially the extinction of the Mammoth Book line of anthologies, a quarter-century-plus tradition of mostly fine, fat anthologies of fiction and sometimes nonfiction (occasionally of photography and comics), for most of that period reprinted/co-published (on miserable paper, too often) by the now defunct Carroll & Graf in the US, latterly mostly by the Philly-based Running Press. This is distressing to me as a reader in greatest part because it means at least the dispersal of a fine set of annuals...Stephen Jones has found another publisher for his Best New Horror, and Maxim Jakubowski hopes to do likewise for his Best British Crime (formerly Best New British Mysteries) and Best New Erotica annuals...but also of a fine and diverse set of one-offs edited by Mike Ashley and the two annual editors and not a few others of note.

Somewhat reminiscent of how St. Martin's/Tor/Forge decided to shed Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg's crime-fiction annual, and then the Ellen Datlow/Kelly Link and Gavin Grant fantasy and horror annual, while at least having the wit to retain the Gardner Dozois sf annual (which was reprinted in Britain as as a Mammoth annual)...Datlow found

herself another publisher, doing a volume on her own, till that publisher became insolvent, leaving several annuals under their imprint to scramble for new publishers.

So, this time of changes casts me back to 1992, perhaps for no better reason than I was to take a job at a new Borders Book Shop in Northern Virginia in that year and among my first responsibilities was to take care of the small horror-fiction section in the store, which meant I also took care of the westerns and war fiction, no burden at all (Borders is probably the only chain store in US history to have had dedicated war fiction and labor studies sections in every outlet, at least in the heroic early years)...there were Mammoth Books in both those sections, as well...

The ferment of 1980s horror publishing, in the wake of the consistent best-selling status of Stephen King, Anne Rice, V. C. Andrews, James Herbert, John Saul and others as we entered the decade (including the remnants of the new Gothics so prevalent at the beginning of the '70s, beyond Rice and Andrews...and Thomas Tryon hadn't hurt, even as Ira Levin had been perhaps the first in his wave to get publishers to sit up and note the consistency with which his horror and horror-bybrid novels had been selling from Rosemary's Baby onward), was definitely thinning out in the early '90s, which had the disadvantage of less money thrown at horror publishing but also the advantage of somewhat less opportunistic publishing of anything that might ooze slowly down the wall when thrown at it to stick (apologies to those still pining for the novels of Ruby Jean Jensen and Guy N. Smith).  More of those who remained, even at such last redoubts as the interesting book line Dell Abyss, edited by Jeanne Cavelos (leading off with challenging novels by Poppy Z. Brite and Kathe Koja) were in it for the art, as much as possible...and the annuals of this year demonstrate that rather handily...

Judith Merril meant Science Fantasy, as an
all-inclusive term, by SF in those years...

Some, like George Kelley, find unfortunate the tendency toward annual megabookery (even given that both the pioneering annuals in fantastic fiction from Bleiler and Ditky and from Judith Merril tended to be rather fat themselves, and the early likes of Christine Campbell Thomson or Dorothy L. Sayer's horror and suspense anthologies of the 1930s would easily run from five hundred to over a thousand pages--not so good for propping on the belly), but I'm still fond of the diversity of the three annuals published in the US in 1992, and their heirs today...it's notable that the veteran of the three annuals, Karl Edward Wagner's (listed third below) is the only one to reach out to not only a biker magazine (a subculture Wagner kept a foot in) for one of its contributions, but also to the sports-fiction little magazine Aethlon for a baseball story by the Canadian writer Edo van Belkom. The closest thing to a ringer in the Datlow & Windling volume is a 1967 story from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and if I can dig out my copy to review, I might be able to say why it was included (newly collected in a book from the author, or otherwise seemingly lost and recently come upon by Ellen?--in comments, Matthew Davis notes the magazine reprinted the story in a 1991 issue, a regular feature I belatedly recall of AHMM in those years); Jones and Campbell pull a David Schow story from the music magazine Reflex.  But mostly, with perhaps a higher number of overlapping story inclusions than most years in these annuals, you see the continuing development of new and old writers, and not a few of these story titles will leap out at you if you've read in the fields at all over the last several decades...DAW Books were already thinning out their annuals by '92, having given up on on their Year's Best Fantasy Stories a few years before, and Donald Wollheim's own sf annual for his imprint had ended with his death in 1990, even as Wagner's would a few years later with his death.  Ramsey Campbell's story is in all three books, and not the least noteworthy here are the important early stories from Kathe Koja and Elizabeth Hand...and a key story from Alan Brennert....

Indices courtesy the Locus/Homeville index pages:

Best New Horror 3 ed. Stephen Jones & Ramsey Campbell (Carroll & Graf 0-88184-858-1, Sep ’92 [Aug ’92], $21.00, 417pp, hc) Best-of-the-year anthology of 29 horror stories from 1991, with an introduction and a necrology by the editors. Recommended (SW [Susan Wood]).

• xvii · Introduction: Horror in 1991 · Stephen Jones & Ramsey Campbell · in
• 1 · True Love · K. W. Jeter · ss A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 15 · The Same in Any Language · Ramsey Campbell · ss Weird Tales Sum ’91
• 27 · Impermanent Mercies · Kathe Koja · ss Dark Voices 3, ed. David Sutton & Stephen Jones, London: Pan, 1991
• 35 · Ma Qui · Alan Brennert · ss F&SF Feb ’91
• 53 · The Miracle Mile · Robert R. McCammon · nv Under the Fang, ed. Robert R. McCammon, Pocket, 1991
• 71 · Taking Down the Tree · Steve Rasnic Tem · vi Pulphouse Dec 31 ’91
• 75 · Where Flies Are Born · Douglas Clegg · ss Tekeli-li! #2 ’91
• 85 · Love, Death and the Maiden [“Mädelein”] · Roger Johnson · ss The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories 2, ed. Richard Dalby, Carroll & Graf, 1991
• 97 · Chui Chai · S. P. Somtow · ss The Ultimate Frankenstein, ed. Byron Preiss, David Kellor, Megan Miller & John Gregory Betancourt, Dell, 1991
• 111 · The Snow Sculptures of Xanadu · Kim Newman · ss Million #5 ’91
• 117 · Colder Than Hell · Edward Bryant · ss Cold Shocks, ed. Tim Sullivan, Avon, 1991
• 129 · Raymond · Nancy A. Collins · ss The Ultimate Werewolf, ed. Byron Preiss, David Kellor, Megan Miller & John Gregory Betancourt, Dell, 1991
• 143 · One Life, in an Hourglass · Charles L. Grant · ss The Bradbury Chronicles, ed. William F. Nolan & Martin H. Greenberg, Roc, 1991
• 155 · The Braille Encyclopedia · Grant Morrison · ss Hotter Blood, ed. Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett, Pocket, 1991
• 167 · The Bacchae · Elizabeth Hand · ss Interzone Jul ’91
• 183 · Busted in Buttown · David J. Schow · ss Reflex Dec ’91
• 189 · Subway Story · Russell Flinn · ss Stirring Within, British Fantasy Society, 1990
• 201 · The Medusa · Thomas Ligotti · nv Fantasy Tales, #7, ed. Stephen Jones & David A. Sutton, Robinson, 1991
• 221 · Power Cut · Joel Lane · ss Skeleton Crew Apr ’91
• 229 · Moving Out · Nicholas Royle · ss Skeleton Crew Jan ’91
• 235 · Guignoir · Norman Partridge · ss Guignoir and Other Furies, ed. George Hatch, Horror’s Head Press, 1991
• 259 · Blood Sky · William F. Nolan · ss The Blood Sky, Deadline Press, 1991
• 279 · Ready · David Starkey · ss Grue #12 ’91
• 289 · The Slug · Karl Edward Wagner · nv A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 301 · The Dark Land · Michael Marshall Smith · ss Darklands, ed. Nicholas Royle, Edgerton Press, 1991
• 321 · When They Gave Us Memory · Dennis Etchison · ss Final Shadows, ed. Charles L. Grant, Doubleday Foundation, 1991
• 337 · Taking Care of Michael · J. L. Comeau · vi Borderlands 2, ed. Thomas F. Monteleone, Borderlands Press, 1991
• 341 · The Dreams of Dr. Ladybank · Thomas Tessier · na Night Visions 9, ed. Anon., Arlington Heights, IL: Dark Harvest, 1991
• 399 · Zits · Nina Kiriki Hoffman · vi Iniquities Fll ’91
• 403 · Necrology: 1991 · Stephen Jones & Kim Newman · bg

The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Fifth Annual Collection ed. Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (St. Martin’s 0-312-07888-9, Aug ’92 [Jul ’92], $15.95, 518pp, tp, cover by Thomas Canty) Best-of-the-year anthology of 44 stories and six poems, plus a summation of the year in horror and fantasy by the editors, a survey of fantasy and sf in the media, and a necrology. This is the best of the horror/fantasy “bests” Highly recommended (SW). A hardcover edition (-07887-0, $27.95) was announced but not seen.

• xiii · Summation 1991: Fantasy · Terri Windling · ar
• xxix · Summation 1991: Horror · Ellen Datlow · ar
• lxviii · Horror and Fantasy in the Media: 1991 · Edward Bryant · ar
• lxxvi · Obituaries · Misc. · ob
• 1 · The Beautiful Uncut Hair of Graves · David Morrell · nv Final Shadows, ed. Charles L. Grant, Doubleday Foundation, 1991
• 27 · In Carnation · Nancy Springer · ss Catfantastic II, ed. Andre Norton & Martin H. Greenberg, DAW, 1991
• 38 · The Somewhere Doors · Fred Chappell · nv More Shapes Than One, St. Martin’s, 1991
• 55 · Poe at the End · R. H. W. Dillard · pm Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture Mar ’91
• 58 · Angels in Love · Kathe Koja · ss F&SF Jul ’91
• 64 · Vivian · Midori Snyder · nv The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, Signet, 1991
• 81 · True Love · K. W. Jeter · ss A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 92 · The Second Most Beautiful Woman in the World · A. R. Morlan · ss Obsessions, ed. Gary Raisor, Arlington Heights, IL: Dark Harvest, 1991
• 103 · The Swordsman Whose Name Was Not Death [Swordspoint] · Ellen Kushner · ss F&SF Sep ’91
• 113 · The Ragthorn · Robert Holdstock & Garry Kilworth · nv A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 139 · The Smell · Patrick McGrath · ss The New Gothic, ed. Bradford Morrow & Patrick McGrath, Random House, 1991
• 144 · The Tenth Scholar · Steve Rasnic & Melanie Tem · ss The Ultimate Dracula, ed. Byron Preiss, David Kellor & Megan Miller, Dell, 1991
• 154 · Fisher Death · Jessica Amanda Salmonson · pm Weird Tales Spr ’91
• 155 · Walk in Sable · Jessica Amanda Salmonson · pm Haunts #22 ’91
• 156 · The Cut Man · Norman Partridge · ss Copper Star, ed. Bruce D. Arthurs, 1991 World Fantasy Convention, 1991
• 168 · The Kind Men Like · Karl Edward Wagner · ss Hotter Blood, ed. Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett, Pocket, 1991
• 178 · The Coon Suit · Terry Bisson · ss F&SF May ’91
• 181 · Queen Christina and the Windsurfer · Alison Fell · ss Winter’s Tales, New Series: 7, ed. Robin Baird-Smith, Constable, 1991
• 190 · Chui Chai · S. P. Somtow · ss The Ultimate Frankenstein, ed. Byron Preiss, David Kellor, Megan Miller & John Gregory Betancourt, Dell, 1991
• 201 · Mama Gone · Jane Yolen · ss Vampires, ed. Jane Yolen & Martin H. Greenberg, HarperCollins, 1991
• 206 · Peter · Pat Murphy · ss Omni Feb ’91
• 210 · Our Lady of the Harbour [Newford] · Charles de Lint · na Axolotl Press: Eugene, OR, 1991
• 239 · The Visitors’ Book · Stephen Gallagher · ss Darklands, ed. Nicholas Royle, Edgerton Press, 1991
• 249 · At the End of the Day · Steve Rasnic Tem · ss Dead End: City Limits, ed. Paul F. Olson & David B. Silva, St. Martin’s, 1991
• 255 · The Monster · Nina Katerli; trans. by Bernard Meares · ss Soviet Women Writing, ed. Elena J. Kalina, Abbeville Press, 1990
• 261 · Hummers · Lisa Mason · nv IASFM Feb ’91
• 276 · Santa’s Way · James Powell · ss EQMM mid-Dec ’91
• 283 · Call Home · Dennis Etchison · ss Psycho-Paths, ed. Robert Bloch, Tor, 1991
• 290 · The Braille Encyclopaedia · Grant Morrison · ss Hotter Blood, ed. Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett, Pocket, 1991
• 300 · The Poisoned Story · Rosario Ferré · ss The Youngest Doll, University of Nebraska Press, 1991
• 308 · Blood · Janice Galloway · ex Blood, Secker & Warburg, 1991
• 313 · Dogstar Man · Nancy Willard · ss Full Spectrum 3, ed. Lou Aronica, Amy Stout & Betsy Mitchell, Doubleday Foundation, 1991
• 323 · Persistence of Memory · Joanne Greenberg · ss With the Snow Queen, Little, Brown, 1991
• 336 · You’ll Never Eat Lunch on This Continent Again · Adam Gopnik · ss New Yorker May 27 ’91
• 341 · The Glamour · Thomas Ligotti · ss Grimscribe, Carroll & Graf, 1991
• 348 · The Peony Lantern · Kara Dalkey · ss Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine Issue 10, ed. Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Pulphouse, 1991
• 358 · To Be a Hero · Nancy Springer · pm Weird Tales Fll ’91
• 360 · The Same in Any Language · Ramsey Campbell · ss Weird Tales Sum ’91
• 370 · Teratisms · Kathe Koja · ss A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 377 · The Life of a Poet [1951] · Kobo Abe · ss Beyond the Curve, Kodansha, 1991
• 385 · The Witch of Wilton Falls · Gloria Ericson · ss AHMM May ’67
• 398 · Home by the Sea · Pat Cadigan · nv A Whisper of Blood, ed. Ellen Datlow, Morrow, 1991
• 414 · Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymous Bosch · Nancy Willard · pm New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991
• 417 · The Ash of Memory, the Dust of Desire · Poppy Z. Brite · nv Dead End: City Limits, ed. Paul F. Olson & David B. Silva, St. Martin’s, 1991
• 430 · The Pavilion of Frozen Women · S. P. Somtow · nv Cold Shocks, ed. Tim Sullivan, Avon, 1991
• 457 · Moon Songs · Carol Emshwiller · ss The Start of the End of it All and Other Stories, The Women’s Press, 1990
• 465 · The Afternoon of June 8, 1991 · Ian Frazier · vi New Yorker Aug 19 ’91
• 468 · Gwydion and the Dragon · C. J. Cherryh · nv Once Upon a Time, ed. Lester del Rey & Risa Kessler, Legend, 1991
• 486 · A Story Must Be Held · Jane Yolen · pm Colors of a New Day: Writing for South Africa, ed. Sarah LeFanu & Stephen Hayward, Pantheon, 1991
• 488 · The Ogre’s Wife · Pierrette Fleutiaux · ss Grand Street #37 ’91
• 507 · Honorable Mentions: 1991 · Misc. · bi

The Year’s Best Horror Stories: XX ed. Karl Edward Wagner (DAW 0-88677-526-4, Oct ’92 [Sep ’92], $5.50, 349pp, pb, cover by Jim Warren) Best-of-the-year horror anthology of 22 stories, with an introduction by the editor on the state of the horror field.

• 15 · Introduction: Garage Band Fiction · Karl Edward Wagner · in
• 19 · Ma Qui · Alan Brennert · ss F&SF Feb ’91
• 42 · The Same in Any Language · Ramsey Campbell · ss Weird Tales Sum ’91
• 58 · Call Home · Dennis Etchison · ss Psycho-Paths, ed. Robert Bloch, Tor, 1991
• 68 · A Scent of Roses · Jeffrey Goddin · ss Dark Infinity Spr ’91
• 84 · Root Cellar · Nancy Kilpatrick · ss The Vampire’s Crypt #4 ’91
• 91 · An Eye for an Eye · Michael A. Arnzen · ss Outlaw Bikers’ Tattoo Revue #16 ’91
• 99 · The Picnickers · Brian Lumley · nv Final Shadows, ed. Charles L. Grant, Doubleday Foundation, 1991
• 124 · With the Wound Still Wet · Wayne Allen Sallee · ss Cemetery Dance Sum ’91
• 130 · My Giddy Aunt · D. F. Lewis · ss Chills #5 ’91
• 136 · The Lodestone · Sheila Hodgson · nv Ghosts & Scholars #13 ’91; adapted by the author from her play of the same title,; broadcast on BBC Radio 4, on April 19th 1989.
• 161 · Baseball Memories · Edo van Belkom · ss Aethlon Fll ’91
• 174 · The Bacchae · Elizabeth Hand · ss Interzone Jul ’91
• 193 · Common Land · Joel Lane · ss Darklands, ed. Nicholas Royle, Edgerton Press, 1991
• 208 · An Invasion of Angels · Nina Kiriki Hoffman · ss Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine Issue 10, ed. Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Pulphouse, 1991
• 224 · The Sharps and Flats Guarantee · C. S. Fuqua · ss Atopos #1 ’91
• 232 · Medusa’s Child · Kim Antieau · ss Final Shadows, ed. Charles L. Grant, Doubleday Foundation, 1991
• 245 · Wall of Masks · t. Winter-Damon · ss Grue #12 ’91
• 264 · Moving Out · Nicholas Royle · ss Skeleton Crew Jan ’91
• 271 · Better Ways in a Wet Alley · Barb Hendee · ss Not One of Us Jan ’91
• 283 · Close to the Earth · Gregory Nicoll · ss Cold Shocks, ed. Tim Sullivan, Avon, 1991
• 298 · Churches of Desire · Philip Nutman · nv Borderlands 2, ed. Thomas F. Monteleone, Borderlands Press, 1991
• 323 · Carven of Onyx · Ron Weighell · nv Tales of Witchcraft, ed. Richard Dalby, O’Mara, 1991

Goodbye, 
Mammoths...and nice to see you briefly again, 1992 annuals...for more of today's books, please see Patti Abbott's blog...

Bill Pronzini and MH Greenberg, editors

Randolph Scott might mean "western" to the World