Praise & Honors

  • “John Joseph Adams has become one of those editors whom I know will put together something I will love to read and know that the book I’m about to purchase isn’t going to let me down.” —Wil Wheaton
  • “Hugo-winning editor John Joseph Adams is one of science-fiction’s top anthologists.  He has a deep knowledge of the field and a keen eye for a good story and the books he edits always provide the reader with a first-rate reading experience.” —SFWA Grandmaster Robert Silverberg
  • Hugo Award finalist: Best Editor, Short Form: John Joseph Adams (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
  • World Fantasy Award finalist: Special Award, Professional (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
  • Locus Award finalist: Editor (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Hugo Award Winner: Best Semiprozine: Lightspeed Magazine (2014, 2015); “The Day the World Turned Upside Down” by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
  • Hugo Award finalists: Best Semiprozine: Lightspeed Magazine (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 [no longer eligible post-2015]), “Amaryllis” by Carrie Vaughn, “The Day the World Turned Upside Down” by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, “And You Shall Know Her by the Trail of Dead” by Brooke Bolander.
  • Nebula Award finalists: “Arvies” by Adam-Troy Castro, “I’m Alive, I Love You, I’ll See You in Reno” by Vylar Kaftan, “The Old Equations” by Jake Kerr, “Mama, We are Zhenya, Your Son” by Tom Crosshill, “Her Husband’s Hands” by Adam-Troy Castro, “Give Her Honey When You Hear Her Scream” by Maria Dahvana Headley, “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu, “The Sounds of Old Earth” by Matthew Kressel, “Paranormal Romance” by Christopher Barzak, “Alive, Alive Oh” by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley, “The Litigation Master and the Monkey King” by Ken Liu, “We are the Cloud” by Sam J. Miller, “And You Shall Know Her by the Trail of Dead” by Brooke Bolander, “Madeleine” by Amal El-Mohtar, “Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea” by Sarah Pinsker, “Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station│Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0” by Caroline M. Yoachim.
  • World Fantasy Award finalists: “Breaking the Frame” by Kat Howard.
  • Million Writers Award winners: “Arvies” by Adam-Troy Castro, Best New Online Magazine of 2011 (Lightspeed Magazine)
  • Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award finalists: “Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain” by Yoon Ha Lee, “The Old Equations” by Jake Kerr, “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu, “We are the Cloud” by Sam J. Miller.
  • Stoker Award Finalists: “Her Husband’s Hands” by Adam-Troy Castro.
  • WSFA Small Press Award finalists: “Amaryllis” by Carrie Vaughn (winner), “The Cassandra Project” by Jack McDevitt, “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu.
  • Shirley Jackson Award finalist: “The Traditional” by Maria Dahvana Headley
  • Parsec Award finalists: “Saying the Names” by Maggie Clark (winner), “The Taste of Starlight” by John R. Fultz

 

  • Nebula Award winner: “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers” by Alyssa Wong
  • World Fantasy Award winner: “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers” by Alyssa Wong
  • Stoker Award finalist: “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers” by Alyssa Wong
  • Shirley Jackson Award winner: “57 Reasons for the Slate Quarry Suicides” by Sam J. Miller.
  • Shirley Jackson Award finalist: “Angel, Monster, Man” by Sam J. Miller.
  • Parsec Award finalist: “Singing With All My Skin and Bone” by Sunny Moraine.
  • “Stellar […] An illuminating anthology for genre devotees and curious readers interested in exploring sf/fantasy.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
  • “A delight to read.” —Locus
  • “An exemplary list of the year’s best short fiction.” —SF Signal
  • “A powerful collection that is worth your time, attention, and love.” —Tor.com
  • “A beguiling collection!” —Margaret Atwood
  • “A great, fun, romping collection of stories.” —San Francisco Book Review
  • “Highly recommended.” — Bookgasm
  • “A terrific book, filled with 20 stories that filter very basic questions about humanity—how do men and women relate to each other? how are we being changed by our technology? what is the relationship between oppressor and oppressed?— through the filters of other genres and even other worlds.” —Vox.com
  • “Deliver[s] a thoughtful array from a star-studded assemblage of writers. […] It will leave readers with plenty to think about.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “Whether conjuring a little magic or exploring technology’s impact, these impressive selections demonstrate that these works may be brief in length but long on complexity and voice. Sophisticated sf/fantasy readers will find here everything they enjoy about the genre, plus a few other surprising delights.” —Library Journal
  • “Intellectually demanding […] a very elite, highly curated set of stories. […]  A set of primal, classic-seeming tales from our past, present, and future.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
  • “The second edition to the Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by Karen Joy Fowler (Mariner), is just as strong as the first, if not stronger. […] Showcases the nuanced, playful, ever-expanding definitions of the genre and celebrates its current renaissance.” —The Washington Post
  • “There has never been a better time in science fiction and fantasy short fiction, and you need look no further than this collection to see that truth.” —Tor.com
  • “Harrowing.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
  • “My favorite anthology of all time—packed with masterworks.” —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble
  • “Thought-provoking.” —Publishers Weekly
  • 2009 World Fantasy Award finalist
  • “Superb.” —Publishers Weekly(Starred Review)
  • One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2008
  • “The best collection of zombie stories ever.” —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble
  • “Breathtakingly rich … fantastic storytelling.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
  • “[A] masterful—dare I say perfect—anthology.” —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble
  • “Makes one wish they could be declared official entries in the Holmesian canon.” —SCIFI Magazine (A+ rating)
  • “Outstanding.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “An impressive collection.” —The Washington Post
  • 2011 World Fantasy Award finalist
  • “[Adams] strikes gold.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “Powerful warnings of what we may let ourselves become.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “Simply magnificent … [An anthology] I will cherish forever and undoubtedly read again and again.” —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble
  • One of Barnes & Noble’s Best Books of 2011
  • “Outstanding … [Adams is] a major force in the field.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “Armored stands as the definitive anthology of its kind.” —Bookgasm
  • “A collection exemplifying the theme, and definitely worth checking out.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “The works closely honor Burroughs’s own, with self-assured characters, concrete storytelling, high adventure, and touches of tongue-in-cheek humor. A worthwhile introduction (or, for adult readers, a return) to one of Burroughs’s most imaginative universes.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “An excellent collection that scifi adventure fans will enjoy, and it may guide a new generation of readers to Barsoom.” —School Library Journal
  • “Every story is terrific. Grade A.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer
  • “Adams’s selections are mirrors reflecting one other with the best images of alternate realities. Readers will greatly enjoy this exploration of our world’s foremost and ascendant speculative authors.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
  • “A success … Adams achieves a repositioning of the definition of epic fantasy, one that renders it both more accessible and more vital.” —Green Man Review
  • “Merits a place on fantasy fans’ bookshelves.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “By turns hilarious, heartbreaking and wonderfully wacky, this anthology is a genuine triumph. … Every single one of these tales … is nothing short of stellar. This isn’t just a ‘must-buy,’ it’s a ‘must buy for every sci-fi fan you know.’ 4.5/5 stars.” —Romantic Times, a “Top Pick” for February 2013
  • “A no-holds-barred collection. … Brilliant … insightful … demonstrate[s] the seductive power of the ‘bad guy.’“ —Library Journal (Starred Revew)
  • “Showcases up-and-coming talents as well as acclaimed writers … this anthology will appeal to Oz lovers looking for new perspectives.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “A solidly entertaining anthology, and worth a read.” —Locus
  • “It’s abundantly clear that the authors love and cherish Baum’s wondrous stories. … [Readers] will newly appreciate the inexhaustible richness of Baum’s immortal creation.” —SF Scope
  • “A collection of stories that are colorful, occasionally sad, often delightful, and always creative.” —Attack of the Books
  • “This is the gold rush of Weird Westerns.” —Barnes & Noble
  • “A fearsomely impressive lineup of contributors […] A satisfyingly filler-free compilation.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “John Joseph Adams can do no wrong as far as short-story anthologies go; he has a knack for finding some of the best short-story writers out there, and I’ve found something to enjoy in every one of his collections.” —Pixelated Geek
  • “Superbly written … the most ambitious, audacious undertaking of its kind.” —NPR, on The Apocalypse Triptych
  • “Adams and Howey are a two-man tour-de-force of post-apocalyptic lit. … Ultimately, the best thing about The End Is Nigh is how elegantly it balances on the thin line between beauty and devastation. There’s no story in the book that didn’t break my heart at least a little, and there’s none of the twenty-two that hasn’t stuck with me, hard.” —Wired, on The End is Nigh
  • “Destined to be a favorite among end-of-the-world enthusiasts.” —FEARnet, on The End is Nigh
  • “I wouldn’t be surprised to see this volume well represented in many of the upcoming ‘year’s best’ annuals.” —Toronto Star
  • “Sometimes the [stories] are comic. . . . More often, disaster ensues when machines designed to assist humans rebel. . . . [An] entertaining and occasionally unsettling anthology.” —Publishers Weekly
  • “Philip K. Dick would be proud. . . . You’ll never look at your Roomba the same way again.” —Kirkus
  • Robot Uprisings has a more accessible feel than many science fiction collections, and the sheer breadth of storytelling styles included makes this a great introduction to sci-fi for new readers.” —San Francisco Book Review
  • “A colorful mix of cutting-edge original tales from some of speculative fiction’s leading talents […] Readers will find hours of provocative entertainment here.” —Booklist
  • “Editor John Joseph Adams has done an exceptional job of finding even more cream of the crop from this specific sub genre of fiction.  […] No matter what your favorite flavor of end of the world yarn may be, this tome comes highly recommended.” —ScienceFiction.com
  • “A few of these tales haunted me. Many of them entertained me. And all of them presented solid work. […] One of the best features here is the range of political outlooks on war. Another laudable thing is the inclusion of a couple of stories either told from the non-American side of a particular conflict or overtly critical of the United States. Such inclusion is an act of literary and political bravery. A third strength is the range of sub-genres: from steampunk to an homage to Tolkien to an updating of Peter Pan to golem stories. This is a very worthwhile anthology, with something for every fan of military and fantasy stories.” —Tangent Online
  • “A provocative assortment of thoughtful stories.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
  • “Fascinating […] if you want some interesting, adult takes on aspects your favorite hobby that you may never have thought of, this is worth picking up” —Felicia Day
  • “A big, impressive anthology [featuring] a grim array of futures. […] These works combine effective storytelling and a passionate desire to promote taking action on climate change before it’s too late. —Publishers Weekly
  • Includes Stoker Award finalist: “The Bad Hour” by Christopher Golden
  • “If you’re looking for a read (or lots of reads, as the case may be) that’s equally fun, scary, and thoughtprovoking, then What the #@&% Is That? will be up your alley. With editors as experienced as John Joseph Adams and Douglas Cohen, I’d be surprised if most horror/sci-fi fans don’t enjoy it. The only rating I could possibly give the book is five [out of five] stars.” —Dread Central
  • “[An] amazing collection […] ranging from hilarious to truly terrifying […] a great option to hand to horror fans.” —Booklist
  • “A genuinely chilling, wildly imaginative collection […] At once timely and timelessly unique, [this anthology] is sure to have genre fans enthralled.” —RT Book Reviews [Top Pick, 4.5 Star Rating]
  • “This anthology’s fusion of literary horror and emotional/psychological depth will appeal to readers tired of formulaic genre fiction.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
  • “Astonishingly good […] Rich in great stories.” —Rocket Stack Rank
  • “This collection will prove to be great reading for fans of the space cowboy antics of Guardians of the Galaxy.” —RT Book Reviews
  • “Highly recommended for anyone looking for a variety of engaging sf experiences.” —Booklist
  • “One kickass good anthology […] Highly recommended.” —File 770
  • “The first great anthology of the year, jam-packed with smart, entertaining sci-fi adventure stories that bring a nicely modern sensibility to old ideas and tropes.” —SF Bluestocking