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Nebula Awards Showcase 2004

Cover of first edition
Editor	Vonda N. McIntyre
Cover artist	Ray Lundgren
Language	English
Series	Nebula Awards Showcase
Genre	Science fiction short stories
Publisher	Roc/New American Library
Publication date	2004
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (paperback)
Pages	vi, 280 pp.
ISBN	0-451-45957-1
Preceded by	Nebula Awards Showcase 2003
Followed by	Nebula Awards Showcase 2005

Nebula Awards Showcase 2004 is an anthology of award-winning science fiction short works edited by Vonda N. McIntyre. It was first published in trade paperback by Roc/New American Library in March 2004.

Summary

The book collects pieces that won or were nominated for the Nebula Awards for best novel, novella, novelette and short story for the year 2003, tributes to recently deceased author and SWFA founder Damon Knight, profiles of 2003 grand master winner Ursula K. Le Guin and 2003 Author Emeritus Katherine MacLean, with representative pieces by both, and various other nonfiction pieces related to the awards, together with an introduction by the editor. Not all nominees for the various awards are included, and the best novel is represented by an excerpt. Each story is prefaced with a short introduction by its author.

Contents

• "Introduction: The Heart of the Nebula" (Vonda N. McIntyre)
• "Bronte's Egg" (Richard Chwedyk)
• "Hell Is the Absence of God" (Ted Chiang)
• "Remembering Damon Knight"
  • "Damon Knight" (Frederik Pohl)
  • "Damon" (Carol Emshwiller)
  • "I Remember Damon" (James Gunn)
  • "Damon Knight the Teacher" (Robin Wilson)
  • "Oh You Kid! A Personal View of Damon Knight" (Edward Bryant)
  • "Curious Damon Knight" (Eileen Gunn)
  • "Sensei Wonder" (Leslie What)
• American Gods (excerpt) (Neil Gaiman)
• "Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earl's" (Adam-Troy Castro)
• "A Few Things I Know about Ursula" (Molly Gloss)
• Changing Planes (excerpt from the collection) (Ursula K. Le Guin)
• "Nothing Ever Happens in Rock City" (Jack McDevitt)
• "Cut" (Megan Lindholm)
• "The Dog Said Bow-Wow" (Michael Swanwick)
• "Appreciating Katherine MacLean" (Sharon Lee)
• "Games" (Katherine MacLean)
• "Lobsters" (Charles Stross)
• "Creature" (Carol Emshwiller)
• "2003 Final Nebula Ballot"
• "Past Nebula Awards Winners"

Reception

Michael M. Jones, writing in Chronicle, calls the anthology "a perfect book to pick up" if "you really want to see what the SF field itself thinks best represents its efforts in a year." After noting the story contents briefly, he calls attention to "the various introductions written for each story by the authors, and the assorted essays touching upon relevant topics" as "dding to the qualities of this book," highlighting those honoring LeGuin, Knight and MacLean.

The book was also reviewed by Edward Carmien in SFRA Review no. 270, 2004.

Notes

1. ^ Nebula Awards Showcase 2004 title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
2. Jones, Michael M. Review in Chronicle, v. 26, iss. 10, Oct. 2004, pages 49-50.

• Nebula Award anthologies
• 2004 anthologies
• 2000s science fiction works
• Collections edited by Vonda McIntyre
• Roc Books books