Shaken & Stirred: My Own Personal Best of Sci Fiction (Updated)

For those of you who didn't regularly read Sci Fiction and are wondering what all the fuss is about, a list of my own personal favorite stories published there with links to them. Read now, as no one seems to know how long the site will be archived. I'm only linking to new stuff; pretty much everything from the classic science fiction series is worth your time. I know I'll leave out some excellent stories, but here goes nothing. (Oh, and I didn't read the site consistently from the very, very beginning, so that explains why I'm missing a bunch of excellent stories from the start--I suggest you go browse the archives on your own.)

From the Files of the Time Rangers, Rick Bowes
The Pottawatomie Giant, Andy Duncan
Editing for Content, Gavin J. Grant
Standing in His Light, Kage Baker
The Black Heart, Patrick O'Leary
Non-Disclosure Agreement, Scott Westerfeld
Struwwelpeter, Glen Hirsberg
Water Master, Carol Emshwiller
What I Didn't See, Karen Joy Fowler (This story alone should have justified Sci Fiction's existence forever!)
What Mattered Was Sleep, Patrick O'Leary
Dr. Pretorius and the Lost Temple, Paul McAuley
Boys, Carol Emshwiller
The Empire of Ice Cream, Jeff Ford (There's a ton of great Ford stories in the archive, but this my favorite.)
Daughter of the Monkey God, M.K. Hobson
Ancestor Money, Maureen McHugh
At the Mouth of the River of Bees, Kij Johnson (If you have an older pet, be warned before reading this; but it's a beautiful story.)
It's All True, John Kessel (And my name makes a cameo!)
House of the Future, Richard Butner (A far underappreciated story)
Zora and the Zombie, Andy Duncan (Yams!)
The Baum Plan for Financial Independence, John Kessel
The Voluntary State, Christopher Rowe (My Favorite by my favorite, although he's writing this awesome new story called Asphalt which might displace it.)
The Wolf-man of Alcatraz, Howard Waldrop
Super 8, Terry Bisson
Heads Down, Thumbs Up, Gavin J. Grant (Awesome story)
There's a Hole in the City, Rick Bowes
Calypso in Berlin, Elizabeth Hand
Anyway, M Rickert

We are losing something special. Ellen is one of the best editors working right now, period. As far as I'm concerned, the best literary magazine in the world just got shut down. It's a pretty rare situation that an amazing editor with fantastic, broad taste is able to pay such that she can pick from the best stories being written in the field. It's time for some billionaire who loves SF to step up and start a new magazine for her to edit.

(p.s. What stories am I missing, peeps? I haven't read everything, obviously, with Lucius Shephard being a big blindspot.)

(Updated) Reactions elsewhere:

Read Read

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Eternal
Set in the same world as Tantalize, Cynthia Leitich Smith has written the best kind of sequel--the kind that's even better than the first book. The novel follows teen Miranda into an undead afterlife, alternating her story with that of her guardian angel. If you never thought guardian angels could be awesome, we have something in common: We were wrong. Dark, witty, fabulous. Read this now.
Janni Lee Simner: Bones of Faerie
In her debut young adult novel, Janni Simner inventively and memorably adds to the post-apocalypse tradition, gracing it with a dark fairy tale of being lost in the woods--the terrifying, murderous woods. The meticulous creation of the human and faerie worlds, and the attention to the new operating tendencies of nature, makes this a good bet for anyone who likes to read about life after the end of things familiar. Full take here.
Kelley Armstrong: The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1)
Chloe Saunders has one freak out too many after seeing dead people, and gets sent to a small, private home for special kids. WAY special kids, we learn, as Armstrong teases out the reasons they're all there. One of the things I liked best is that the novel doesn't wear its context on its sleeve--I didn't discover it was set in the same world as the author's very popular urban fantasies for adults until after I read it. A wise decision, because in no way did this book ever feel overburdened by an immense back story. It's quite simply a page-turning pleasure, reinventing well worn tropes without a hint of laziness.
Jo Graham: Black Ships
A riveting blend of history and invention, of fantasy and realism--Graham proves herself more than up to the task of interpreting The Aeneid for today's readers. By focusing on a young Sybil named Gull, the book ably explores the ancient world without sacrificing the view from either the generational royalty at the top, or the displaced slaves and commoners at the bottom. And if you geek out over the mysteries and familial connections of gods like I do, you'll love this even more.
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
Just read this one already. Oh, and block out the day, because, yes, it really is that absorbing.
Justine Larbalestier: How to Ditch Your Fairy
This novel isn't easy to find simple comparisons for, and that's one of the main reasons you should read it. Justine has crafted a unique confection -- equal parts light and density. Set in a world where most people have invisible fairies (or do they?), teenage Charlie is cursed with a Parking Fairy, and resolves to get rid of it. Complications, of course, ensue. Rarely have I seen such exquisite worldbuilding in service of such a witty, fun story. Her best novel yet, this one is a treat not to be missed.