The Years Best Fantasy and Horror

**more** · June 3rd, 2009

I'm not sure if this forum is for books in general, or just SK books.
I am writing about the wickedest, bad-acidest short fiction anthology ever known. It is The Years Best Fantasy and Horror, published by St. Martin's, running for around 20 years now. I was just checking their website to look around and see what's brewing, and BAD NEWS- they're finished. They will not be printing the 2009 edition, there will be no subsequent editions. Apparently there is a new policy at St. Martin's about anthologies.
They did make mention of possible off-shoots, or reincarnations, but I figure The Year's Best has got to have enough loyal readers that it can continue.

Hate to be the harbinger of baddies, but I thought if people knew, and complained, maybe something could still be done to save it.

Thanks for Reading
Moe

**kingricefan** · June 3rd, 2009

That's big business for you, always comes down to the bottom line. At least DAW had the decency to pull the plug on their anothology The Year's Best Horror Stories edited by Karl Edward Wagner after he passed away. That anthology had a run for 22 from 1971 thru 1994. It also had a couple of other editors in the beginning years, namely Richard Davis and Gerald W. Page. There are some outstanding stories to be found in those volumes from the likes of King (of course!), Campbell, Bloch, and many, many others. I really miss the series! Wish they'd bring it back.

**more** · June 4th, 2009

Tell me,
I can understand why new author wouldn't want to self publish. There's a certain stigma, and a guy with stars in his eyes is going to avoid that. But something like an anthology, why don't they just self-publish it? they have a seriously loyal readership, and they've got to have a handle on how many they can sell. They'll probably make considerably more than they would with a publisher, no?
And if they want to go back to printing with a recognized name in publishing, how many years do you think a wildly popular anthology would last without being picked up by somebody? Is it a rights thing? St. Martin's owns the name?
Thanks for Reading,
Moe