The good folk at the Science Fiction Book Club have just sent me the cover rough for the second volume of the ‘Best Short Novels’ anthology series. I think it’s very cool, very sci-fi, dark, and a bit of fun. Just as a reminder, the final table of contents for this volume, in running order, is:

Introduction, Jonathan Strahan
“Men are Trouble”, James Patrick Kelly
“Mayflower II”, Stephen Baxter
“Sergeant Chip”, Bradley Denton
“The Garden: A Hwarhath Science Fictional Romance”, Eleanor Arnason
“Under the Flag of Night”, Ian McDowell
“Shadow Twin”, Gardner Dozois, George R.R. Martin and Daniel Abraham
“The Concrete Jungle”, Charles Stross
“The Gorgon in the Cupboard”, Patricia A. McKillip
“The Fear Gun”, Judith Berman
“Arabian Wine”, Gregory Feeley

I’m already keeping my eye out for stories for Best Short Novels: 2006. We’re obviously a long way from contracts for that book, but I’m hopeful. So, if you see anything, let me know. I’m looking for great stories that are 15,000 words or more in length published during 2005. I’d also encourage you, if you like the series, to join up with the SFBC and buy a copy.