πFinding a Science-Fiction/Fantasy Magazine to Subscribe To
Diversity in Outstanding SF/F Short Fiction
Stories with πLGBT people: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2015-2016
Stories by πPeople of Color: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2015-2016
Monthly Ratings & Annual Outstanding Selections
π
2023: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
πBest SF/F: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
πHard SF: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
✨High Fantasy: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016-2017
π±SF/F Horror: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016-2017
Rocket Stack Rank™ (RSR) aims to help casual SF fans find and discuss great original short fiction. It reviews science fiction and fantasy short stories, novelettes, and novellas, and publishes articles of interest to fans.
Showing posts with label Ratings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ratings. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2023
SF/F Ballots For Stories From 2022
Here are links to ballots for various SF/F awards, 5 that are open to all, and 4 that are open to members of a convention or association. Highlighted awards are currently open for voting.
The magazine-specific awards come with a longlist link to all stories published by each magazine, with blurbs to help you remember the ones you've read and scores to guide further reading.
For the general awards, see the outstanding stories at the 2022 YTD page, grouped by length (novella, novelette, short story), by publication, by new writer (year 1, year 2), or by author.
The magazine-specific awards come with a longlist link to all stories published by each magazine, with blurbs to help you remember the ones you've read and scores to guide further reading.
For the general awards, see the outstanding stories at the 2022 YTD page, grouped by length (novella, novelette, short story), by publication, by new writer (year 1, year 2), or by author.
Sunday, January 15, 2023
January 2023 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: → Due next month
Total Stories: 84; Time & Words: [24h] π¬448K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Thursday, December 15, 2022
December 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 10; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 33; Time & Words: [7h:00m] π¬126K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Outstanding SF/F by People of Color 2021
In the spirit of Lightspeed Magazine's famous People of Color Destroy Science Fiction series, here are 42 stories by 40 people of color that had scores of 3 or higher from RSR's 2021 Best SF/F list. That list contains the 272 most-recommended stories out of 600+ covered, so the 42 stories by people of color make up around 15% of the best of 2021.
Some stories not reviewed by RSR are in the Best SF/F list because they were award finalists π, included in year's best anthologies π, or recommended by other prolific reviewers π (see Q&A for SF/F awards, year's best anthologies, and prolific reviewers followed).
Readers asked us to make it easy for them to find good stories written by authors with diverse racial backgrounds, and that’s what this list is meant to accomplish (author identity plays no role in our ratings). This is the sixth year we've done this list (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015-2016).
Some stories not reviewed by RSR are in the Best SF/F list because they were award finalists π, included in year's best anthologies π, or recommended by other prolific reviewers π (see Q&A for SF/F awards, year's best anthologies, and prolific reviewers followed).
Readers asked us to make it easy for them to find good stories written by authors with diverse racial backgrounds, and that’s what this list is meant to accomplish (author identity plays no role in our ratings). This is the sixth year we've done this list (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015-2016).
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
November 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 41; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 84; Time & Words: [25h] π¬456K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Outstanding High Fantasy of 2021
Here are 19 outstanding high fantasy stories from 2021 that were finalists for major SF/F πawards, included in "year's best" SF/F πanthologies, or recommended by prolific πreviewers in short fiction (see Q&A). That's 19 out of 250+ best SF/F stories from 2021. A story's score is the sum of the +n points in it's "Recommended By" list (click the Details link to see the awards, year's best, and reviewers and the points).
For our purposes, we define "high fantasy" as a fantasy story that takes place in a secondary world. That is, something like Lord of the Rings, where Middle Earth is clearly not in the past or future of our world.
We've included portal fantasies, provided the destination is a secondary world.
For our purposes, we define "high fantasy" as a fantasy story that takes place in a secondary world. That is, something like Lord of the Rings, where Middle Earth is clearly not in the past or future of our world.
We've included portal fantasies, provided the destination is a secondary world.
Saturday, October 15, 2022
October 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 14; Time & Words: [4h:25m] π¬80K
Total Stories: 29; Time & Words: [9h:23m] π¬169K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Monday, October 10, 2022
Outstanding SF/F Horror of 2021

Sunday, September 25, 2022
Outstanding Hard Science Fiction of 2021
Here are 21 outstanding hard science fiction stories from 2021 that were finalists for major SF/F πawards, included in "year's best" SF/F πanthologies, or recommended by prolific πreviewers in short fiction (see Q&A). That's 21 out of 270+ best SF/F stories from 2021. A story's score is the sum of the +n points in it's "Recommended By" list (click the Details link to see the awards, year's best, and reviewers and the points).
Thursday, September 15, 2022
September 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 45; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 96; Time & Words: [26h] π¬468K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Monday, August 15, 2022
August 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 11; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 29; Time & Words: [7h:16m] π¬131K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Friday, July 15, 2022
July 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 37; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 85; Time & Words: [27h] π¬495K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
June 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 9; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 33; Time & Words: [8h:33m] π¬154K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Outstanding LGBT Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2021
June is Pride Month, and here are 41 outstanding stories with LGBT characters from 2021 reviewed by RSR that were either finalists for major SF/F awards π, included in "year's best" SF/F anthologies π, or recommended by prolific reviewers π in short fiction (see Q&A). For earlier outstanding stories, click this link.
This list of stories and the recommendations for each story will be updated as award finalists/winners and the table of contents for year's best anthologies are announced. As long as an LGBT story scores 2 or more (even if it was not recommended by RSR), it will be included here.
As always, our focus is on the stories, not the authors. These are stories with memorable LGBT characters—not necessarily stories by noted LGBT authors. These include stories in which a key character merely happens to be an LGBT person as well as stories where the LGBT angle is crucial to the plot.
This list of stories and the recommendations for each story will be updated as award finalists/winners and the table of contents for year's best anthologies are announced. As long as an LGBT story scores 2 or more (even if it was not recommended by RSR), it will be included here.
As always, our focus is on the stories, not the authors. These are stories with memorable LGBT characters—not necessarily stories by noted LGBT authors. These include stories in which a key character merely happens to be an LGBT person as well as stories where the LGBT angle is crucial to the plot.
Monday, May 16, 2022
May 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 38; Time & Words: [15h] π¬273K
Total Stories: 92; Time & Words: [25h] π¬451K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Friday, April 15, 2022
April 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 11; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 29; Time & Words: [8h:31m] π¬154K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
March 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 47; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 94; Time & Words: [29h] π¬530K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
February 2022 Ratings

Recommended By Stories: 11; Time & Words: [3h:48m] π¬68K
Total Stories: 28; Time & Words: [8h:27m] π¬152K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Annotated 2021 Locus Reading List for Short Fiction
Update 11/9/22: Tagged 2 πWorld Fantasy Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 10/30/22: Tagged 2 πShirley Jackson Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 10/19/22: Tagged 3 πAsimov's Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 9/30/22: Tagged 4 (out of 15) πShirley Jackson Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 9/30/22: Tagged 1 πSturgeon Award winner (click link to highlight).
(More)
Update 9/20/22: Tagged 2 πBritish Fantasy Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 9/5/22: Tagged 1 πEugie Award winner (click link to highlight).
Update 9/5/22: Tagged 3 πHugo Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 8/14/22: Tagged 5 πBritish Fantasy Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 7/21/22: Tagged 9 πWorld Fantasy Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/30/22: Tagged 5 πEugie Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/26/22: Tagged 3 πLocus Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/25/22: Tagged 3 πAnalog Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/9/22: Tagged 40 stories from the πBest American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 5/36/22: Tagged 10 (of 12) stories from πAlan Kaster's year's top hard science fiction anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 5/22/22: Tagged 3 πNebula Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 5/13/22: Tagged 10 πSturgeon Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 5/11/22: Tagged 30 πLocus Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 4/19/22: Tagged 1 πBSFA Award (short fiction) winner (click link to highlight).
Update 4/7/22: Tagged 18 πHugo Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/30/22: Tagged 8 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best dark fantasy and horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/30/22: Tagged 3 stories from πEllen Datlow's year's horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/8/22: Tagged 18 πNebula Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/1/22: Tagged 1 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll winner (click link to highlight).
Update 2/28/22: Tagged 2 of 4 πBSFA Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/18/22: Tagged 14 πAnalog Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/18/22: Tagged 16 πAsimov's Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/16/22: Tagged 7 πUncanny Reader's Poll winners and finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/22: Tagged 8 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 1/24/22: Tagged 20 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 1/23/22: Tagged 1 πReading List: Best Adult Genre Fiction winner (click link to highlight).
Update 1/20/22: Tagged 1 πApex Story of the Year winner (click link to highlight).
Update 12/9/21: Tagged 4 πChoice Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Here is the annotated 2021 Locus Recommended Reading List for short fiction, merged with RSR's 2021 Best SF/F list (aka our aggregated list of "outstanding" stories from 2021 that score 2 or more based on πreviewers, πawards, and year's best πanthologies). All the stories are grouped by length and score, with stories from the Locus list highlighted in red.
The merge lets us analyze the Locus list to see which stories that were broadly recognized as outstanding were left out, which publications stood out, which authors did particularly well (or not), how many were eligible for the Astounding Award, and how RSR's own recommendations stack up with Locus reviewers in general.
As with every RSR annotated list, there are links galore to the stories, their authors, the magazines, any award nominations/wins or "year's best" anthology inclusions, and search-links to find other reviews.
Anyone can vote for the Locus Awards at this link. Due date is Thursday April 15, 2022.
If you want to skip the analysis and just start reading, click here (free stories highlighted).
Update 10/30/22: Tagged 2 πShirley Jackson Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 10/19/22: Tagged 3 πAsimov's Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 9/30/22: Tagged 4 (out of 15) πShirley Jackson Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 9/30/22: Tagged 1 πSturgeon Award winner (click link to highlight).
(More)
Update 9/20/22: Tagged 2 πBritish Fantasy Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 9/5/22: Tagged 1 πEugie Award winner (click link to highlight).
Update 9/5/22: Tagged 3 πHugo Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 8/14/22: Tagged 5 πBritish Fantasy Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 7/21/22: Tagged 9 πWorld Fantasy Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/30/22: Tagged 5 πEugie Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/26/22: Tagged 3 πLocus Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/25/22: Tagged 3 πAnalog Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/9/22: Tagged 40 stories from the πBest American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 5/36/22: Tagged 10 (of 12) stories from πAlan Kaster's year's top hard science fiction anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 5/22/22: Tagged 3 πNebula Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 5/13/22: Tagged 10 πSturgeon Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 5/11/22: Tagged 30 πLocus Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 4/19/22: Tagged 1 πBSFA Award (short fiction) winner (click link to highlight).
Update 4/7/22: Tagged 18 πHugo Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/30/22: Tagged 8 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best dark fantasy and horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/30/22: Tagged 3 stories from πEllen Datlow's year's horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/8/22: Tagged 18 πNebula Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/1/22: Tagged 1 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll winner (click link to highlight).
Update 2/28/22: Tagged 2 of 4 πBSFA Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/18/22: Tagged 14 πAnalog Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/18/22: Tagged 16 πAsimov's Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/16/22: Tagged 7 πUncanny Reader's Poll winners and finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/22: Tagged 8 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 1/24/22: Tagged 20 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 1/23/22: Tagged 1 πReading List: Best Adult Genre Fiction winner (click link to highlight).
Update 1/20/22: Tagged 1 πApex Story of the Year winner (click link to highlight).
Update 12/9/21: Tagged 4 πChoice Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Here is the annotated 2021 Locus Recommended Reading List for short fiction, merged with RSR's 2021 Best SF/F list (aka our aggregated list of "outstanding" stories from 2021 that score 2 or more based on πreviewers, πawards, and year's best πanthologies). All the stories are grouped by length and score, with stories from the Locus list highlighted in red.
The merge lets us analyze the Locus list to see which stories that were broadly recognized as outstanding were left out, which publications stood out, which authors did particularly well (or not), how many were eligible for the Astounding Award, and how RSR's own recommendations stack up with Locus reviewers in general.
As with every RSR annotated list, there are links galore to the stories, their authors, the magazines, any award nominations/wins or "year's best" anthology inclusions, and search-links to find other reviews.
Anyone can vote for the Locus Awards at this link. Due date is Thursday April 15, 2022.
If you want to skip the analysis and just start reading, click here (free stories highlighted).
Labels:
2021,
Annotated,
Blog,
Hugo Awards,
Ratings
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