πFinding a Science-Fiction/Fantasy Magazine to Subscribe To
Diversity in Outstanding SF/F Short Fiction
Stories with πLGBT people: 2023 2022 2021 2020 More...
Stories by πPeople of Color: 2023 2022 2021 2020 More...
Monthly Ratings & Annual Outstanding Selections
π
2024: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
πBest SF/F: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
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
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Outstanding SF/F Horror of 2023
Although horror isn't our focus, we do review horror stories that turn up in our regular magazines, so in honor of Halloween, here are 43 outstanding SF/F horror stories from 2023 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 43 out of 250+ best SF/F stories from 2023. 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).
Sunday, September 15, 2024
September 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: → Due next month
Total Stories: 90; Time & Words: [24h] π¬432K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: → Due next month
Total Stories: 90; Time & Words: [24h] π¬432K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Outstanding Hard Science Fiction of 2023
Here are 30 outstanding hard science fiction stories from 2023 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 30 out of 250+ best SF/F stories from 2023. 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, August 15, 2024
August 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 4; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 32; Time & Words: [8h:23m] π¬151K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 4; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 32; Time & Words: [8h:23m] π¬151K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Monday, July 15, 2024
July 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: [9h:48m] π¬177K
Total Stories: 65; Time & Words: [22h] π¬397K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: [9h:48m] π¬177K
Total Stories: 65; Time & Words: [22h] π¬397K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
June 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 10; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 31; Time & Words: [8h:54m] π¬160K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 10; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 31; Time & Words: [8h:54m] π¬160K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Outstanding LGBT Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2023
June is Pride Month, and here are 50 outstanding stories with LGBT characters from 2023 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.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
May 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 21; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 73; Time & Words: [22h] π¬401K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 21; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 73; Time & Words: [22h] π¬401K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Monday, April 15, 2024
April 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 7; Time & Words: [2h:18m] π¬41K
Total Stories: 27; Time & Words: [9h:12m] π¬166K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 7; Time & Words: [2h:18m] π¬41K
Total Stories: 27; Time & Words: [9h:12m] π¬166K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Friday, March 15, 2024
March 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 89; Time & Words: [28h] π¬518K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 89; Time & Words: [28h] π¬518K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
February 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 10; Time & Words: [3h:40m] π¬66K
Total Stories: 31; Time & Words: [8h:17m] π¬149K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 10; Time & Words: [3h:40m] π¬66K
Total Stories: 31; Time & Words: [8h:17m] π¬149K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Sunday, February 4, 2024
Annotated 2023 Locus Reading List for Short Fiction
Update 9/5/24: Tagged 1 πSturgeon Award winner (click link to highlight).
Update 9/3/24: Tagged 1 πEugie Award winner (click link to highlight).
Update 8/15/24: Tagged 3 of 11 πBritish Fantasy Award finalists for short fiction (click link to highlight).
Update 8/12/24: Tagged 3 πAsimov's Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 8/11/24: Tagged 3 πHugo Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
(More)
Update 8/11/24: Tagged 11 of 12 πWorld Fantasy Award finalists for short fiction (click link to highlight).
Update 7/15/24: Tagged 9 πSturgeon Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 7/13/24: Tagged 1 of 3 πShirley Jackson Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 7/3/24: Tagged 5 πEugie Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/22/24: Tagged 3 πLocus Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/22/24: Tagged 10 of 15 stories from πAllan Kaster's Year's Top Hard Hard Science Fiction anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 6/14/24: Tagged 20 TOC and 36 of 60 notable stories from πJohn Joseph Adam's Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 6/11/24: Tagged 3 πAnalog Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/8/24: Tagged 3 πNebula Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/7/24: Tagged 3 of 18 πShirley Jackson Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/3/24: Tagged 1 of 2 πBram Stoker Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 5/9/24: Tagged 30 πLocus Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 4/30/24: Tagged 1 of 19 stories from πEllen Datlow's year's best horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 4/3/24: Tagged 1 of 2 πBSFA Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 3/29/24: Tagged 18 πHugo Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/14/24: Tagged 18 πNebula Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/8/24: Tagged 10 of 19 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best dark fantasy & horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/1/24: Tagged 2 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll winners (click link to highlight).
Update 2/29/24: Tagged 4 of 10 πBSFA Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/23/24: Tagged 15 πAnalog Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/23/24: Tagged 16 πAsimov's Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/15/24: Tagged 6 πUncanny Reader's Poll winners and finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/6/24: Tagged 15 of 17 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/24: Tagged 13 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/24: Tagged 2 πApex Reader's Choice winner (click link to highlight).
Here is the annotated 2023 Locus Recommended Reading List for short fiction, merged with RSR's 2023 Best SF/F list (aka our aggregated list of "outstanding" stories from 2023 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, 2024.
If you want to skip the analysis and just start reading, click here (free stories highlighted).
Update 9/3/24: Tagged 1 πEugie Award winner (click link to highlight).
Update 8/15/24: Tagged 3 of 11 πBritish Fantasy Award finalists for short fiction (click link to highlight).
Update 8/12/24: Tagged 3 πAsimov's Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 8/11/24: Tagged 3 πHugo Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
(More)
Update 8/11/24: Tagged 11 of 12 πWorld Fantasy Award finalists for short fiction (click link to highlight).
Update 7/15/24: Tagged 9 πSturgeon Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 7/13/24: Tagged 1 of 3 πShirley Jackson Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 7/3/24: Tagged 5 πEugie Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/22/24: Tagged 3 πLocus Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/22/24: Tagged 10 of 15 stories from πAllan Kaster's Year's Top Hard Hard Science Fiction anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 6/14/24: Tagged 20 TOC and 36 of 60 notable stories from πJohn Joseph Adam's Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 6/11/24: Tagged 3 πAnalog Readers' Award winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/8/24: Tagged 3 πNebula Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 6/7/24: Tagged 3 of 18 πShirley Jackson Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 6/3/24: Tagged 1 of 2 πBram Stoker Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 5/9/24: Tagged 30 πLocus Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 4/30/24: Tagged 1 of 19 stories from πEllen Datlow's year's best horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 4/3/24: Tagged 1 of 2 πBSFA Award (short fiction) winners (click link to highlight).
Update 3/29/24: Tagged 18 πHugo Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/14/24: Tagged 18 πNebula Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 3/8/24: Tagged 10 of 19 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best dark fantasy & horror anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 3/1/24: Tagged 2 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll winners (click link to highlight).
Update 2/29/24: Tagged 4 of 10 πBSFA Award (short fiction) finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/23/24: Tagged 15 πAnalog Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/23/24: Tagged 16 πAsimov's Readers' Award finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/15/24: Tagged 6 πUncanny Reader's Poll winners and finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/6/24: Tagged 15 of 17 stories from πPaula Guran's year's best fantasy anthology (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/24: Tagged 13 πClarkesworld Reader's Poll finalists (click link to highlight).
Update 2/1/24: Tagged 2 πApex Reader's Choice winner (click link to highlight).
Here is the annotated 2023 Locus Recommended Reading List for short fiction, merged with RSR's 2023 Best SF/F list (aka our aggregated list of "outstanding" stories from 2023 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, 2024.
If you want to skip the analysis and just start reading, click here (free stories highlighted).
Labels:
2023,
Annotated,
Blog,
Hugo Awards,
Ratings
Saturday, January 20, 2024
SF/F Ballots For Stories From 2023
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 2023 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 2023 YTD page, grouped by length (novella, novelette, short story), by publication, by new writer (year 1, year 2), or by author.
Monday, January 15, 2024
January 2024 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 19; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 68; Time & Words: [20h] π¬363K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 19; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 68; Time & Words: [20h] π¬363K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Friday, December 15, 2023
December 2023 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 11; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 26; Time & Words: [6h:36m] π¬119K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 11; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 26; Time & Words: [6h:36m] π¬119K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Friday, December 8, 2023
Outstanding SF/F by People of Color 2022
In the spirit of Lightspeed Magazine's famous People of Color Destroy Science Fiction series, here are 60 stories by 53 people of color that had scores of 3 or higher from RSR's 2022 Best SF/F list. That list contains the 255 most-recommended stories out of 600+ covered, so the 60 stories by people of color make up around 23% of the best of 2022.
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 seventh year we've done this list (2021, 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 seventh year we've done this list (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015-2016).
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
November 2023 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 31; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 94; Time & Words: [28h] π¬507K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 31; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 94; Time & Words: [28h] π¬507K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Outstanding High Fantasy of 2022
Here are 21 outstanding high fantasy stories from 2022 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 250+ best SF/F stories from 2022. 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.
Labels:
2022,
Blog,
HighFantasy,
Ratings,
Selection
Sunday, October 15, 2023
October 2023 Ratings
5★ & 4★ Stories: 0; Time & Words: π¬0
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 32; Time & Words: [10h] π¬195K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
Recommended By Stories: 16; Time & Words: π¬NaNM
Total Stories: 32; Time & Words: [10h] π¬195K
Read How to Use RSR on the sidebar or this link to use this post.
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