Somewhat unbelievably, I find one of my stories in the table of contents of the NewCon Press Best Of British SF 2018, edited by Donna Scott and to be published this August. First time one of my stories has featured in a best of anything, and not only that, look at this super-talented lineup of writers…

Multiple lifetime ambitions achieved here, including sharing a table of contents with Al Reynolds, of whom I am a fan, and who was also a fellow first year Astronomy student at Newcastle University (Hi Al!).

That sound you’re hearing? Me going “Ouch!” as I keep trying to pinch myself awake out of this dream…

Best Of British SF 2018:

• Providence – Alastair Reynolds
• Talking to Ghosts at the Edge of the World – Lavie Tidhar
• The Miracle Lambs of Minane – Finbarr O’Reilly
• Territory Blank – Aliya Whiteley
• Throw Caution – Tim Major
• Golgotha – Dave Hutchinson
• Salvation – Dave Bradley
• Waterbirds – G.V. Anderson
• Buddy System – Mike Morgan
• Do No Harm – Anna Ibbotson
• A Change of Heart – Hannah Tougher
• Birnam Platoon – Natalia Theodoridou
• Good – Sunyi Dean
• Hard Times in Nuovo Genova – Chris Barnham
• The Escape Hatch – Matthew de Abaitua
• P.Q. – James Warner
• The Purpose of the Dodo is to be Extinct – Malcolm Devlin
• Cat and Mouse – David Tallerman
• Before They Left – Colin Greenland
• Harry’s Shiver – Esme Carpenter
• The Whisperer – J.K. Fulton
• Death of the Grapevine – Teika Marija Smits
• Rainsticks – Matt Thompson
• The Veilonaut’s Dream – Henry Szabranski
• Doomed Youth – Fiona Moore
• F Sharp 4 – Tim Pieraccini

Chasing the Lightship by Les Edwards