Jenna kisses me. Jake has the grace to say, “Larry, I’m sorry.” Then they are running, sprinting hand-in-hand toward the cover of the dark woods.
Around me, the villagers — my people — move, shudder, sob. The bodies of Dant16 and Dant23 lie at my feet. On the horizon, a blue dot appears in the sky, moving fast.
I can’t imagine what kind of world Jake and Jenna will make, what kind of world their children will inherit. I don’t want to imagine it. But I know, in my bones, that it will come.
Nancy Kress is the author of thirty-two books, including twenty-five novels, four collections of short stories, and three books on writing. Her work has won five Nebulas, two Hugos, a Sturgeon, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. Most recent works are Yesterday’s Kin (Tachyon, 2014) and the forthcoming Best of Nancy Kress (Subterranean, Autumn 2015). In addition to writing, Kress often teaches at various venues around the country and abroad; in 2008 she was the Picador visiting lecturer at the University of Leipzig. Kress lives in Seattle with her husband, writer Jack Skillingstead, and Cosette, the world’s most spoiled toy poodle.
Acknowledgments
Agents: John thanks his agent Seth Fishman, who supported this experiment and provided feedback and counsel whenever he needed it, and also to his former agent Joe Monti (now a book editor who he plans to sell lots of anthologies to), who was very enthusiastic about this idea when it first occurred to him, and encouraged John to pursue his idea to self-publish it. Hugh likewise thanks his agent Kristin Nelson for all of her support and for constantly playing out his leash.
Art/Design: Thanks to Julian Aguilar Faylona for providing wonderful cover art for all three volumes of The Apocalypse Triptych, and to Jason Gurley for adding in all the most excellent design elements that took the artwork from being mere images and transformed them into books. These volumes would not be the same without them.
Proofreaders: Thanks to Rachael K. Jones, Anthony Cardno, Kevin McNeil, Andy Sima, and Adam Dwyer.
Narrators/Producers: Thanks to Stefan Rudnicki and the whole team at Skyboat Media for producing the audiobook version of this anthology, and to narrators Vikas Adam, Gabrielle de Cuir, Justine Eyre, Roxanne Hernandez, Alex Hyde-White, Emily Rankin, Stefan Rudnicki and Judy Young for lending their vocal talents to the production.
Family: John sends thanks to his wife, Christie, his mom, Marianne, and his sister, Becky, for all their love and support, and their endless enthusiasm for all his new projects. He also wanted to thank his sister-in-law Kate and stepdaughter Grace who had to listen to him blab incessantly about this project as it was coming together, ruining many a dinner. Hugh thanks his wife Amber, who co-edits this wonderful life they have together. His chapters would be boring and lonely without her.
Readers: Thanks to all the readers and reviewers of this anthology, and also all the readers and reviewers who loved Hugh’s novels and John’s other anthologies, making it possible for this book to happen in the first place.
Writers: And last, but certainly not least: a big thanks to all of the authors who appear in this anthology. It has been an honor and a privilege. As fans, we look forward to whatever you come up with next.
About The Editors
John Joseph Adams is the series editor of Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He is also the bestselling editor of many other anthologies, such as The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination, Armored, Brave New Worlds, Wastelands, and The Living Dead. Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been nominated eight times) and is a six-time World Fantasy Award finalist. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazines Lightspeed and Nightmare, and is a producer for Wired.com’s The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. Find him on Twitter @johnjosephadams.
Hugh Howey is the author of the acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel Wool, which became a sudden success in 2011. Originally self-published as a series of novelettes, the Wool omnibus is frequently the #1 bestselling book on Amazon.com and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller. The book was also optioned for film by Ridley Scott, and is now available in print from major publishers all over the world. Hugh’s other books include Shift, Dust, Sand, the Molly Fyde series, The Hurricane, Half Way Home, The Plagiarist, and I, Zombie. Hugh lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife Amber and his dog Bella. Find him on Twitter @hughhowey.
Copyright Acknowledgments
THE END HAS COME
© 2015 by John Joseph Adams & Hugh Howey
INTRODUCTION
© 2015 by John Joseph Adams
BANNERLESS
© 2015 by CARRIE VAUGHN
LIKE ALL BEAUTIFUL PLACES
© 2015 by Megan Arkenberg
DANCING WITH A STRANGER IN THE LAND OF NOD
© 2015 by Will McIntosh
THE SEVENTH DAY OF DEER CAMP
© 2015 by Scott Sigler
PROTOTYPE
© 2015 by Sarah Langan
ACTS OF CREATION
© 2015 by Chris Avellone
RESISTANCE
© 2015 by Seanan McGuire
WANDERING STAR
© 2015 by Leife Shallcross
HEAVEN COME DOWN
© 2015 by Ben H. Winters
AGENT NEUTRALIZED
© 2015 by David Wellington
GOODNIGHT EARTH
© 2015 by Annie Bellet
CARRIERS
© 2015 by Tananarive Due
IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF THE PROMISED LAND
© 2015 by Robin Wasserman
THE UNCERTAINTY MACHINE
© 2015 by Jamie Ford
MARGIN OF SURVIVAL
© 2015 by Elizabeth Bear
JINGO AND THE HAMMERMAN
© 2015 by Jonathan Maberry
THE LAST MOVIE EVER MADE
© 2015 by Charlie Jane Anders
THE GRAY SUNRISE
© 2015 by Jake Kerr
THE BLOOMING MEADOW, THE BRIGHTEST STARS
© 2015 by Desirina Boskovich
THE GODS HAVE NOT DIED IN VAIN
© 2015 by Ken Liu
THE HAPPIEST PLACE . . .
© 2015 by Mira Grant
IN THE WOODS
© 2015 by Hugh Howey
BLESSINGS