Not tortured - the squirrel reads and the foxling is its dealer 
Larry Send a noteboard - 23/12/2009 01:59:04 AM
Larry Send a noteboard - 23/12/2009 01:59:04 AM
Although I am well-aware that fiction anthologies of all stripes are rarely discussed here, I thought perhaps it'd be interesting to hear opinions about what constitutes a good fiction anthology. As my sig line states, I've agreed to work with the Best American Fantasy anthology series (starting with vol. 4, tentative date being mid-2011, with more information forthcoming). Needless to say, how to structure an anthology (in this particular case, a reprint anthology) and make it appealing to a large group of readers has been on my mind recently.
So, for those of you who have read an anthology or who might if persuaded, what do you look for in an anthology (interconnecting stories, particular types of stories told, lots of commentaries by the editor(s), as little commentary from editor(s) and authors as possible, themes, etc.)?
When I read anthologies, I look for a few things.
1. Theme. Each piece within the anthology should work as its own piece, but should also work with the other pieces to form a whole. The stories should progress together.
That's going to be a challenge with a "Best of" reprint anthology. However, I do think it could be done with a lot of work, though. How much...perhaps I'll learn that from the Tootsie Pop owl
2. Pacing. There should be dynamics in the anthology. The works should vary in length and intensity, and should flow one to the next.
Agreed, although it'll again depend on the type of anthology being published.
3. Variety. There should be a diverse range of authors, writing styles, and types of story.
This one is the trickiest, as too much variety can kill any sense of thematic unity.
Yes, you will need to balance variety with unity, but I think it can be done. Seeing as you are doing a "best of" anthology, you could probably make "excellence" the theme.
The pacing itself will depend on the type of stories. With a horror anthology, I look for both the fast paced shock and gore, as well as the slow building terror. For Fantasy, I assume you'll want to look for short stories that read like windows into a world, quests, and maybe a small novella that covers an adventure party.
Maybe other types.
Of course, there are three prior volumes to (re)read and consider from a technical standpoint as well. I will be reviewing BAF3 a week or so after New Year's Day, with the disclaimer that I'll be associated with future volumes. Of course, I'm just a glorified first reader, so what I get to do is read hundreds, if not thousands, of stories that will never make it into an anthology (including some translated Latin American fictions) and then note my favorites for others to consider. Shall be fun, though. Can say that there won't be many quest-type stories to be considered, though, since that narrative type tends to be longer than 10K words
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
Anthologies
- 22/12/2009 11:12:37 PM
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Hey Lars...
- 22/12/2009 11:27:06 PM
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Thanks for the thoughts, Cat Boy
- 23/12/2009 12:54:48 AM
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- 23/12/2009 12:54:48 AM
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Welcome, my friend the tortured Squirel. 
- 23/12/2009 01:41:54 AM
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- 23/12/2009 01:41:54 AM
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Not tortured - the squirrel reads and the foxling is its dealer
- 23/12/2009 01:59:04 AM
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- 23/12/2009 01:59:04 AM
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Anthologies are like mix CDs. I don't really like them.
- 23/12/2009 03:39:12 AM
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I'm curious - do you read many short stories these days?
- 23/12/2009 08:32:14 AM
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Honestly, not many. But when I do, I prefer for them to be in a single-author collection.
- 23/12/2009 11:36:02 PM
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But some authors write such widely-ranging narratives that some anthologies are more unified
- 24/12/2009 02:17:58 AM
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Not to sound shallow, but honestly, I look for a known name ot two.
- 23/12/2009 04:15:45 AM
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