Science fiction and fantasy has never been more diverse or vibrant, and 2014 has provided a bountiful crop of extraordinary stories. These stories are about the future, worlds beyond our own, the realms of our imaginations and dreams but, more importantly, they are the stories of ourselves. Featuring best-selling writers and emerging talents, here are some of the most exciting genre writers working today.

Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan once again brings you the best stories from the past year. Within you will find twenty-eight amazing tales from authors across the globe, displaying why science fiction and fantasy are genres increasingly relevant to our turbulent world.

Featuring Kelly Link • Holly Black • Ken Liu • Usman T. Malik • Lauren Beukes • Paolo Bacigalupi • Joe Abercrombie • Genevieve Valentine • Nicola Griffith • Caitlín R. Kiernan • Greg Egan • K. J. Parker • Rachel Swirsky • Alice Sola Kim • Garth Nix • Karl Schroeder • Ellen Klages • Kai Ashante Wilson • Michael Swanwick • Eleanor Arnason • James Patrick Kelly • Ian Mcdonald • Amal El-Mohtar • Tim Maughan • Elizabeth Bear • Theodora Goss • Peter Watts