The 1982 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology

Anthology

An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...

 of science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim

Donald A. Wollheim

Donald Allen Wollheim was an American science fiction ' editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell....

 and Arthur W. Saha

Arthur W. Saha

Arthur William Saha was an American speculative fiction editor and anthologist, closely associated with publisher Donald A. Wollheim.-Life:...

, the eleventh volume in a series

The Annual World’s Best SF

The Annual World's Best SF was a series of annual paperback anthologies published by DAW Books from 1972 to 1990 under the editorship of publisher Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha from 1972 to 1990. Some volumes were also issued in hardcover through the Science Fiction Book Club...

 of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books

DAW Books

DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...

 in May 1982, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same year by the same publisher as a selection of the Science Fiction Book Club. For the hardcover edition the original cover art of Wayne D. Barlowe was replaced by a new cover painting by Dawn Wilson.

The book collects ten novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction by Wollheim. The stories were previously published in 1981 in the magazines Omni

Omni (magazine)

OMNI was a science and science fiction magazine published in the US and the UK. It contained articles on science fact and short works of science fiction...

, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...

, Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact

Analog Science Fiction and Fact

Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...

, and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

Asimov's Science Fiction

Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...

, the collections Sunfall and Out of the Everywhere and Other Extraordinary Visions

Out of the Everywhere and Other Extraordinary Visions

Out of the Everywhere, and Other Extraordinary Visions is a short story collection by James Tiptree, Jr that was first published in 1981 as a Del Rey Books paperback original...

, and the anthology Distant Worlds

Distant Worlds

Distant Worlds is a pausable real-time, space 4X game developed by Code Force and published by Matrix Games.Distant Worlds was released on March 25, 2010.- Gameplay :...

.

Contents

• "Introduction" (Donald A. Wollheim
  Donald A. Wollheim
  Donald Allen Wollheim was an American science fiction ' editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell....
  
  )
• "Blind Spot" (Jayge Carr
  Jayge Carr
  Jayge Carr is the pen name of science fiction and fantasy author Margery Ruth Morgenstern Krueger , also known as Margery Krueger and Marj Krueger. She is best known for her "Rabelais" series.-Life:...
  
  )
• "Highliner" (C. J. Cherryh
  C. J. Cherryh
  Carolyn Janice Cherry , better known by the pen name C. J. Cherryh, is a United States science fiction and fantasy author...
  
  )
• "The Pusher" (John Varley
  John Varley
  John Varley may refer to:* John Varley , English canal engineer* John Varley , English painter and astrologer* John Varley , American science fiction author...
  
  )
• "Polyphemus" (Michael Shea
  Michael Shea
  Michael Shea is an American fantasy, horror, and science fiction author living in California. He is a multiple winner of the World Fantasy Award.-Life and work:...
  
  )
• "Absent Thee from Felicity Awhile . . ." (Somtow Sucharitkul
  S. P. Somtow
  S. P. Somtow is a Thai-American musical composer. He is also a science fiction, fantasy, and horror author writing in English...
  
  )
• "Out of the Everywhere" (James Tiptree, Jr.)
• "Slac//" (Michael P. Kube-McDowell
  Michael P. Kube-McDowell
  Michael Paul Kube-McDowell is a science fiction novelist. He has also dabbled in music, written for television, been a stringer for a daily newspaper, and published short fiction, reviews, assorted nonfiction and erotica. He was honored for teaching excellence by the 1985 White House Commission on...
  
  )
• "The Cyphertone" (S. C. Sykes)
• "Through All Your Houses Wandering" (Ted Reynolds
  Ted Reynolds
  Theodore Andrus Reynolds is an American science fiction writer.He has been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story and Hugo Award for Best Novella...
  
  )
• "The Last Day of Christmas" (David J. Lake)

Awards

"Blind Spot" placed twenty-fourth in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

.

"The Pusher" was nominated for the 1981 Nebula Award for Best Short Story

Nebula Award for Best Short Story

Winners of the '“Nebula Award for Best Short Story”'. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-Winners and nominees:-External links:* *...

, won the 1982 SF Chronicle Award for Best Short Story and the 1982 Hugo Award for Best Short Story

Hugo Award for Best Short Story

The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...

, and placed first in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

.

"Polyphemus" placed sixth in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

.

"Out of the Everywhere" placed fifth in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

.

"Through All Your Houses Wandering" placed eighteenth in the 1982 Locus Poll Award for Best Novella

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

.