Science fiction has long been a genre that can both challenge and reinforce societal norms, and if there's one anthology that proves this point like a sci-fi laser gun slicing through political correctness, it's The 1984 Annual World's Best SF. Edited by the legendary Donald A. Wollheim, this collection features stories that showcase the finest science fiction from the year prior. With tales that stretch the imagination and provoke thought, Wollheim's anthology provides a time capsule of 1983's best sci-fi, published by DAW Books with a release kicking off the New Year in 1984. If Huffington Post had existed back then, it would have been up in arms trying to ban this book from liberal circles—what with its daring concepts and fearless exploration of human potential.
Running a finely tuned operation, Wollheim does not merely curate these tales; he orchestrates them like a maestro, presenting a range of themes and styles, each one a brushstroke in a grand tapestry of speculative fiction. This was back when editors had spine, taste, and didn’t include stories simply to fill diversity quotas. Not everything was politically correct in this diverse anthology, but every story dared to be different and ignited innovation exploration. Let's explore the standout stories that not only caught the eye of editors but would leave today's American progressives clutching their pearls.
Strike number one against modern overly sensitive readers is Kim Stanley Robinson's 'The Lucky Strike.' What happens when you inject moral dilemmas into an alternate history revisiting the bombing of Hiroshima? Robinson doesn’t pass judgment; he sets the stage for readers to wrestle with ethical quandaries themselves. The story imagines American pilot Captain Frank January choosing not to drop the bomb on Hiroshima—an explosive twist of fate that changes the course of history. Once upon a time, literature encouraged readers to think for themselves.
Then you have David R. Bunch's 'Ralph 4F.' It's an audacious critique of societal forced conformity. Imagine a future dictated not by technology's ceaseless march, but by mediocrity masked as standardization. To be ‘4F’ today would make even the world's socialist dreamers reconsider. A satirical narrative on a utopia gone wrong that would tickle even Ayn Rand.
Robert Silverberg's story, 'Homefaring', offers an intricate exploration of human consciousness transported into the body of a 40-ton whale. Silverberg doesn't just ask us to imagine walking a day in another's shoes, he demands we feel the power of the ocean through a cetacean heart. In an age when identity is malleable and definitions scarce, Silverberg's tale prompts a unity of experience that spans species.
You can trust John Varley to bring the unexpected with 'Press Enter', a gripping thriller that delves into the nature of artificial intelligence and its unfathomable power. Had more folks read this back when it first came out, maybe we wouldn’t have left our front door keys under Alexa’s watch.
Octavia Butler's 'Bloodchild' challenges modern-day victim mentalities with the intricate relationship of humans nesting with aliens. A harmonious symbiosis is presented in Butler's universe where roles are provocatively reversed, providing commentary on power and dependency, an allegory that turns gender rhetoric on its head.
And how could any bold anthology round out without a nod to Greg Bear and his ‘Hardfought’? Imagine a tale where battle and survival span centuries, with each faction realizing the pointlessness only after immeasurable sacrifice. If today's generation had the grit of Bear's characters, perhaps they’d be tweeting less and doing more.
The 1984 Annual World's Best SF doesn’t just share stories—it delivers jabs and body blows to the intellect. It pushes boundaries when many today are wrapping themselves in blankets of comfort and sameness. So, if you yearn for a glimpse back at when science fiction dared to challenge, contradict, and confront societal norms, dust off a copy from your library or snag it online. Who knows, it might even lead to a few courageous conversations that wouldn't just echo in our heads but resound in our actions.