As with its predecessors in the series, the seventh installment of this annual anthology showcases bestselling authors and rising stars of fantasy fiction. This volume is a compendium of the essential fantasy stories of 2006, a year of particularly outstanding and original offerings. Representing the breadth of talent in the fantasy genre, this year’s contributors include breakthrough talent Charles Stross, revered authors Peter S. Beagle and Gene Wolfe, and exciting newcomers Laird Barron and Martha Wells.