Wastelands 2: More Stories of the Apocalypse - by George R R Martin & Paolo Bacigalupi & Orson Scott Card & Junot Díaz (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

ITS THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT...

For decades, the apocalypse and its aftermath have yielded some of the most exciting short stories of all time. From David Brin's seminal The Postman to Hugh Howey's Deep Blood Kettle and Tananarive Due's prescient Patient Zero, the end of the world continues to thrill.

This companion volume to the critically acclaimed WASTELANDS offers thirty of the finest examples of post-apocalyptic short fiction, with works by:

Ann Aguirre
Megan Arkenberg
Paolo Bacigalupi
Christopher Barzak
Lauren Beukes
David Brin
Orson Scott Card
Junot Díaz
Cory Doctorow
Tananarive Due
Toiya Kristen
Finley Milo
Joe R. Lansdale
George R. R. Martin
Jack McDevitt
Seanan McGuire
Maureen F. McHugh
D. Thomas Minton
Rudy Rucker & Bruce Sterling
Ramsey Shehadeh
Robert Silverberg

Award-winning editor John Joseph Adams has once again assembled a who's who of short fiction, and the result is nothing short of mind-blowing.

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PRAISE FOR WASTELANDS: Everything that is best about the trope, from bleak, empty worlds to beacons of hope. - Booklist. The best anthology of any kind I have read to date. - Grasping for the Wind. A great collection that gets my highest recommendation.- Bookgasm

Review Quotes

"Wastelands 2 is riveting, and perfect for "on-the-go" fans of thought-provoking, masterfully crafted post-apocalyptic tales." - Comics Online

"As a whole this collection is excellent and I would recommend it to any fan of the genre or short fiction in general. It is refreshing to see an undead-free take on the genre in a market that has been saturated with zombie-related fiction." - Nerdology 101

PRAISE FOR WASTELANDS

"Everything that is best about the trope, from bleak, empty worlds to beacons of hope." Booklist

"The best anthology of any kind I have read to date." Grasping for the Wind

"A great collection that gets my highest recommendation." Bookgasm

"Fantastic collections of end-of-the-world short fiction that fans of the genre will surely enjoy" - VG Blogger

This harrowing reprint anthology of 22 apocalyptic tales reflects the stresses of contemporary international politics [...] All depict unsettling societal, physical and psychological adaptations their authors postulate as necessary for survival after the end of the world. [...] the volume's common denominator is hubris: that tragic human proclivity for placing oneself at the center of the universe, and each story uniquely traces the results. Some highlight human hope, even optimism [others] treat identity by exploring mutation. [Several] gauge the height of human striving, while others [...] plumb the depths of human prejudice, jealousy and fear [and some] will break your heart.

--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

My favorite anthology of all time--packed with masterworks.

--Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble

Hopeful rather than despairing [...] relevant to the uncertain times in which we live [the stories] display a full understanding of the worries and real problems that might eventually threaten civilization as we know it.

--Jeff VanderMeer, Realms of Fantasy

A first-rate anthology that quite convincingly represents the more recent SFnal view of the apocalypse.

--Locus

I can't help but give this collection the highest recommendation. I think this will be a cornerstone for most reader's shelves.

--SFF World

Editor Adams provides a bit of everything that is best about the trope, from bleak, empty worlds to beacons of hope in an otherwise awful situation. [...] A well-chosen selection of well-crafted stories, offering something to please nearly every post-apocalyptic palate.

--Booklist

A classic [...] perfect for those moments when we want to take a trip to the end of the world.

--PC Gamer

Few books have had the impact on me that Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse did. [...] A great collection that gets my highest recommendation.

--Bookgasm

Wastelands is an exceptional anthology. In scope and vision it can only be compared to Harlan Ellison's Dangerous Visions. [...] I highly recommend this anthology for anyone who enjoys reading anything. [...] Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse is the best anthology of any kind I have read to date.

--Grasping for the Wind

Wastelands is a fine anthology: an educational introduction to the subgenre and a well-chosen jog of the memory for the more experienced connoisseur of calamity.

--SF Site

A wide-variety of post-apocalyptic scenarios from some of the field's most prolific authors [...] a must-have volume for fans of the this subgenre of science fiction.

--Stainless Steel Droppings

A great selection of end-of-the-world stories.

--SF Signal

About the Author

Editor John Joseph Adams--called "the reigning king of the anthology world" by Barnes & Noble--is the bestselling editor of many anthologies such as Epic: Legends of Fantasy, Wastelands, and The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He the editor of Fantasy Magazine and Lightspeed Magazine, which published two Nebula Award finalists and a Hugo Award finalist in its first year.