THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION

Dozois's latest annual ``best of'' comprises 23 tales drawn from 1994's magazines and collections. Among the works on display here are two fine Hainish tales, ``Forgiveness Day'' and ``The Matter of Seggri,'' by Ursula K. LeGuin. Robert Reed describes space-going mutated humans in ``The Remoras.'' A chilling nanotech/genetic engineering yarn, ``Margin of Error,'' comes from the redoubtable Nancy Kress. ``The Hole in the Hole'' is another waggishly wonderful talethis featuring junkyards and moon buggiesfrom Terry Bisson. The curiously neglected and underrated Australian grandmaster, George Turner, contributes ``Flowering Mandrake,'' an inimitable alien-contact story. And a parade of famous names, both series regulars (Pat Cadigan, Joe Haldeman,, Greg Egan, Mike Resnick, Michael Bishop, Howard Waldrop, Walter Jon Williams) and newcomers (Katharine Kerr, Lisa Goldstein), round out a satisfying volume. Back on track after uncharacteristic wobbles last year.