DREAMING DOWN-UNDER
edited by Jack Dann & Janeen Webb
A beefy anthology of 31 original tales from Australia. Names that US fans are likely to recognize include Sean Williams, Cherry Wilder, Damien Broderick, Stephen Dedman, David J. Lake, Jane Routley, Terry Dowling, the late great George Turner, Isobelle Carmody, Sarah Douglass, and Sean McMullen. First published in Australia in 1998, and winner of the 1999 Word Fantasy Award for Best Anthology, this would seem to be a top-notch compendium. However, for reasons beyond conjecture, the publishers were unable to convey a copy to Kirkus in time for a full advance review. So if you want to know why you didn't read it here first—inquire of the publisher.