Best Horror of the Year books in order

Best Horror of the Year is an annual anthology series edited by Ellen Datlow, collecting the finest horror short fiction and novellas from each year, with contributions from Anne Billson.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One 2009 Anne Billson Buy
2 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Two 2010 Anne Billson Buy
3 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Nine 2017 Anne Billson Buy
4 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Four 2012 Anne Billson Buy
5 The Best Horror of the Year Volume Five 2013 Anne Billson Buy
6 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Six 2014 Anne Billson Buy
7 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seven 2015 Anne Billson Buy
8 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Twelve 2020 Anne Billson Buy
9 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eight 2016 Anne Billson Buy
10 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Ten 2018 Anne Billson Buy
11 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Three 2011 Anne Billson Buy
12 The Best of the Best Horror of the Year: 10 Years of Essential Short Horror Fiction 2018 Anne Billson Buy
13 The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen 2021 Anne Billson Buy
14 The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eleven 2019 Anne Billson Buy
15 The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fourteen 2022 Anne Billson Buy
16 The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fifteen 2024 Anne Billson Buy
17 The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Sixteen 2024 Anne Billson Buy
18 The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Seventeen 2025 Anne Billson Buy

Best Horror of the Year is an annual anthology series that collects outstanding horror short fiction from the previous year. Edited by Ellen Datlow, one of the genre’s most acclaimed editors, the series has been running since 2009 and provides a reliable snapshot of where horror fiction stands in any given year. Anne Billson has contributed stories to several volumes in the series.

The anthology draws from a wide pool of sources, including magazines, original anthologies, single-author collections, and online publications. Each volume features a mix of established names and newer voices, covering everything from quiet psychological horror to graphic supernatural terror. Datlow’s editorial eye is sharp, and the series has a strong track record of featuring stories that go on to win or be nominated for major genre awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Best Horror of the Year series?

There are eighteen books in the Best Horror of the Year series, published between 2009 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Best Horror of the Year series?

The first book in the Best Horror of the Year series is The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One, published in 2009.

Who edits the Best Horror of the Year series?

The Best Horror of the Year series is edited by Ellen Datlow, one of the most respected editors in horror and dark fiction. Datlow has won multiple Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy Awards for her editorial work. The series collects what she considers the best horror short fiction published each year, and Anne Billson has contributed stories to multiple volumes.

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