From Publishers WeeklyThis solid follow-up anthology to 2007's The New Space Opera includes 19 new stories that show how far space opera has come since its pulp beginnings in the '30s and '40s. These entertaining and provocative tales of interstellar adventure, written by a laundry list of genre heavyweights, range from Mike Resnick's Catastrophe Baker and a Canticle for Leibowitz, a campy misadventure that follows a larger-than-life freelance hero on his quest to regain a musical theater producer's lost song, to John Meaney's From the Heart, set in his Nulapeiron universe, which revolves around spy Carl Blackstone and an unlikely—and surprisingly poignant—love story at the galactic core. The impressive diversity of stories reaffirms that soap opera is alive and well, and where some of the genre's most innovative writing is taking place. (July) INTRODUCTIONUTRIUSQUE COSMI by Robert Charles WilsonTHE ISLAND by Peter WattsEVENTS PRECEDING THE HELVETICAN RENAISSANCE by John KesselTO GO BOLDLY by Cory DoctorowTHE LOST PRINCESS MAN by John BarnesDEFECT by Kristine Kathryn RuschTO RAISE A MUTINY BETWIXT YOURSELVES by Jay LakeSHELL GAME Neal AsherPUNCTUALITY by Garth NixINEVITABLE by Sean WilliamsJOIN THE NAVY AND SEE THE WORLDS by Bruce SterlingFEARLESS SPACE PIRATES OF THE OUTER RINGS by Bill WillinghamFROM THE HEART by John MeaneyCHAMELEONS by Elizabeth MoonTHE TENTH MUSE by Tad WilliamsCRACKLEGRACKLE by Justina RobsonTHE TALE OF THE WICKED by John ScalziCATASTROPHE BAKER AND A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ by Mike ResnickTHE FAR END OF HISTORY by John C. Wright

The rich space opera tradition, extending from the off-world voyages of Verne and Wells to this galaxy-embracing anthology, is arguably sf's most prolific subgenre. Veteran anthologist Dozois and coeditor Strahan present some of the newest boundary-stretching variations on the category's many themes. Accordingly, the roster of contributors includes some of contemporary sf's brightest innovators, such as Peter Hamilton and Robert Silverberg, as well as such rising stars as Tony Daniel and Mary Rosenblum. SAVING TIAMAAT by Gwyneth JonesVERTHANDI’S RING by Ian McDonaldHATCH by Robert ReedWINNING PEACE by Paul J. McAuleyGLORY by Greg EganMAELSTROM by Kage BakerBLESSED BY AN ANGEL by Peter F. HamiltonWHO’S AFRAID OF WOLF 359? by Ken MacleodTHE VALLEY OF THE GARDENS by Tony DanielDIVIDING THE SUSTAIN by James Patrick KellyMINLA’S FLOWERS by Alastair ReynoldsSPLINTERS OF GLASS by Mary RosenblumREMEMBERANCE by Stephen BaxterTHE EMPEROR AND THE MAULA by Robert SilverbergTHE WORM TURNS by Gregory BenfordSEND THEM FLOWERS by Walter Jon WilliamsART OF WAR by Nancy KressMUSE OF FIRE by Dan Simmons