The very first annual best-of-the-year anthology series began in 1949, edited by Everett F. Bleiler and T.E. Dikty, the former best known as a bibliographer, the latter as an editor and publisher. The hardcover series had an irregular run: annual volumes of "Best Science Fiction Stories" from 1949 through 1954, a companion set of "Year's Best Science Fiction Novels" from 1952 to 1954, and then -- under Dikty's editorship alone -- combined volumes of "Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels" for 1955, 1956, and after a year's absence, a "Ninth Series" published in 1958; the last two of these volumes were much slimmer than earlier anthologies, and included stories from each of the previous two years.
The photo shows 9 of the total 12 anthologies.
Most reprinted authors: Walter M. Miller, Jr. (7), Ray Bradbury (6), then Fritz Leiber, Murray Leinster, and Frank M. Robinson (5 each).
Most used sources:
Astounding (34),
F&SF (27),
Galaxy (24),
Thrilling Wonder Stories (12).
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949, (Frederick Fell, 1949)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950, (Frederick Fell, 1950)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951, (Frederick Fell, 1951)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952, (Frederick Fell, 1952)
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Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952, (Frederick Fell, 1952)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953, (Frederick Fell, 1953)
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Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953, (Frederick Fell, 1953)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954, (Frederick Fell, 1954)
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Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954, (Frederick Fell, 1954)
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The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955, (Frederick Fell, 1955)
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The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956, (Frederick Fell, 1956)
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The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series, (Advent:Publishers, 1958)
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Combined Contents by Author and Title
Robert Abernathy
Axolotl
(F&SF Jan 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Heirs Apparent
(F&SF Jun 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Poul Anderson
Call Me Joe
(Astounding Apr 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Flight to Forever
(Super Science Stories Nov 1950)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952
Genius
(Astounding Dec 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Trespass!
(by PA & Gordon R. Dickson)
(Fantastic Story Quarterly Spr 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Alex Apostolides
What Thin Partitions
(by Mark Clifton & AA)
(Astounding Sep 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Isaac Asimov
No Connection
(Astounding Jun 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Raymond E. Banks
Christmas Trombone
(F&SF Jan 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
The Littlest People
(Galaxy Mar 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Alfred Bester
Oddy and Id
(Astounding Aug 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Of Time and Third Avenue
(F&SF Oct 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Time Is the Traitor
(F&SF Sep 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
The Tunesmith
(If Aug 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Jerome Bixby
One Way Street
(Amazing Dec 1953/Jan ’)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
James Blish
Surface Tension
(Galaxy Aug 1952)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953
Robert Bloch
I Do Not Love Thee, Doctor Fell
(F&SF Mar 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Anthony Boucher
Nine-Finger Jack
(Esquire May 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Leigh Brackett
The Other People
(Venture Mar 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Ray Bradbury
...And the Moon Be Still as Bright
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Jun 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Dwellers in Silence
(Maclean's Sep 15 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
The Fox in the Forest
(Colliers May 13 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
The Man
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Feb 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Mars Is Heaven!
(Planet Stories Fll 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
The Pedestrian
(The Reporter Aug 7 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Reginald Bretnor
The Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out
(F&SF Win/Spr 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Bill Brown
The Star Ducks
(F&SF Fll 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Fredric Brown
Dark Interlude
(by FB & Mack Reynolds)
(Galaxy Jan 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Knock
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Dec 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
The Last Martian
(Galaxy Oct 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Mouse
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Jun 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Algis Budrys
The Man Who Always Knew
(Astounding Apr 1956)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Nightsound
(Satellite Feb 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Robert Spencer Carr
Easter Eggs
(The Saturday Evening Post Sep 24 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
James O. Causey
Felony
(Galaxy Jul 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
John Christopher
Balance
(New Worlds Spr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Arthur C. Clarke
Seeker of the Sphinx
(Two Complete Science-Adventure Books Spr 1951)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952
Mark Clifton
Clerical Error
(Astounding Feb 1956)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
The Conqueror
(Astounding Aug 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
What Thin Partitions
(by MC & Alex Apostolides)
(Astounding Sep 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Everett B. Cole
Exile
(Astounding Jan 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Alfred Coppel
The Dreamer
(F&SF Apr 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
J. J. Coupling
Period Piece
(Astounding Nov 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Kendell Foster Crossen
Assignment in Aldebaran
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Feb 1953)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
Betsy Curtis
A Peculiar People
(F&SF Aug 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Max Dancey
The Collectors
(by G. Gordon Dewey & MD)
(Amazing Jun/Jul 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
L. Sprague de Camp
Judgment Day
(Astounding Aug 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Summer Wear
(Startling Stories May 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
G. Gordon Dewey
The Collectors
(by GGD & Max Dancey)
(Amazing Jun/Jul 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Philip K. Dick
Second Variety
(Space Science Fiction May 1953)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
Gordon R. Dickson
Trespass!
(by Poul Anderson & GRD)
(Fantastic Story Quarterly Spr 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Boyd Ellanby
Category Phoenix
(Galaxy May 1952)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953
Carol Emshwiller
Hunting Machine
(Science Fiction Stories May 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Erik Fennel
Doughnut Jockey
(Blue Book May 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Albert Compton Friborg
Careless Love
(F&SF Jul 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Martin Gardner
Thang
(Comment Fll 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Tom Godwin
The Cold Equations
(Astounding Aug 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
The Last Victory
(If Aug 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
You Created Us
(Fantastic Universe Oct 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
H. L. Gold
The Enormous Room
(by HLG & Robert W. Krepps)
(Amazing Oct/Nov 1953)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
Ruth M. Goldsmith
Yankee Exodus
(F&SF Jul 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
David Grinnell
Extending the Holdings
(F&SF Apr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Charles L. Harness
The New Reality
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Dec 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Zenna Henderson
Ararat
(F&SF Oct 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Frank Herbert
Nightmare Blues
(Astounding Jun 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
John Jakes
Machine
(F&SF Apr 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Ivan Janvier
Thing
(Fantastic Universe Mar 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Will F. Jenkins
Doomsday Deferred
(The Saturday Evening Post Sep 24 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Damon Knight
To Serve Man
(Galaxy Nov 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
C. M. Kornbluth
The Marching Morons
(Galaxy Apr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
The Mindworm
(Worlds Beyond Dec 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Robert W. Krepps
The Enormous Room
(by H. L. Gold & RWK)
(Amazing Oct/Nov 1953)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
Five Years in the Marmalade
(Fantastic Adventures Jul 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Walter Kubilius
The Other Side
(Super Science Stories Apr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Henry Kuttner
Happy Ending
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Private Eye
(by HK & C. L. Moore)
(Astounding Jan 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Fritz Leiber
Appointment in Tomorrow
(Galaxy Jul 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
A Bad Day for Sales
(Galaxy Jul 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
The Big Holiday
(F&SF Jan 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Coming Attraction
(Galaxy Nov 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
The Moon Is Green
(Galaxy Apr 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Murray Leinster
The Gadget Had a Ghost
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Jun 1952)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953
The Life-Work of Professor Muntz
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Jun 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
The Middle of the Week After Next
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
The Sentimentalists
(Galaxy Apr 1953)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
The Strange Case of John Kingman
(Astounding May 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Frank Belknap Long
Two Face
(Weird Tales Mar 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
John D. MacDonald
Flaw
(Startling Stories Jan 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Game for Blondes
(Galaxy Oct 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Katherine MacLean
Contagion
(Galaxy Oct 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Winston K. Marks
John's Other Practice
(Imagination Jul 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Richard Matheson
Born of Man and Woman
(F&SF Sum 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
The Last Day
(Amazing Apr/May 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Lover, When You're Near Me
(Galaxy May 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Witch War
(Startling Stories Jul 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
James V. McConnell
Nor Dust Corrupt
(If Feb 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
John J. McGuire
The Queen's Messenger
(Astounding May 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
J. T. McIntosh
One in Three Hundred
(F&SF Feb 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
R. DeWitt Miller
Swenson, Dispatcher
(Galaxy Apr 1956)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Walter M. Miller, Jr.
A Canticle for Leibowitz
(F&SF Apr 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Command Performance
(Galaxy Nov 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Conditionally Human
(Galaxy Feb 1952)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953
Crucifixus Etiam
(Astounding Feb 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Izzard and the Membrane
(Astounding May 1951)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952
Memento Homo
(Amazing Mar 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
The Will
(Fantastic Jan/Feb 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
C. L. Moore
Private Eye
(by Henry Kuttner & CLM)
(Astounding Jan 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Ward Moore
Dominions Beyond
(The Saturday Evening Post Aug 28 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Lot
(F&SF May 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
William Morrison
The Inner Worlds
(F&SF Apr 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
The Model of a Judge
(Galaxy Oct 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Andre Norton
Mousetrap
(F&SF Jun 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Chad Oliver
Didn't He Ramble
(F&SF Apr 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Of Course
(Astounding May 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Lewis Padgett
Ex Machina
(Astounding Apr 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Peter Phillips
At No Extra Cost
(Marvel Science Fiction Aug 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Arthur Porges
The Fly
(F&SF Sep 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
The Rats
(Man's World Feb 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Mack Reynolds
Dark Interlude
(by Fredric Brown & MR)
(Galaxy Jan 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Frank Riley
The Cyber and Justice Holmes
(If Mar 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Frank M. Robinson
Dream Street
(Imaginative Tales Mar 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
The Girls from Earth
(Galaxy Jan 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
The Hunting Season
(Astounding Nov 1951)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952
The Oceans Are Wide
(Science Stories Apr 1954)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1954
One Thousand Miles Up
(Science Stories Apr 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Eric Frank Russell
...And Then There Were None
(Astounding Jun 1951)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1952
Fast Falls the Eventide
(Astounding May 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
I Am Nothing
(Astounding Jul 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Into Your Tent I'll Creep
(Astounding Sep 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Idris Seabright
Brightness Falls from the Air
(F&SF Apr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Michael Shaara
2066: Election Day
(Astounding Dec 1956)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Joseph Shallit
Wonder Child
(Fantastic Jan/Feb 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Wilmar H. Shiras
In Hiding
(Astounding Nov 1948)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1949
Opening Doors
(Astounding Mar 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
Clifford D. Simak
Eternity Lost
(Astounding Jul 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
How-2
(Galaxy Nov 1954)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories and Novels: 1955
Cordwainer Smith
The Game of Rat and Dragon
(Galaxy Oct 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Theodore Sturgeon
The Hurkle Is a Happy Beast
(F&SF Fll 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
William F. Temple
Counter-Transference
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Apr 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Forget-Me-Not
(Other Worlds Science Stories Sep 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
The Two Shadows
(Startling Stories Mar 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
William Tenn
Firewater
(Astounding Feb 1952)
-- Year's Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953
Generation of Noah
(Suspense Magazine Spr 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Wilson Tucker
The Tourist Trade
(Worlds Beyond Jan 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
A. E. van Vogt
Process
(F&SF Dec 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951
Jack Vance
DP!
(Avon SF&F Reader Apr 1953)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1954
Men of the Ten Books
(Startling Stories Mar 1951)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1952
Kate Wilhelm
The Mile-Long Spaceship
(Astounding Apr 1957)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 9th Series
Robert Moore Williams
Refuge for Tonight
(Blue Book Mar 1949)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1950
John Wyndham
Survival
(Thrilling Wonder Stories Feb 1952)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1953
Robert F. Young
Jungle Doctor
(Startling Stories Fll 1955)
-- The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels: 1956
Roger Flint Young
Not to Be Opened—
(Astounding Jan 1950)
-- The Best Science-Fiction Stories: 1951