Sky City

In Denmark, the science fiction short story is a thriving genre, though mostly as a subculture. Since 2007, The Danish science fiction association, Science Fiction Cirklen, has published an annual anthology of original science fiction short stories written by Danish authors. The present volume contains a selection from the first two of these annual anthologies.

Many Danish authors place their stories in a local setting, and all of them have something to say in addition to ´just´ being entertaining. You will find philosophical parables, time travels, space yarns, alternate history and much more, as well as stories which in different ways come close to the literary mainstream. The huge AngloAmerican influence on Danish culture since the Second World War is noticeable in the way the authors use the tropes and language of the genre in its modern, international vein.

In making these stories available in English, our aim – besides entertaining the readers – is to demonstrate that science fiction truly is an international genre and that it is being written, even in small European countries like Denmark.

With these words we hope you will enjoy this collection of the ´best of the best´.

Contents for Sky City:
Preface: Carl-Eddy Skovgaard

The nine stories listed below originally appeared in Lige under overfladen © 2007 by Science Fiction Cirklen and contributors.
Sky City by Manfred Christiansen
Departure by Niels Gjerløff
The White Bear by Richard Ipsen
Helium Loves Company by Glen Stihmøe
The Last Astronaut by Flemming R. P. Rasch
The Organism on Maneo by Morten Brunbjerg
The Tourist by Patrick Leis
Know Your Target Audience by Dan Mygind
The Red Parakeets by Camilla Wandahl

The ten stories listed below originally appeared in I overfladen ©2008 by Science Fiction Cirklen and contributors.
The Short Arm of History by Kenneth Krabat
A Contribution to the History of Denmark by Søren Elmerdahl Hemmingsen
When the Music's Over by A. Silvestri
E-Puzzle by Nikolaj Højberg
Leading, Feeding by Ellen Miriam Pedersen
You are my Best Friend by Camilla Fønss Bach Friis
Dreams of Stone by Brian P. Ørnbøl
The Green Jacket by Gudrun Østergaard
In the Surface by Sara Tanderup
Interrogation of Victim no. 5 by Lars Ahn Pedersen

An Extremely Short History of the Danish Science Fiction
Short Story. Afterword by Niels Dalgaard, Ph.D