Books:
The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell

Stories:
*** "A Morsel for the Plague Queen" by Dave Smeds
*** "An Ordinary Day with Jason" by Kate Wilhelm
***** "Atomic Truth" by Chris Beckett
**** "The Armies of Elfland" by Eileen Gunn and Michael Swanwick
*** "Daughter of Heaven" by Michael Spence and Elisabeth Waters
**** "Human Day" by Jack Skillingstead
*** "Cowgirls in Space" by Deborah Coates
**** "Name Day" by Garth Upshaw
*** "Sand Castles" by Desirina Boskovich
*** "This Wind Blowing, and This Tide" by Damien Broderick
*** "Exegesis" by Nancy Kress
*** "The Vessel" by Gerri Leen

Quick Takes:

"Atomic Truth" by Chris Beckett (Asimov's) a particularly well-done story with a familiar theme: a near future where people experience life through an internet/virtual reality connection. This one asks the "what is real?" question with some skill and ambiguity.

"The Armies of Elfland" by Eileen Gunn and Michael Swanwick (Asimov's) bends the boundaries of fantasy and science fiction in an engaging future milieu where cruel, insect-like elves have enslaved the remnants of humanity.

"Name Day" by Garth Upshaw (Realms of Fantasy) a coming-of-age tale with world-changing consequences in an inventive fantasy milieu.

"This Wind Blowing, and This Tide" by Damien Broderick (Asimov's) a strong, character-driven story exploring psychic gifts, science, the Fermi paradox, and personal loss.

My ratings:
***** excellent: memorable, satisfying, a pleasure to read
**** very good: well written, good read, perhaps with small flaws or not quite aligned with my personal taste
*** good: readable, engaging, but with some problems or just not memorable or exciting for me
** sub-par: a rough read, either amateurish or just uninteresting to me
* huh? someone published this?

My ratings are part objective appraisal of the writing, part unapologetic personal preference (certain subjects and subgenres just don't appeal to me as much as others)