The book collects twelve novellas, novelettes and short stories by various science fiction authors, with an introduction, notes and concluding essays by Carr and Charles N. Brown.

Dave Langford reviewed Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year 15 for White Dwarf #84, and stated that "as always well chosen, a dozen of 1985's finest stories".

[citation needed] "A Spanish Lesson" placed eleventh in the 1986 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette.

[citation needed] "All My Darling Daughters" placed seventh in the 1986 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette.

[citation needed] "Of Space-Time and the River" placed sixth in the 1987 Locus Poll Award for Best Novelette.