Nebula Awards Showcase 2006 offers a glimpse into the selection process for the awards, honoring the best science fiction writing of last year. These stories are included in the volume, with excerpts of some of the noteworthy novels included. There is also a look at science fiction/fantasy films of 2005 and a detailed chronology of past winners and honorees. Also, included in this edition is a tribute to the new science fiction/fantasy Grand Master, Anne McCaffrey, and an excerpt from one of her novels, as well as essays by some of the past Grand Masters, such as Jack Williamson, Robert Silverberg, Brian W. Aldiss, and Frederick Pohl. These writing giants offer insights into the historical transformation of the genre. Ursula K. Le Guin's essay, "Teaching the Art," is most telling, as she considers the emergence of writing workshops and formal fiction writing programs. She posits that maybe we are standardizing the genre (and all commercial writing) too much.

The stories in this volume are varied. Some are clever and amusing like Ellen Klages' "Basement Magic" that deals with a little girl's magical dealing with a nasty step-mother. Some are poignant like Eileen Gunn's "Coming to Terms," a touching look at how objects -books, in this case- can take on a presence. All are interesting reads and most certainly will have readers debating who should have taken the final Best prize in the various categories and whether these new writers are up to the snuff of past writers.