The book itself, as well as each of the stories, has a short introduction by the editor.

• Geoff Ryman: "Everywhere" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
• Elisabeth Malartre: "Evolution Never Sleeps" (First published in Asimov's, 1998)
• Kim Stanley Robinson: "Sexual Dimorphism" (First published in The Martians, 1999)
• Robert Reed: "Game of the Century" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
• Michael Bishop: "Secrets of the Alien Reliquary" (First published in Time Pieces, 1998)
• Sarah Zettel: "Kinds of Strangers" (First published in Analog, 1999)
• Cory Doctorow: "Visit the Sins" (First published in Asimov's,1999)
• Greg Egan: "Border Guards" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
• Terry Bisson: "Macs" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
• Chris Lawson: "Written in Blood" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
• Gene Wolfe: "Has Anybody Seen Junie Moon?" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
• Robert J. Sawyer: "The Blue Planet" (First published as "Mars Reacts!" in The Globe and Mail, 1999)
• Mary Soon Lee: "Lifework" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
• Fred Lerner: "Rosetta Stone" (First published in Artemis, 2000)
• Brian Aldiss: "An Apollo Asteroid" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
• Curt Wohleber: "100 Candles" (First published in Transversions, 1999)
• G. David Nordley: "Democritus' Violin" (First published in Analog, 1999)
• Tom Purdom: "Fossil Games" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
• Chris Beckett: "Valour" (First published in Interzone, 1999)
• Stephen Baxter: "Huddle" (First published in F&SF, 1999)
• Brian M. Stableford: "Ashes and Tombstones" (First published in Moon Shots, 1999)
• Michael Swanwick: "Ancient Engines" (First published in Asimov's, 1999)
• Hiroe Suga: "Freckled Figure" (First published in Japanese in 1994, first English publication in Interzone, 1999)
• Barry N. Malzberg: "Shiva" (First published in Science Fiction Age, 1999)
• Lucy Sussex: "The Queen of Erewhon" (First published in F&SF, 1999)

• Year's Best SF 5 title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database