Can you identify this sci-fi short story?

June 18, 2013 12:08 PM

I'm looking for a short story. I'm not sure of much, but I know it involved ABBA and rare orchids. Can you help?

What I remember:

1) The story appeared in a Year's Best Sci-Fi or similar anthology and I read it years ago. I'm thinking it has to be nearly a decade old by now.

2) The two main characters were investigating...something. I'm really fuzzy on plot details. Possibly they were PIs or police?

3) One of the main characters was obsessed with rare orchids (possibly some other variety of rare plant), and aimed to classify new species so he could name them after members of ABBA (or possibly ABBA songs. Something to do with ABBA).

I don't hold out much hope, but if any of y'all can help I'd really appreciate it.

posted by Gin and Comics to Writing & Language (1 answer total)

Best answer: I think you're looking for "The Thing About Benny" by M. Shayne Bell in The Mammoth Book of Best New Science Fiction #14, edited by Gardner Dozois.
posted by xenophile at 12:17 PM on June 18, 2013 [5 favorites]