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This Year's Hugo Nominees Chosen
wrinkledshirt writes "They've announced this year's nominees for the Hugo Awards. Wonder who the next Asimov, Brin, Gibson or [shudder] Rowling is going to be? Find out at Conjose."
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This is very worrying - I recognise just two names on those lists. Ursula LeGuin and Vernor Vinge. .)
The ones I knew are dying off (Zelazny, Herbert, Asimov, Heinlein . .
Mielipiteet omiani - Opinions personal, facts suspect.
Put me down for Bujold's latest. Of the others, all I've read was "Cosmonaut Keep", which was good but not up to, say, Stone Canal. Curse of Chalion is actually better than the Vorkosigan books, and muuuuuuch better than "Spirit Ring" (one of the few books where I don't remember if I finished it, don't care, and won't try again).
Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
Anyways, Harry Potter is very entertaining, despite its main-stream nature. One can hardly argue that the books are for childeren due to the use of Magic and Witchcraft. These are clearly meant for adults, although i would let, and I understand why childeren love them so much.
Bringing irony to the Slash-masses
She's a good author. An experience reader can easily see that, hell her coninuing plots are better then any ST episode. I figure
A)wrinkled shirt never read any and is trying to be cool, or
B)Did read it, but is in such need of attention that going againse popular things is his equivelant of waving his arms in the air and going "look at me".
Jusat because you don't like a book, doesn't mean its not a good book, and just because a book is geared to someone young, doesn't mean its not a good book.
You may not like them, but they are technically sound. by that I mean structure, continuity, plot.
The Hobbit was written for children.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
I can't see CowboyNeal on the list!
Anyway we can put him in? Definately one of the best . What an unfortunate departure.. our hearts will always be with Adams.
geek page at KY speaks
We're Twins! You have to do it again!
...
Cosmonaut Keep by Ken MacLeod (Orbit (UK)(2000); Tor)
Curiously enough, Slashdot is actually mentioned in this book. Has a nice scene with a bunch of old-time linux hacks sitting in a bar talking 'bout the good ol days. If you can handle non-linear storytelling, pop-culture references, and Scottish pessimistic pride in your sci-fi, I highly recommend Ken MacLeod. Plus, the cover art is usually pretty cool.
---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
One can hardly argue that the books are for childeren due to the use of Magic and Witchcraft.
Yeah. Kids shouldn't read fantasy books or play fantasy games or watch fantasy movies - ever! Might damage their fragile little minds.
Instead, every child should go through weekly viewings of Pulp Fiction and Fight Club, and also read the Fight Club novel no less than once a month.
But I should write more science fiction reviews...
Danny.
I have written over 900 book reviews
Doesn't this violate the GPL?
Haven't heard any of these except for Vinge (and I haven't read that book) and LeGuinn and I only remember seeing a couple of her books in like middle school...
I have loved Dr. Vinge's books that I have read, very provacative, he doesn't try to explain his universes, just sets down a series of rules and follows them... That is cool.
Now I just need to attend one of his classes here in San Diego if he is still teaching
* New website didn't know about
* A bunch of writers that other people like that I haven't been exposed to yet
Time to head down to the speciality SF bookshop tommorow and check them out (Galaxy, in Sydney Aus)
The biggest problem of Fantasy / Science Fiction at the moment is that people find one writer / style and refuse to read outside it. At it's worst these leads to Bookracks of Star Wars, Star Trek and other licensed works, while new authors cannot get into the 30-foot space that's reserved for "authors that perform"
Don't complain that you don't know the authors, just think of them as favorite authors you don't know about yet.
One can hardly argue that the books are for childeren due to the use of Magic and Witchcraft.
The next thing you know, someone will be claiming that Halloween is for children. Oh yeah, it is.
Are you one of those born-again Christian nut cases that claim that these stories teach children satanism and that witchcraft is real? If so, please grow up and join the rest of us in the 21st century. If you actually believe in witchcraft, satan, and all of that other occult stupidity, I pity you.
So Hugo is for American crowd only?
Last time I heard, he had retired. Sorry.
...Gibson ever won a hugo.
Rowling is on the list.
There are people out there that fantasy is taking over the place of SF.
Perhaps they are right, how many "hard SF" books have we seen the last years ?
Most authors seem to mix fantasy elements these days in.
Owner of a Mensa membership card.
Gaiman is one of the world's most artistic storytellers. The way he brings together world religions creates a world of amazing depth. There are extra chapters in this particular book that do nothing to advance the plot line, but everything to increase the depth. It is an intensely satisfying read.
Gaiman's most successful project to date are the Sandman comics. Reading American Gods, you can tell that he used to work with comics. When Gaiman wrote the Sandman series, he didn't just write the dialogue, he wrote out long descriptions of each frame for the artist. In the same way, Gaiman creates a very visual picture for the reader in every scene. Although American Gods is horror by genre, every scene is beautiful because of Gaiman's description.
You may also know the book he co-authored with Terry Pratchett - Good Omens.
I read a fair amount of SF and try to keep up with the latest scribes. I'm pleased to see so many names I recognize, but it was very disappointing to not see certain others, particularly Robert Reed, Lucius Shepard, and William Sanders. Ah well, maybe they'll produce something more worthy this year. The movie selections were just awful, all kids' stuff (but I gotta say I loved Shrek). And yes, I agree with the fellow who suggested that if you think LOTR was high-achievement literature then you need to get out more.
And when will one of those ceremonies finally give Olaf Stapledon the award he deserves ? I swear, he gets more imagination in three pages than most of our contemporaries get in three volumes.
Btw, if Greg Bear's stuff gets any worse I'm gonna have to write another letter...
So many people who have heard of so few of these authors.
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat.
A little surprised that no one here (maybe its the male orientation) seems to have heard of Connie Willis, who is a five time (last I looked) Hugo winner.
Plus, the cover art is usually pretty cool
One thing that bothers me about science fiction and fantasy books is the cover art. Very often, it is a picture of the main character holding a weapon or something similarly tacky. Covers like these are one of the reasons why many people do not take speculative fiction seriously. They take one look at the cover and go, "Come on, that's supposed to have insight on the human condition? Riiiight."
For example, Hyperion by Dan Simmons was a fantastic read. John Keats, Chaucer, William Gibson, Philip K. Dick, etc. it's all in there. But what do we get on the cover? A picture of a monster covered with metal spikes.
There are exceptions, and lately it seems publishers are getting the right idea in this area. Neil Gaiman's American Gods has a wonderful cover, in which you don't actually see any gods. It's just a picture of a dark, lonely road, with lightning in the sky. It conveys the right feeling. Another example is Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon-- all black with a sort of cryptic symbol. Imagine if the publishers decided to put a picture of US marines shooting at enemy planes.
Amazing to see those "Range" statistics at the end of the press release. This tells the number of votes it took to get on the ballot. In the Short Story category, the nominated story with the least number of votes got 21 votes.
There are SF writers who absolutely live and die based on whether they get nominated. A Hugo Award can jumpstart an entire career. In short fiction it only takes two dozen people to get you the thumbs-up!
Of course, all the nominators have to have supporting memberships in ConJose, and those aren't cheap. Still, it seems like any writer who's two steps above sheer penury could buy memberships for a couple dozen friends and relatives -- under a variety of assumed names, of course -- and then get to wear the fancy "Nominee" ribbon on his convention badge.
Personally, I can think of better ways to spend that kind of money.
Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)
http://www.lawrenceperson.com/
Danny.
I have written over 900 book reviews
Yes, I know, the rules specify the field of "science fiction or fantasy." And I have nothing against fantasy; I read a little. But last year's Harry Potter novel didn't belong there. Fantasy is a different genre and has its own awards.
...And Call Me Conrad) and To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Farmer). Those are clearly science fiction at the core, but with some fantasy-like setting.
None of the other 48 award winning novels are fantasy. About the closest are the Zelazny winners (Lord of Light,
so long as Gaiman and Buffy win
Question
http://www.ironfroggy.com/
The Hugo ain't the Nobel.
Of her awards, I'm afraid that I didn't think the biggest (Doomsday Book) should have been given the nod that year, but then I'm not much of an effete artsy-fartsy critic. :-)
The Zone website also has a review of Cosmonaut Keep by the same person (me!), who seems to quite like it.
Who would believe in penguins,unless he had seen them? Conor O Brien - Across Three Oceans
Funny you should mention Hyperion because that's what I'm reading at the moment (Fall of Hyperion now, actually). My response to the cover was the same; my roommate gave me the book and I thought, "this is going to be good?" Of course it was and I am very happy I read it.
<geek tangent>Also the cover for Hyperion is inaccurate anyways - the Shrike has four arms. Why even bother to put it on the cover with only two?</geek>
As a graphic designer and artist myself I'm really surprised that anyone in my profession would create such poor covers. Where are these self-respecting "artists" creating such trash? I'm betting (hoping) that there is some sort of communication problem between management and the artist and that the person creating the cover hasn't actually read the book.
I can't spell or type, but that doesn't mean I'm unusually stupid.
I'm really happy to see this novel make it into the Hugo awards. I'm a big fan of Connie Willis ever since the first book of hers I read. When she wants to write a creepy story she writes something really creepy, and when she wants to write something funny it's just hillarious.
/very/ good book in the creepy category. If you don't like reading about death, skip this one. I really think it has what it take to win best novel, but I haven't read the others so I can't say.
Don't misunderstand me. I get bored when reading Stephen King, but The Doomsday book was very very well done.
For those that don't know Connie Willis, she's won Hugo awards for best novels in 1993 for "The Doomsday book" (Creepy) (which tied with "a fire upon the deep", yes, it's that good) and in 1999 for "To say nothing of the dog" (funny), plus a whole bunch of times for best novellete and short story.
Passage is a
Forgive my ignorance, but can anyone explain the difference between a novella and a novelette? I must not have been awake that day in English class.
One day she'll get the emmy awards she deserves, but for now, a Hugo will do nicely.
Also the cover for Hyperion is inaccurate anyways - the Shrike has four arms. Why even bother to put it on the cover with only two?
Keep reading. My paperback copy of The Rise of Endymion, the fourth and last book in the series, features a four-armed Shrike on the cover.
Not only does it get points for cover accuracy, but it also has the most wrenching and satisfying ending of any book I've read recently.
I think Endymion was the most entertaining of the four, but the last one gets serious credit for being so... right.
...words like these will make poor old JRR turn in his grave. :)
He called his books "adult faery tales" and were written for adults. Of course people still call it a "children's classic" and have every right to do so.
But for me, a book where there was a bloody battle at the end where quite a few of the main characters died is not exactly Cinderalla'ish.
Mode (3) smart-aleck mode. Press * to return to main menu.
It used to be that a *lot* of folks in technical fields read sf. These days, that's obviously not the case.
Certainly, I failed to recognize about a third of the pro authors, but that's all. Of the names that folks here brought up, I'm astonished at a *large* number of names that *weren't* mentioned. CJ Cherryh comes to mind, first, and then folks like Turtledove, James McDevitt, Kristine Smith, James Alan Garner, Elizabeth Moon...the list goes on and on.
There also seems to be a lack of understanding about what a Hugo is supposed to be awarded *for*: it is, indeed, sometimes a popularity contest (I'm sorry, I enjoyed the Rowling books, but "The Goblet of Fire" was neither plotted nor written as well as some of the other nominees.
As an example of a book that *deservedly* won the Hugo, pick up a copy of Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep", or the quality of writing deserving a nomination, Bear's "Darwin's Radio", or Cherryh's "Downbelow Station", or Robinson's [Red && Green && Blue] Mars trilogy...and the list goes on.
And who nominates and votes for the Hugos, the biggest name award in SF&F? Anyone who pays their money to become a member of the Worldcon, not some Academy of Official Big Names. Them as reads it, an' plunks down their money, gits ta nominate an' vote.
And one last note: Tolkien is probably not the "author of the century"...but LotR is, IMO, most certainly a classic, defined as "if we still haven't hit the Singularity a century from now, then LotR will still be studied, read, and loved".
mark "sigh, forgot that assigned password"
whitroth@enteract.com
The very first SF book I read was Robert Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress of Cowboy Neal". It was awesome.
Is the best book in the world..... period. And it never won the Hugo..... Hugo is not to be trusted. Hes a lowsy motherfucker
NO SIG
I just borrowed this book yesterday from the library's browsing section, am halfway through it, and it's impressive as hell, gonna finish it this weekend.
Well, if you did some research, you'd notice that last year's hugo went to potter 4 (very well done, it's one of the most gripping books I've read in recent times). Also it's one of the few books where the evil rule and there is no happy ending (since the bad guys win :))
I think there needs to be a clearer distinction between sci-fi and fantasy. I think both genres are ok but dragon slaying and hairy footed shoeless midgets aint science fiction.
I was and am on the odd occasion a heavy sci fi fan. From Henlein to Gibson, and in the past few Neal Stepehnson.
I miss hard sci fi. Where the text was actually beleivable in a not to distant future but the social commentary was dead on.
Heinlein accomplished this because he did not focus too much on technological explanations.
And he wrote about strange sex like no one since, with no four letter words.
Gibson does the same thing. He is a very non technical person who writes so well that his stories are only improved by the sparse details on the technology his characters use. I think no other computer description is better than "it was next years ONO-Sendai, matte blacke, he slipped on the trodes, hit the stud and waited" You have to add the details. Great stuff.
And for good cyberpunk stuff. Walter Jon Williams write a good book called Hardwired. I think it might be outta print but it is amazing.
my 2 cents
Stephenson is great sc fi too. He is Unix geek and a mathemetician. And his knowledge shows in his books. But he tempers it with a great sense of humor. And you can tell tech aint his while life. The geeks in his books all eat pizza and hang out on the net.
I
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
I have read exactly two of your stories, "Antibodies" and "A Colder War", and was trying to figure out which of the two was the best story I had read that year when, upon reading them out loud over the phone to friends, realized the same author (or someone with a very unimaginative pseudonym) had written both. The first was fun, the second, well, was eldrich!
I understand you like a pint or two. As President Lincoln said after being cautioned about the drinking habits of his first successful general during the U.S. Civil War, the later President Ulysses S. Grant, "send the rest of my generals a case of whatever he's drinking" or words to that effect. Whatever it is, please keep drinking!
And congratulations on the nomination. Show up at ConJose or you'll have to do a Bob Eggleton (who had to fly without sleep across the Atlantic to the Winnipeg WorldCon in 1993 to accept it with a wonderfully shell-shocked expression). Besides, Mr. Singularity himself is GOH.
Oh, and for the love of Ghod get that phone number off your website and prepare to be slashdotted!
So you're suggesting that when book one was being designed the situations in book four were being considered relevant? I don't think that's right on any level.
I can't spell or type, but that doesn't mean I'm unusually stupid.
I'm currently reading Barrayar, my first by Bujold. One thing I find very different for her books is the character development. Maybe it is because the author is female, she pays so much attention to details of how people think and their emotions at different times. The other refreshing aspect is that the female characters are very well developed if not better than the male counterparts. However, I'm still not sure if I would put her books as a Sci-Fi book or a "not sure what genre yet" book that happens to take place in non-earth non-current world. There is not much interesting technological aspects yet except maybe test-tube babies. So if you are interested in these aspects, you should go read Dan Simmons' Hyperion series. Otherwise, Bujold is a great author with definitely a different kind of Sci-Fi touch.
Another example is Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon-- all black with a sort of cryptic symbol. Imagine if the publishers decided to put a picture of US marines shooting at enemy planes.
/. today, and I cringed when I imagined your hypothetical cover...
I literally just finished reading it for the 2rd time before I logged into
Brrr...
Anyway, Buffy feels out of place here. I suppose she is, technically, Fantasy. But not the kind you'd expect to find in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science-Fiction. Which, I am pained to note, doesn't rate a single nomination.
The Harry Potter books are OK, but I don't quite see the point of the movies. Except to squeeze a little cash from the kiddies.
It will be a woman. They seem to have been awarding them to a woman one year and a man the next almost like clockwork. How very politically correct.
...but it will likely be for "Firefly" and "Ripper" respectively, two series that he has yet to have broadcast.
I'm interested - if you don't think it's science fiction or fantasy, what do you think it is?
a) realistic fiction (implying you believe in all the gods, including Media and "the fat kid")
b) horror (which doesn't exclude it being science fiction or fantasy as well)
c) something else