Novel

Commentary:  It looks like a strong list.  Among Others will be on my Hugo ballot, even if I had issues with the structure of the novel and the main character.  Embassytown left me cold, but it does feel like the sort of book that should feature on a genre list.  Once again Jack McDevitt appears with a book (and series) that’s obviously captured the imagination of a certain section of SFWA.  Both the Valentine and the Hurley are books that have received plenty of hype throughout the year and I intend to read both of them over the next 12 months.  And finally the Jemisin is the last book of series, whose first book I had problems with.  That said it’s a novel that garnered quite a bit of praise.

There’s no love here for Cat Valente’s Deathless which I think is a terrible shame.  And Zoo City, which I believe is eligible, fails to get a nominated as well.  It’s also interesting to note that the block-buster books of the year (Martin, Rothfuss and Scalzi) don’t feature either.  Still, I think we will be seeing at least one of those names on the Hugo ballot.

Novella

Commentary:  As I’ve said elsewhere, in spite of Last Short Story I seemed to have avoided reading most of the novellas that were published.  That said, the names that appear on this list are the same names that have been bandied about as writing the best longer works for the year.  So, without having read any of the stories, I’d have to say that on the surface that this is a strong list.

Novelette

Commentary:  I’m really happy that the SFWA membership have provided greater exposure to Anne Leckie’s Giganotosaurus webzine.  While those might not have been the two stories I would have chosen – there’s a stonkingly good piece published in January by Jeremiah Tolbert – this is a small market publishing high quality, slightly askew fiction and Anne and her site deserve the recognition through these nominations.

Other than that, the Swirsky is a great story.  And hopefully the Torgersen doesn’t feature space whales.

Short Story

Commentary:  This is a bloody strong list of short stories.  For me, it’s a toss-up between the Liu and the Lily Yu – both very different but wonderful pieces of writing and story-telling.  The Fulda is also a great story.  And while I haven’t read it, I’ve also heard good things about the Goldman (and I daresay that’s the first nomination for New Haven Review).

Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

  • Attack the Block, Joe Cornish (writer/director) (Optimum Releasing; Screen Gems)
  • Captain America: The First Avenger, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely (writers), Joe Johnston (director) (Paramount)
  • Doctor Who: “The Doctor’s Wife,” Neil Gaiman (writer), Richard Clark (director) (BBC Wales)
  • Hugo, John Logan (writer), Martin Scorsese (director) (Paramount)
  • Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen (writer/director) (Sony)
  • Source Code, Ben Ripley (writer), Duncan Jones (director) (Summit)
  • The Adjustment Bureau, George Nolfi (writer/director) (Universal)

Commentary:  I loved Midnight in Paris.  I thought The Doctor’s Wife was good without being as emotionally affected by it as so many others were.  I haven’t seen the rest but have heard good things about most of them except for maybe The Adjustment Bureau.

 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Book

Commentary:  People who know far more about Young Adult than I do say that this is a very strong list.  Expect to see Akata Witch featured in an upcoming episode of The Writer and the Critic.