Last week Australians not only had to deal with the announcement of the  Aurealis Awards shortlist and Barnaby Joyce’s infidelities (that reference will date this post) but also the release of the shortlist for the fan-judged Ditmar Awards.  The Best Novel category features five works, two of them by the same person under different names (how very sneaky!).  Here they are:

• Corpselight, Angela Slatter, Hachette Australia.
• Crossroads of Canopy, Thoraiya Dyer, Tor.
• How to Bee, Bren MacDibble, Allen & Unwin.
• In the Dark Spaces, Cally Black, Hardie Grant Egmont.
• Lotus Blue, Cat Sparks, Skyhorse Publishing.

I’ve read three of the books on this list.  All three are fantastic, although if I had to choose a winner, it would be How to Bee by Bren Macdibble, just pipping out In the Dark Spaces by Cally Black, who also happens to be Bren Macdibble.  So either way, Bren gets the chocolates (a chocolate Ditmar would, of course, be the bestest thing ever).  Kirstyn and I discussed both novels and Crossroads of  Canopy (which we loved and which you should read, especially with the recent publication of the second book in the series) on The Writer and the Critic podcast here and here.

I have not read either Lotus Blue or Corpselight.  I know this is unacceptable given I read and liked the first book in Angela’s series and have always enjoyed Cat’s shorter fiction.  Do I have an excuse?  Not really, I mean I could fabricate something, but I want this to be a transparent and honest relationship.

Anywho, congratulations to all the nominees in all the categories.  I’d also like to thank those of you who nominated The Writer and The Critic for best fan publication in any medium; it’s much appreciated.