Wait, that should be 2001 books, which means Evolution is out and Appleseed is in. The Locus list for that year -- Chasm City is the only other obvious one that jumps out at me.
I don't consider it SF. It's clearly fantasy, but since the Clarke juries have repeatedly nominated Mieville's novels, I take it that their definition of SF is similar to the Hugo's.
Cloud Atlas, in contrast, is neither SF nor fantasy.
There is no canonical Clarke definition of science fiction. The only rule is that it must be science fiction in some form; fantasy is not eligible. Every jury gets to decide what "science fiction" is. So by putting Perdido Street Station on the shortlist, the jury was arguing that it is science fiction.
So I'm the only person who thinks Perdido Street Station isn't science fiction? Pah. The best and most exciting genre novel of the year and an influence on the science fiction field but clearly not SF and co-opted because of its quality.
Someone is going to tell me it had a robot in it now, aren't they? And I suppose I did tick Ash...
Perdido Street Station is all about the movement of Isaac van der Grimnebulin from the position of an alchemist in search of TOE to a modern scientific worldview.
The scandal was omitting Appleseed from the shortlist. I'm not saying it should have won, but to omit it was just shocking.
The other missing book was Ian MacDonald's Ares Express. I haveb't loved all his books but this was the one I would have campigned for.
But the *real* loss was the refusal to shortlist a children's book. I *know* the jury received Mortal Engines because one of the judges was living with me at the time.
'The ACCA are just not for SF fans.' That was put to me by an ex judge and its a hash reality, but I see that its true.
I am pretty sure the remit is not what one would think, following seeing a discussion about the award at a BSFA night.
Like Jon C.G. is good, very good, but I see these lists and they are just so removed from what I know to be SF, what I was or am reading and what I consider to be good works. This is not unusual apparently.
what about the Eyre Affair? where would that sit, like that would have been an interesting addition and no sign of a weber, drake, flint or any of those guys. I supposse Scalzi won't get one either.
and as always prejudices will apply, if I say where is Robert Rankin, you may dismiss, but in 2003 he wr6te a book that has a most hilarious yet prophetic dystopian future, and that just the first chapter.
what about the Eyre Affair? where would that sit, like that would have been an interesting addition and no sign of a weber, drake, flint or any of those guys.
The problem with these novels is they are all shit. However, in a list with Fallen Dragon on it you are right, there is no reason they shouldn't have been nominated.
Comments 58
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Cloud Atlas, in contrast, is neither SF nor fantasy.
Reply
Reply
Well, in that case, no, it probably shouldn't have been on the shortlist.
That said, I suspect that the argument for reading PSS as SF is more persuasive than the one for Cloud Atlas.
Reply
Someone is going to tell me it had a robot in it now, aren't they? And I suppose I did tick Ash...
Reply
Reply
Reply
The other missing book was Ian MacDonald's Ares Express. I haveb't loved all his books but this was the one I would have campigned for.
But the *real* loss was the refusal to shortlist a children's book. I *know* the jury received Mortal Engines because one of the judges was living with me at the time.
Reply
Hmm, Number9Dream was published that year, as well.
Reply
The fact that Fallen Dragon made the shortlist and Appleseed did not speaks volumes.
Reply
Reply
I am pretty sure the remit is not what one would think, following seeing a discussion about the award at a BSFA night.
Like Jon C.G. is good, very good, but I see these lists and they are just so removed from what I know to be SF, what I was or am reading and what I consider to be good works. This is not unusual apparently.
what about the Eyre Affair? where would that sit, like that would have been an interesting addition and no sign of a weber, drake, flint or any of those guys. I supposse Scalzi won't get one either.
and as always prejudices will apply, if I say where is Robert Rankin, you may dismiss, but in 2003 he wr6te a book that has a most hilarious yet prophetic dystopian future, and that just the first chapter.
Reply
The problem with these novels is they are all shit. However, in a list with Fallen Dragon on it you are right, there is no reason they shouldn't have been nominated.
Reply
At the very least, he's got a lot of competition this year.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment