Worlds Without End Blog

Awards / nominations season is … frustrating! So many books to consider and read … and soooo little time! Some great nominations here, and I particularly like the distinction between science fiction and fantasy although it begs a question on whether an overall winner from both genres remains possible. I’m obviously delighted to see two favorites, Gene Wolfe and China Mieville, feature. Some of the usual suspects appear under the science fiction tag and the return of Gibson into some awards-frame is most welcomed. It goes without saying that this post yet again is too be blamed for the depletion of my savings account *smiley But that’s the astounding value I find in WWEnd; the continuous exposur of excellent novels and subsequent expansion of one’s reading … and library collection.

I’m about to start the Fuller Memorandum on audiobook from Audible. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the entire Capital Laundry series from Stross. I explain it to my friends as a tech support geek who is reluctantly thrown in to a James Bond role in a universe filled with Lovecraftian horror. It’s at one of those intersections between SF, fantasy, and horror, and the whole series is a pretty good exemplar of that intersection of genres.Emil, were you wondering whether an overall winner would be one of those books that spans both SF and Fantasy? I think it’s certainly possible, and I’d like to see it happen and the discussion it could ensue, but I wonder if it would anger the writers up for the award. Shrug.This award list just prods me further to read The Dervish House and to get into some China Mieville

@Mattastrophic, yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Locus may just be starting a new trend in awards consideration with this "split". I doubt very much, though, that the Hugo and Nebula will follow suit. Anyway, it is an ongoing debate. As a once hardened and very biased hard-sf only aficionado, I now have to admit that I do find fantasy quite appealing, especially after reading Wolfe, Gaiman, Miélville and even the likes of Martin, Sanderson and Feist. I’ll be getting into Erikson some time later this year. I did always enjoy Zelazny and Silverberg, but got to "know them" from their traditional sf works first. Now I’m totally hook on fantasy epics, although I set out to only the read the best of the breed. I used to snickering disgruntely at the abundance of fantasy books filed under the "science fiction" label in book stores and the paltry collection of "real sf." I guess, when it comes to awards, one should rather refer to them as "best novel for science fiction and/or fantasy". China Miéville is definitely worth investigating. His unique blend of mythical and dark fantasy is redefining the genre, together with Gaiman. They actually set about creating their own myths. I waiting on the paperback release of "The Dervish House". After reading "Brasyl" I am eagerly anticipating reading a lot more from McDonald. Let’s also not forget about "Who Fears Death," also nominated for the Nebula. I’ll be getting a copy in June when the paperback is released here in South Africa. There are many rave reviews and comments about it on the internets. All in all, again, soooo much to read … *smiley

@Emil. Any opinion on a good place to start with Mieville?

@Mattastrophic Oh dear, that’s tricky. I started with his first novel, "King Rat" but really got emerged when reading "Perido Street Station". I guess "The City & The City" is probably a more accessible introduction to him, but note that this is an entirely different style to his preceding works. All his books describe worlds or scenarios that are fantastical or supernatural, but we he does with that, is quite unique. The same applies to "Kraken". Arguably the most accessible novel is his YA fantasy "Un Lun Dun." Frankly, I suggest just taking the plunge! (He is strongly influenced by Gene Wolfe, Thomas Disch, H.P. Lovecraft and Mervyn Peake – non any easy proposition, in their own right).

I second Emil’s comment about how refreshing it is to see Fantasy and Science Fiction split out. The Nebulas should do the same lest they diversify themselves to the point of irrelevance. They had a niche, they did something well, they should have stuck to it. It flummoxes me why such a simple change can’t be implemented.