Worlds Without End Blog

I think this is quite a decent representation of what is currently hot in the sf/f field. The Locus split between fantasy and sf proper is really something the other major awards should take note off. The First Novel category is also a nifty innovation. It’s time to read some Valente, it appears.

11 of these are on my My World or mental reading list, but I have not read any of them yet.

Emil: That’s a good way to put it. Since Locus is a magazine that covers publishers, I see this award as really about what sells. There’s a subtle difference between that and the Hugos, which are about popularity, but within a select group. Locus seems to be more about what sells to population as a whole.

So many books to read, so little time! I haven’t read any of the science fiction nominees, though I’m reading Embassytown now. I like it pretty well thus far, and I hope I get a chance to read the others sometime soon! In fantasy, I’ve only read A Dance With Dragons. From Rico’s comment, I’m guessing that one was an inevitable pick. And book from A Song of Ice and Fire must be a really high-seller, especially since it now has a successful ongoing HBO series adaptation. I haven’t read any of the others, but I have high hopes since they are all books that have been recommended to me or books by authors I enjoy. I’ve at least heard of three of the debut novels (God’s War, Mechanique, and The Night Circus). The only one I’ve read was God’s War, but I thought it was a very strong debut. I’ve actually read three of the YA picks (Miss Peregrine’s…, The Girl Who…, and Goliath), and the other two look interesting. "Who Fears Death" was pretty disturbing and McDonald is a pretty dense writer, so I wonder what their YA fiction is like. Out of the three I’ve read, my personal favorite would be the Valente.

A lot of good nominees to choose from! A few I haven’t read yet, but plan do (Soft Apocalypse first among them). Btw don’t agree that A Dance with Dragons is inevitable…at least not if the judges are going for "best book (not considering context)" rather than "reward for the entire series it’s a part of."We predict the winners of the major categories today: https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_locus-sf_index.asp

Nerds_feather: Oh, I didn’t mean I think "A Dance With Dragons" will inevitably win. I feel like this was one of the weaker books in the series, though I hope things will pick up in the future novels. I just meant that, if the Locus awards are a reflection of what sells to the population as a whole, then it makes sense for "A Dance With Dragons" to get a nomination.

The Academy Awards have just released their best movie nominations and it includes American Idol, the television show. In related news NOV 22 1963 was nominated for a science fiction award. I know it is just me but I am driven mad by the inability on these groups (award committees) to agree on what science fiction or fantasy is. I understand that there is a fuzzy gray middle where the two worlds meet. No problem. If it is a close call I am not going to complain. However, for Stephen King to be nominated for a SciFi award for NOV 11 63 is not just comical but it does serious damage to the reputation of Locus. I read the book. There is not a single paragraph that deals in any way with science fiction. The main character time travels three times. However this not done as a result of some science or magic. It is as a result of walking down stairs. How can we take these awards seriously if a nominated novel is so blatantly out of place? This is a historical fiction novel with 5 percent of it devoted to magic/fantasy having to do with the time travel part. Maybe 6 percent. Seriously, this is beyond the pale. It is off the charts.