I often berate myself for not reading enough science fiction these days. I do, however, follow the two big awards, the Hugo and Nebula awards. In my teens those awards generated winners that swept me off my feet. Nearly a month ago, the Hugo nominees came out, just after the Nebula nominees, but no new reads eventuate from the two lists:
Hugo:
- Neal Stephenson’s Anathem – being a big fan of his (though not a reader of his pure historical fiction), I already have this on a shelf
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – I’m also a fan of his, and two of my children have read this, but it’s mainly a young adult novel and I can’t make myself read it (despite loving Neverwhere, another YA work).
- Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother – another teen book.
- Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross – I’ve been meaning to read more of his output but this one, described as a ‘erotic futuristic thriller’ probably isn’t for me.
- Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi
Nebula:
- Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother
- Powers by Ursula K. le Guin – I stopped reading her years ago
- Cauldron by Jack McDevitt – ‘space opera’ is rarely for me
- Brasyl by Ian McDonald – hmm, this has sounded attractive since I first saw it but for the moment I resist
- Terry Pratchett’s Making Money – my children have read all of them, I find them inventive and funny but have skipped the latest ones
- Superpowers by David J. Schwartz – a novelized version of the classic comic book story, not my cup of tea either