BSFA Awards shortlists announced
Us Brits have a set of science fiction awards too, y’know. Maybe the BSFA Awards are not as big and high-profile as the Nebulas, but we’re pretty proud of them nonetheless.
The shortlists for this year’s BSFA Awards were announced last night. Here are the ones to do with fiction:
Best Novel:
- Alice in Sunderland – Bryan Talbot (Jonathan Cape)
- Black Man – Richard Morgan (Gollancz)
- Brasyl – Ian McDonald (Gollancz)
- The Execution Channel – Ken MacLeod (Orbit)
- The Prefect – Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz)
- The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon (Fourth Estate)
Best Short Fiction:
- “Lighting Out” – Ken MacLeod (disLocations; NewCon Press)
- “Terminal” – Chaz Brenchley (disLocations; NewCon Press)
- “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” – Ted Chiang (F&SF, September)
- “The Gift of Joy” – Ian Whates (TQR)
- “The Sledge-Maker’s Daughter” – Alastair Reynolds (Interzone #209)
I think the Best Novel category will be closely fought - I’ll have to think carefully about my vote for that one.
As Niall Harrison points out, Ted Chiang probably has the Short Fiction in the bag. Personally, I thought that to be one of his weakest pieces - not bad by any stretch of the definition, but nowhere near as good as some of the material preceding it. Selah.
Your thoughts?
