Prelim Nebulas, Nortons and PKDs
Posted on January 10, 2007 Posted by John Scalzi 19 Comments
For those of you with a science fiction bent, the Nebula Long List has been announced; from these ten books (and varying numbers of short fiction), the short list will be formed, after which the authors can truly call themselves Nebula nominees. For now, they can say “Dude! I’m on the Nebula long list!” I’m happy to say a number of my pals have hit the long lists. Yay! I have talented friends! I’ll especially note Toby Buckell, who’s on the Novel prelim list for his debut novel Crystal Rain, which is a nice feather in his cap.
The preliminary Norton award list (that’s SFWA’s award for YA novels) is particularly interesting, because it’s entirely made up of Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier novels, and I of course approve of that. Scott and Justine also now go down in history as the first married couple to have simultaneous appearances on a Norton list of any sort. I should note that (if memory serves) this year there is also a married couple in which both spouses are on the Nebula long list (although unlike Scott and Justine, not in the same category); I wonder how often that happens. I can’t imagine it happens often.
I have some structural grumbles with the Nebulas in general, none of which have anything to do with the fabulous writing that gets nominated, but I’ll save those grumbles for when the final slate of nominees is announced. In the meantime, congratulations to all the folks on the long list.
Also in the last week, the nominees for the Philip K. Dick Award (which focuses on new SF originally published in paperback) were announced, and I’m pleased to say they include Mark Budz, whom I interviewed recently, and also Elizabeth Bear, who is continuing her conquest of all known forms of writing. This is a reminder to you all that Bear’s novella “Lucifugous” is continuing its serialization at the Subterranean site — it’s up to Chapter Seven or thereabouts. You could be reading it right this very instant.
Yeah, Tobias.
Sorry you didn’t get on, oh worthy God of Scalzi (and we now know what TAD was really upset about, and I hope the ice cream helped).
No worries. I really have no expectation to ever be on a Nebula ballot, actually.
Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm were both nominated for Nebulas in 1969. (And they were both nominated for Hugos in 1977. Both times, Kate won and Damon lost.)
Spider and Jeanne Robinson won the 1978 novella Nebula for Stardance, but you probably were wondering about separate nominations.
Mary Turzillo and Geoff Landis, and the two Vinges, have never received short list nominations in the same year. I don’t know about the long list, though.
Thanks, Steven! Good to know.
I was genuinely surprised to see no Scalzi on the long list. Bummer, dude!
Jeff Mountjoy:
“I was genuinely surprised to see no Scalzi on the long list.”
I wasn’t. Which, incidentally, isn’t meant to be a bitter observation; merely recognition that I myself don’t spend a whole lot of time doing what it takes to get a Nebula nomination, which why I’ll be somewhat surprised if I ever get one. But if one doesn’t expect a Nebula nod, it’s not a crushing blow not to get one.
I’m very happy for my friends on the long list, though. I think that’s neat.
Fingers crossed for Tobias, that was one hell of a book!
Inquiring minds want to know, what must one do to get a Nebula nomination?
It involves peanut butter. And badgers. The rest is unspeakable.
Why must it always come down to the perverse juxtaposition of the sultry creamy butter of the peanut, Carver’s dream spread, against the vile habits and lusts of the badger. Can’t people just evolve???
.
Badgers?! We don’t need no stinkin’ badgers.
Thanks for the shout out John!
Your memory serves correctly, John: Ellen Kushner (novels) and Delia Sherman (novelettes) are married. Now, for the dishwasher, is this the first time that a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling has played a part in an sf awards trivia question?
Scott: Good Lord, I hope so.
Dear John;
If I hadn’t stormed out of SFWA in a huff, I would so nominate you.
Love, Bear
Wait… you’re willing to tape bacon to cats … but not mess with peanut butter and badgers?? The mind boggles.
Clearly you’ve never tried to slather a badger.
In doing research for an SF trivia contest, I believe Spider and Jeanne Robinson are the only married Hugo fiction winners. Vernor Vinge and Joan Vinge won Hugos after they divorced. Charles Sheffield and Nancy Kress won Hugos before they were married.
“Clearly you’ve never tried to slather a badger.”
And I’m off to get more mental floss, just ran out.