Redshirts a Finalist for the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
Posted on May 8, 2013 Posted by John Scalzi 15 Comments
Very exciting news.
Here’s the Locus announcement plus the full list of categories, which includes as finalists friends like Elizabeth Bear, Cat Valente, Mary Robinette Kowal, Saladin Ahmed, China Mieville, Jay Lake, Paolo Bacigalupi and Cory Doctorow — among many others. Congratulations to all!
Here are the finalists in my category of Science Fiction Novel:
- The Hydrogen Sonata, Iain M. Banks (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
- Caliban’s War, James S.A. Corey (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- Redshirts, John Scalzi (Tor; Gollancz)
An excellent field. I am delighted to be a finalist, but I have to tell you that with all my heart I hope it goes to Iain M. Banks this year, not only for this particular novel (which is excellent) but as a salute to his entire body of work. I would be very happy with that.
The winners will be announced at the end of June — good luck to everyone.
I agree about Mr. Banks. He’s going to be a big loss.
If only the Culture was real.
Yours is the only SF one I’ve got, but I like the fantasy category, jemisin and kowal – heard good things about the kiernan too, will be needing to get that. I even have two in the first novel category, unusually for me. And the YA category is full of awesome, every single one.
Thank you for your comments on Iain Banks. It’s not one of his best, but pretty damn good all the same – lots of running around for no change in outcome at the end. I still enjoyed it, and it would be fitting if he won the award this year.
I hope I’d be as gracious as you if I’m ever in a similar situation – it’s a big award, so congratulations to you for the nomination!
I agree, John. I look forward to losing to Iain. He’s a brilliant man, a fantastic writer, and a personal hero of mine.
Sorry, John, I gotta put my support behind “Caliban’s War”. That’s a damn good novel in a damn good series.
Not saying your novel is bad; I just think James S.A. Corey’s is damn good.
I do want to say I’m psyched you’re a finalist, John. I find your writing style unique. Refreshingly so.
What’s that, scorpius? I thought you were a 2312 supporter. You were in the Hugo nomination thread, unless I misread John’s malleting comment.
Well I am torn. I loved your book, I loved Bujold’s book, but you do make a good point about Banks as well. Glad I am not voting because I would be flip flopping on my vote for sure!
If Ian does get the award, I hope it is because readers feel Sonata is the best science fiction novel of the year. I don’t think awards for specific categories should go to people because they died, because they got snubbed previously or because they suffered some other kind of injustice. They should get their award because their nominated work deserved that award. Otherwise all the other winners of the award are cheapened because it casts into doubt if they were the best of their year as well.
I’m not picking on Locus or Nebula awards specifically – the same goes for Oscars and the rest. These awards should define for all history the best we had to offer the world in a given year.
Congratulations, John — but you’ve got some very tough competition. May the best book win!
Rarely, I’ve read all but one of the finalists this year. They are all excellent. I’m torn between Hydrogen Sonata and Caliban’s War for my first choice. Redshirts was good too, and so was 2312. Dammit.
This probably means I need to read Bujold’s book, if it made it into the pool of my other 4 favorite SF books last year it’s probably worth the read.
I really enjoyed Red Shirts, but I loved Bujold’s book even more. It was one of those ‘finished the book and start rereading immediately’ novels. I even bought copies for friends. Her humor had me laughing for hours!
Maybe they should do a category for humorous SF novel – it’s hard to judge them the same way as the non-humorous novels.
I’m not viewing this as a contest, so much as a checklist. Time to go find Caliban’s War.
Redshirts rocked.
Very best of luck to you.