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Nebula Awards Showcases #45
The Mammoth Book of Nebula Awards SF
The very best short SF and fantasy fiction of the year as chosen by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
The very best short SF fiction of any given year as recommended and nominated by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America: the best novella, novelette and short story. Here you will find the cream of the crop of science fiction and fantasy - startling ideas, the intricate construction of new worlds and mind-bending experimental writing.
This anthology includes not only the Nebula Award-winning works in each short-form category, but also all the nominees in the novelette and short story categories. Here you will find colourful fantasy, outstanding speculative fiction, steampunk, edgy writing on the fringes of the mainstream and uncompromisingly hard SF in stories set in the distant past, an off-kilter present day, the far future or some times in between.
The very best short SF fiction of any given year as recommended and nominated by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America: the best novella, novelette and short story. Here you will find the cream of the crop of science fiction and fantasy - startling ideas, the intricate construction of new worlds and mind-bending experimental writing.
This anthology includes not only the Nebula Award-winning works in each short-form category, but also all the nominees in the novelette and short story categories. Here you will find colourful fantasy, outstanding speculative fiction, steampunk, edgy writing on the fringes of the mainstream and uncompromisingly hard SF in stories set in the distant past, an off-kilter present day, the far future or some times in between.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
24 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,038 books3,102 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 7, 2011
Original and a more complete review posted at Layers of Thought.
An incredible collection of short stories, novelettes, one novella, poetry and more -representing the best in the science fiction and fantasy field published in 2009. All chosen by peers from the SFWA –Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
In summary: I enjoyed every story in this great anthology, one of which is the best short stories I have ever read. Yep, it was that good. Subjective star ratings are shown for each individual work. I encourage you to read these yourself as they are an exciting bunch for anyone interested in SFF (and horror since there are many threads within this selection). Overall, I give this book a rare 5 stars.
Short Stories ~ (under 7,500 words):
“Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” by Saladin Ahmed ~ An exotic story set in old Iran where a Sultan’s physician is sent into a dusty rural area as punishment because of his directness (he confronted the king, opposing the marriage of his lover to an old rich man.) During his exile he is called to cure a hermit’s wife, who has a startling affliction. Purported to be a witch, she is in fact more. With descriptive language and light insight into some of daily practices from Muslim culture, I re-told this great tale to John over Persian food the subsequent evening. Delicious and entertaining at 4.5 stars.I remember the future2
“I Remember the Future” by Michael A. Burstein ~ An aging and dying science fiction author deals with the anger and angst from his daughter from his slights and perceived neglect toward her over the years. As he descends into a happy madness, there was a tear inducing ending. 5 stars.
Non-Zero Probabilities” by N. K. Jemisin ~ A down to earth and intelligent story, that is a “walk around” New York. It has a creative, fantastical, and magical link into a probability of sorts. It made me giggle and blush too. 4 stars.
“Going Deep” by James Patrick Kelly ~ A science fiction story whose main character is a tween girl. Living on a dying space center this girl’s genetic heritage is determined as – “space traveler”. The last in this “retired” collection, it is a relatable tale which accesses the psyche of the main character in an amazing way. A terrific story, which I want to read more of. It’s a 4.5 stars in my opinion.
“Bridesicle” by Will McIntosh ~ Horror, science fiction, and humor mesh in this story, where attractive dead women are frozen for reanimation and can be revived for dating and marriage purposes. Darkly hilarious and an incredible idea, this tale gave me “giggle tears”. I laughed till I cried at 4.5 stars.
Winner: “Spar” by Kij Johnson ~ A dark, horrific, and erotic science fiction short that includes an amorphous non-human alien. Not for the faint of heart or stomach. This story deserves 4 stars.
SFWA Author Emeritus – Neal Barrett, Jr. ~ “Getting Dark” ~ A southern story of sorts where the female narrator is haunting or being haunted - perhaps both? This is surreal and earthy, with a dark and sexual thread told in an authentic female voice. I give it 4 stars.
Novelette ~ (over 7,500 and under 17,500 words):
“The Gambler” by Paolo Bacigalupi ~ Set in the future, a Laos refugee escapes his deteriorating country for the US only to find that his idealism does not work here - within the ever increasing thrill and monetary seeking society that the US has become. With an environmental thread - apparently one of this author’s major themes; this is an incredible story with interesting and sensitive cultural insight. It’s definitely a 5 stars.
“Vinegar Peace” by Michael Bishop ~ An emotional and convoluted story about orphaned parents - designated as such and put to pasture when they loose their children in death. Set in the future it is difficult, full of angst, and has a hallucination-like feel to it as it is often a natural consequence from a severe loss. Its is a 4 stars in my opinion.
“I Needs Must Part, the Policeman Said” by Richard Bowes ~ A dying man is brought into a hospital and falls into various dream like states around his life and the experiences of his friends; many ill like himself from Aids-related complications. I laughed, cried and just loved this incredible story. I’m now a serious fan; this is a 5 star from an incredibly sensitive and insightful author.
“Divining Light” by Ted Kosmatka ~ Every once in a while you read something that just “blows you away”. That is the case with this story – consequently it is my favorite from the collection. It goes beyond any of my expectation and includes elements from several of my preferred genre mixes - horror, science fiction and an encompassing “meaning of life” thread. In my opinion it’s an impossible 5.5 stars. a memory of wind
“A Memory of Wind” by Rachel Swirsky ~ Reviewed by me in another post - linked via the title. It is based upon Iphigenia and set in ancient Greece. I gave it 4 stars.
Winner: “ Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest: Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” By Eugie Foster ~ In this consciousness-bending story – described as a “dystopian” tale - identity is a key element. The individuals of this society are required to wear masks imbued with different drugs/hormones which change daily. There is an element of blending of genders so the story will be classified as GLBT; it also contains a horrific thread. I enjoyed this phantasmagorical story at 4 stars.
Damon Knight Grand Master - Joe Haldeman ~ “A !Tangled Web” ~ An excellent science fiction short which tells the tale of a business deal made between humans and aliens on a planet other than earth. The aliens have an interesting physiology and language, and a method of self-depreciation which is beyond western behaviors. Because of this it’s a darkly funny short with an intriguing alien, written by an author who is rightly honored as a Grand Master in the field. This is my first story by him at 4.5 stars.
Rhysling Awards (poetry):
“Song for an Ancient City” by Amal El-Mohtar ~ Is about a magical ancientthe women of nell gymme's city; a short and lovely poem.
“Search” and “Fireflies” by Geoffrey A. Landis ~ The first poem speaks of a hope in finding other life forms in the stars; the other compares fireflies and the stars.
I enjoyed all three at 4 stars each.
A bundle of highly recommended stories from this “cream of the crop” collection. This was a tough one to complete. How do you review an anthology such as this? I am thinking maybe I should start working on the 2010 winners and nominees since maybe I will be fortunate enough to receive next year’s copy of the Showcase. One can dream.
An incredible collection of short stories, novelettes, one novella, poetry and more -representing the best in the science fiction and fantasy field published in 2009. All chosen by peers from the SFWA –Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
In summary: I enjoyed every story in this great anthology, one of which is the best short stories I have ever read. Yep, it was that good. Subjective star ratings are shown for each individual work. I encourage you to read these yourself as they are an exciting bunch for anyone interested in SFF (and horror since there are many threads within this selection). Overall, I give this book a rare 5 stars.
Short Stories ~ (under 7,500 words):
“Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” by Saladin Ahmed ~ An exotic story set in old Iran where a Sultan’s physician is sent into a dusty rural area as punishment because of his directness (he confronted the king, opposing the marriage of his lover to an old rich man.) During his exile he is called to cure a hermit’s wife, who has a startling affliction. Purported to be a witch, she is in fact more. With descriptive language and light insight into some of daily practices from Muslim culture, I re-told this great tale to John over Persian food the subsequent evening. Delicious and entertaining at 4.5 stars.I remember the future2
“I Remember the Future” by Michael A. Burstein ~ An aging and dying science fiction author deals with the anger and angst from his daughter from his slights and perceived neglect toward her over the years. As he descends into a happy madness, there was a tear inducing ending. 5 stars.
Non-Zero Probabilities” by N. K. Jemisin ~ A down to earth and intelligent story, that is a “walk around” New York. It has a creative, fantastical, and magical link into a probability of sorts. It made me giggle and blush too. 4 stars.
“Going Deep” by James Patrick Kelly ~ A science fiction story whose main character is a tween girl. Living on a dying space center this girl’s genetic heritage is determined as – “space traveler”. The last in this “retired” collection, it is a relatable tale which accesses the psyche of the main character in an amazing way. A terrific story, which I want to read more of. It’s a 4.5 stars in my opinion.
“Bridesicle” by Will McIntosh ~ Horror, science fiction, and humor mesh in this story, where attractive dead women are frozen for reanimation and can be revived for dating and marriage purposes. Darkly hilarious and an incredible idea, this tale gave me “giggle tears”. I laughed till I cried at 4.5 stars.
Winner: “Spar” by Kij Johnson ~ A dark, horrific, and erotic science fiction short that includes an amorphous non-human alien. Not for the faint of heart or stomach. This story deserves 4 stars.
SFWA Author Emeritus – Neal Barrett, Jr. ~ “Getting Dark” ~ A southern story of sorts where the female narrator is haunting or being haunted - perhaps both? This is surreal and earthy, with a dark and sexual thread told in an authentic female voice. I give it 4 stars.
Novelette ~ (over 7,500 and under 17,500 words):
“The Gambler” by Paolo Bacigalupi ~ Set in the future, a Laos refugee escapes his deteriorating country for the US only to find that his idealism does not work here - within the ever increasing thrill and monetary seeking society that the US has become. With an environmental thread - apparently one of this author’s major themes; this is an incredible story with interesting and sensitive cultural insight. It’s definitely a 5 stars.
“Vinegar Peace” by Michael Bishop ~ An emotional and convoluted story about orphaned parents - designated as such and put to pasture when they loose their children in death. Set in the future it is difficult, full of angst, and has a hallucination-like feel to it as it is often a natural consequence from a severe loss. Its is a 4 stars in my opinion.
“I Needs Must Part, the Policeman Said” by Richard Bowes ~ A dying man is brought into a hospital and falls into various dream like states around his life and the experiences of his friends; many ill like himself from Aids-related complications. I laughed, cried and just loved this incredible story. I’m now a serious fan; this is a 5 star from an incredibly sensitive and insightful author.
“Divining Light” by Ted Kosmatka ~ Every once in a while you read something that just “blows you away”. That is the case with this story – consequently it is my favorite from the collection. It goes beyond any of my expectation and includes elements from several of my preferred genre mixes - horror, science fiction and an encompassing “meaning of life” thread. In my opinion it’s an impossible 5.5 stars. a memory of wind
“A Memory of Wind” by Rachel Swirsky ~ Reviewed by me in another post - linked via the title. It is based upon Iphigenia and set in ancient Greece. I gave it 4 stars.
Winner: “ Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest: Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” By Eugie Foster ~ In this consciousness-bending story – described as a “dystopian” tale - identity is a key element. The individuals of this society are required to wear masks imbued with different drugs/hormones which change daily. There is an element of blending of genders so the story will be classified as GLBT; it also contains a horrific thread. I enjoyed this phantasmagorical story at 4 stars.
Damon Knight Grand Master - Joe Haldeman ~ “A !Tangled Web” ~ An excellent science fiction short which tells the tale of a business deal made between humans and aliens on a planet other than earth. The aliens have an interesting physiology and language, and a method of self-depreciation which is beyond western behaviors. Because of this it’s a darkly funny short with an intriguing alien, written by an author who is rightly honored as a Grand Master in the field. This is my first story by him at 4.5 stars.
Rhysling Awards (poetry):
“Song for an Ancient City” by Amal El-Mohtar ~ Is about a magical ancientthe women of nell gymme's city; a short and lovely poem.
“Search” and “Fireflies” by Geoffrey A. Landis ~ The first poem speaks of a hope in finding other life forms in the stars; the other compares fireflies and the stars.
I enjoyed all three at 4 stars each.
A bundle of highly recommended stories from this “cream of the crop” collection. This was a tough one to complete. How do you review an anthology such as this? I am thinking maybe I should start working on the 2010 winners and nominees since maybe I will be fortunate enough to receive next year’s copy of the Showcase. One can dream.
June 17, 2011
The Nebula Awards are one of the great institutions in science fiction and fantasy. Each year since 1965, the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have voted for the Best Novel, Novella (40,000-17,500 words), Novelette (17,500-7,500 words), and Short Story (less than 7,500 words) in SF and fantasy. Compiling a list of the nominees and winners for all those years would get you an excellent reading list and a comprehensive cross-view of the best that can be found in the genres. To make this task easier, every Nebula Award since the first one has had a corresponding book that collected some of the stories, ballots and related texts. The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011, edited by Kevin J. Anderson, is the first one of these to be released by Tor.
First thing to be aware of, and just to avoid any possible confusion for people who may be new to this particular format: the annual Showcase is timed to be released around the following year’s Nebula Awards ceremony. This means that this specific book, The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011, presents the winners and nominees from the 2010 Nebula ballot, which in turn means that it contains stories that were all originally published in 2009.
Taking a look at the Table of Contents for this anthology, it’s hard not to feel that this book offers truly excellent value for your money: it contains every single nominated short story and novelette on the final 2010 ballot, as well as the winning novella in its entirety. There are also short features about, and sample stories by, the 2010 SFWA Author Emeritus (Neal Barrett, Jr.) and the 2010 SFWA Grand Master (Joe Haldeman), and the winning poems in the three Rhysling Award categories for SFF poetry. There’s no excerpt from the winning novel, but as it is, the book still offers up a lot of great science fiction and fantasy in one affordable volume.
In the short story section, you’ll find stories by Saladin Ahmed, Michael A. Burstein, N.K. Jemisin, James Patrick Kelly, Will McIntosh and (winner) Kij Johnson. My favorites among the nominated stories are Will McIntosh’s “Bridesicle,” which applies the concept of the “mail order bride” to cryogenic storage in a chilling and touching way, and James Patrick Kelly’s “Going Deep,” a subtle story about a disgruntled teenager growing up alone without her spacer mother. Both of these are gorgeous, memorable stories that hint at much more than they explicitly describe — the kind of story you could imagine building a novel around. The Nebula went to Kij Johnson’s “Spar,” a shocking and original story that challenges the boundaries of comfort. “Spar” was originally published in Clarkesworld.
The novelette section contains entries by Paolo Bacigalupi, Michael Bishop, Richard Bowes, Ted Kosmatka, Rachel Swirsky, and (winner) Eugie Foster. Unlike the short story section, which contained a few stories I personally wasn’t wild about, each of the included novelettes is nothing less than excellent, making it hard to pick a favorite. The winning novelette, Eugie Foster’s “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Blue Mask, Gentleman, Beast,” won the Nebula and was originally published in Interzone. It’s a brilliant piece of fiction, but my personal favorite here was still Paolo Bacigalupi’s “The Gambler,” offering a realistic look at what the news media is even now turning into. Also gorgeous is Ted Kosmatka's “Divining Light,” which combines a very hard SF concept with very human emotion in a way that’s reminiscent of that other brilliant short fiction writer called Ted (Chiang). Ah hell, all the nominated novelettes are great — just read them all.
Closing out the prose material from the 2010 ballot is Kage Baker’s “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s,” which won the award for Best Novella. This story is connected to the author’s acclaimed Company series, set in the same period as her novel Not Less Than Gods, which also mentions some of its characters. I highly recommend it to everyone who loved the Company series. “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” was originally published by Subterranean Press.
Aside from all this excellent prose found on the 2010 Nebula ballot, The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 contains a few tasty extras. There’s “Getting Dark,” a truly stunning story from SFWA Author Emeritus Neal Barrett, Jr., and “A !Tangled Web”, a hilarious story by SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman that may surprise people who only know the author from his classic SF novel The Forever War. There’s also a transcript of the funny and touching speech Connie Willis gave about/to Joe Haldeman during the award ceremony. The book also contains the three lovely Rhysling Award-winning poems, one by Amal El-Mohtar and two by Geoffrey A. Landis. Finally, each short story and novelette is preceded by a short introduction by the author and followed by a brief, informative author bio. Sadly, Kage Baker passed away in 2010, so for “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” there’s instead a brief, touching essay by her sister, Kathleen Bartholomew.
The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 offers a wonderful and generous sample of the best SFF has to offer. It’s a great snapshot of the genre, presented in a wonderful format and at a very reasonable price. I’m already looking forward to next year’s installment!
(This review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com on 6/17/2011.)
First thing to be aware of, and just to avoid any possible confusion for people who may be new to this particular format: the annual Showcase is timed to be released around the following year’s Nebula Awards ceremony. This means that this specific book, The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011, presents the winners and nominees from the 2010 Nebula ballot, which in turn means that it contains stories that were all originally published in 2009.
Taking a look at the Table of Contents for this anthology, it’s hard not to feel that this book offers truly excellent value for your money: it contains every single nominated short story and novelette on the final 2010 ballot, as well as the winning novella in its entirety. There are also short features about, and sample stories by, the 2010 SFWA Author Emeritus (Neal Barrett, Jr.) and the 2010 SFWA Grand Master (Joe Haldeman), and the winning poems in the three Rhysling Award categories for SFF poetry. There’s no excerpt from the winning novel, but as it is, the book still offers up a lot of great science fiction and fantasy in one affordable volume.
In the short story section, you’ll find stories by Saladin Ahmed, Michael A. Burstein, N.K. Jemisin, James Patrick Kelly, Will McIntosh and (winner) Kij Johnson. My favorites among the nominated stories are Will McIntosh’s “Bridesicle,” which applies the concept of the “mail order bride” to cryogenic storage in a chilling and touching way, and James Patrick Kelly’s “Going Deep,” a subtle story about a disgruntled teenager growing up alone without her spacer mother. Both of these are gorgeous, memorable stories that hint at much more than they explicitly describe — the kind of story you could imagine building a novel around. The Nebula went to Kij Johnson’s “Spar,” a shocking and original story that challenges the boundaries of comfort. “Spar” was originally published in Clarkesworld.
The novelette section contains entries by Paolo Bacigalupi, Michael Bishop, Richard Bowes, Ted Kosmatka, Rachel Swirsky, and (winner) Eugie Foster. Unlike the short story section, which contained a few stories I personally wasn’t wild about, each of the included novelettes is nothing less than excellent, making it hard to pick a favorite. The winning novelette, Eugie Foster’s “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Blue Mask, Gentleman, Beast,” won the Nebula and was originally published in Interzone. It’s a brilliant piece of fiction, but my personal favorite here was still Paolo Bacigalupi’s “The Gambler,” offering a realistic look at what the news media is even now turning into. Also gorgeous is Ted Kosmatka's “Divining Light,” which combines a very hard SF concept with very human emotion in a way that’s reminiscent of that other brilliant short fiction writer called Ted (Chiang). Ah hell, all the nominated novelettes are great — just read them all.
Closing out the prose material from the 2010 ballot is Kage Baker’s “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s,” which won the award for Best Novella. This story is connected to the author’s acclaimed Company series, set in the same period as her novel Not Less Than Gods, which also mentions some of its characters. I highly recommend it to everyone who loved the Company series. “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” was originally published by Subterranean Press.
Aside from all this excellent prose found on the 2010 Nebula ballot, The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 contains a few tasty extras. There’s “Getting Dark,” a truly stunning story from SFWA Author Emeritus Neal Barrett, Jr., and “A !Tangled Web”, a hilarious story by SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman that may surprise people who only know the author from his classic SF novel The Forever War. There’s also a transcript of the funny and touching speech Connie Willis gave about/to Joe Haldeman during the award ceremony. The book also contains the three lovely Rhysling Award-winning poems, one by Amal El-Mohtar and two by Geoffrey A. Landis. Finally, each short story and novelette is preceded by a short introduction by the author and followed by a brief, informative author bio. Sadly, Kage Baker passed away in 2010, so for “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” there’s instead a brief, touching essay by her sister, Kathleen Bartholomew.
The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 offers a wonderful and generous sample of the best SFF has to offer. It’s a great snapshot of the genre, presented in a wonderful format and at a very reasonable price. I’m already looking forward to next year’s installment!
(This review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com on 6/17/2011.)
July 25, 2011
This was more science fantasy than science fiction and I usually prefer the latter. However there was an excellent novella, "Divining Light", by Ted Kosmatka, based on the wave vs particle theory of light in quantum mechanics. In addition the novella, "The Women of Nell Gwynne's", by Kage Baker was a wonderful example of steampunk. I've already reserved a copy of her last novel at the library and will probably read everything that she wrote.
June 28, 2025
Copitele și coliba lui Abdel Jameela de Saladin Ahmed
Nu prea am înțeles cum a ajuns povestirea în fazele finale ale concursului… Probabil că această combinație – cinism arab și umor american – i-a făcut pe votanți să creadă că au dat peste ceva deosebit. Dacă scoți umorul cel pipernicit, rămâne o povestire pentru care Șeherezada probabil că și-ar fi pierdut capul încă din prima noapte.
Nota 6,7
Îmi amintesc viitorul de Michael A. Burstein
Naivă… copilărească… poate superioară (nu cu mult) unei compuneri… Scriitorul și-a rezervat un rol în propria povestire, iar celelalte personaje din text vin din diferite universuri paralele pentru a-l salva de bătrânețe, boală și uitare, practic pentru a-l face nemuritor. Cu mine n-a funcționat, am uitat aproape instantaneu de text, dar nu vreau să fiu răutăcios, că poate la alți cititori funcționează. Avantajul este că lucrarea sau ce e se citește foarte ușor, la fel cum se citește prospectul de la seturile de tigăi sau alte înscrisuri similare.
Nota 5,7
Probabilități non-zero de N. K. Jemisin
Tot ce este improbabil se întâmplă. Trenuri deraiază, clădiri se prăbușesc, toată lumea câștigă la loterie. Povestirea NU mi-a plăcut, aduce a talcioc, găsești de toate dar nimic nu folosește la nimic dintr-o perspectivă strict literară. Însă ideea este remarcabilă. Poate că autoarea (pe care o consider foarte talentată) a avut o zi mai proastă și ar fi fost bine să se mărginească doar la idee, lăsând eventual pe altcineva să îmbrace această idee în cuvinte?
Nota 7
Lunga hibernare de James Patrick Kelly
O colonie lunară, cam acesta e cadrul… Și copii programați genetic. Personajele nu au forță, nu au consistență. Singurul care mi-a plăcut a fost bunica Memaw, care din păcate nici măcar nu apare în povestire, ea fiind doar menționată în câteva dialoguri.
Nota 4,5
Ultima moarte de Will McIntosh
Despre femei care au murit și care sunt depozitate și păstrate în eventualitatea unei reanimări. Bărbații care își permit financiar astfel de readuceri la viață o fac pentru a beneficia de… servicii diverse. E scump stimabile, dar poate obții o nevastă așa cum ți-ai dorit. Sau nu neapărat o nevastă, nu e obligatoriu pe linie contractuală, dar dacă știe să gătească și răspunde cuviincios când e întrebată ceva, atunci are șanse să fie reanimată, măcar și pentru o perioadă de probă. Povestirea este foarte bine scrisă și e probabil cea mai bună dintre finaliste, dar ai grijă, Will, că mergi pe o sârmă foarte subțire cu astfel de idei. Norocul tău mare a fost faptul că mișcarea „Me Too” a devenit oficială la câțiva ani după ce această finală Nebula s-a încheiat, altfel nu cred că răzbăteai până aici cu textul… În ziua de azi nu prea mai contează ce scrii, ci când și despre cine scrii.
Nota 9,8
Coabitare de Kij Johnson (câștigătoare la categoria povestiri scurte)
Pe bune, chestia asta a ieșit învingătoare? Povestirea e un fel de „N-am gură și trebuie să urlu” scrisă de un discipol complet lipsit de talent de-al lui Harlan Ellison. În text este vorba despre o astronaut și despre un extraterestru care întrețin relații sexuale pe întreaga durată a coabitării. În rest nu prea am găsit nimic demn de a fi menționat.
Nota 5,5
Se-adună bezna de Neal Barrett Jr.
Ca stil, un pic din textele lui Cortazar și din „Eu, supremul” de Augusto Roa Bastos, un pic mai mult din „Cineva deranjează trandafirii ăștia” de Gabriel García Márquez… și încă ceva de la autor. Practic o povestire sud-americană cu ambalaje de produse americane. Dar echilibrul dintre stiluri este bine gândit și mi-a plăcut.
Nota 8
Jucătorul de Paolo Bacigalupi
Sunt foarte subiectiv cu această nuveletă pentru că orice similaritate, de fapt orice iz de William Gibson mă face de devin ultra apreciativ în legătură cu ceea ce citesc. Și probabil că eu aș fi unul dintre cei o mie de internauți care ar da click pe articolul despre „afurisitul de fluture”…
Nota 8,7
Pacea Oțetului sau Orfelinatul pe Dos pentru Adulți Uzați de Michael Bishop
Ideea unui orfelinat pentru bătrâni rămași fără copii este deosebită… și atât de tristă. Și statul care (cum de ne-am imagina altceva) oferă “toate condițiile” celor vârstnici…
Nota 8,3
Trebuie să plec, a spus polițistul de Richard Bowes
O lume paralelă, reală pentru cei ce halucinează, se află în comă sau sub anestezie. Te întorci înapoi în realitate doar dacă ți se permite acest lucru… Un omagiu adus de autor lui Philip K. Dick.
Nota 7.5
Lumină divină de Ted Kosmatka
Așadar, e foarte simplu. Dacă nu există un detector conștient care să analizeze poziția unui electron în timpul unui experiment Feynman, atunci avem ca rezultat o stare de interferență. Dacă există, atunci avem o stare de undă. Întrebări?
Nota 8
Amintirea vântului de Rachel Swirski
Nuveleta este superbă dar nu e SF, nici vorbă. Nuveleta este absolut superbă, țin să repet acest lucru, dar nu are ce să caute într-o antologie de texte SF și cu atât mai puțin printre nominalizatele la premiile Nebula.
Nota ---
Păcătos, brutar, fabulist, preot; mască roșie, mască neagră, gentleman, brută de Eugie Foster (câștigătoare la categoria nuvelete)
Cea mai bună lucrare din antologie, aș spune chiar de departe… Nu m-aș mira dacă a fost votată în unanimitate drept câștigătoare a premiului.
Nota 9,8
O rețea încâlcită de Joe Haldeman
O negociere din zona afacerilor imobiliare între pământeni și o specie extraterestră numită !tang, în legătură cu un teren care ar putea deveni de interes turistic. Nimic spectaculos, dar Haldeman are stilul său unic. Dick Navarro, personajul central, rezolvă situațiile în stilul detectivilor din romanele polițiste ale anilor 50-60. Băutura la îndemână, puțin (sau chiar mai mult) umor și cazul e ca și rezolvat. Foarte rar mai găsesc de citit astfel de bijuterii clasice.
Nota 8,8
Doamnele de la Nell Gwynne de Kage Baker (nuvela câștigătoare)
Dacă nu aș fi cunoscut numele autoarei aș fi fost convins că am descoperit o nuvelă scrisă în urma unei colaborări între Verne, Doyle și Poe… O plăcere să citești așa ceva… O societate secretă încearcă să captureze câteva invenții minunate, având ca armă principală un grup entuziast dar disciplinat de dame de companie.
Nota 8
Nu prea am înțeles cum a ajuns povestirea în fazele finale ale concursului… Probabil că această combinație – cinism arab și umor american – i-a făcut pe votanți să creadă că au dat peste ceva deosebit. Dacă scoți umorul cel pipernicit, rămâne o povestire pentru care Șeherezada probabil că și-ar fi pierdut capul încă din prima noapte.
Nota 6,7
Îmi amintesc viitorul de Michael A. Burstein
Naivă… copilărească… poate superioară (nu cu mult) unei compuneri… Scriitorul și-a rezervat un rol în propria povestire, iar celelalte personaje din text vin din diferite universuri paralele pentru a-l salva de bătrânețe, boală și uitare, practic pentru a-l face nemuritor. Cu mine n-a funcționat, am uitat aproape instantaneu de text, dar nu vreau să fiu răutăcios, că poate la alți cititori funcționează. Avantajul este că lucrarea sau ce e se citește foarte ușor, la fel cum se citește prospectul de la seturile de tigăi sau alte înscrisuri similare.
Nota 5,7
Probabilități non-zero de N. K. Jemisin
Tot ce este improbabil se întâmplă. Trenuri deraiază, clădiri se prăbușesc, toată lumea câștigă la loterie. Povestirea NU mi-a plăcut, aduce a talcioc, găsești de toate dar nimic nu folosește la nimic dintr-o perspectivă strict literară. Însă ideea este remarcabilă. Poate că autoarea (pe care o consider foarte talentată) a avut o zi mai proastă și ar fi fost bine să se mărginească doar la idee, lăsând eventual pe altcineva să îmbrace această idee în cuvinte?
Nota 7
Lunga hibernare de James Patrick Kelly
O colonie lunară, cam acesta e cadrul… Și copii programați genetic. Personajele nu au forță, nu au consistență. Singurul care mi-a plăcut a fost bunica Memaw, care din păcate nici măcar nu apare în povestire, ea fiind doar menționată în câteva dialoguri.
Nota 4,5
Ultima moarte de Will McIntosh
Despre femei care au murit și care sunt depozitate și păstrate în eventualitatea unei reanimări. Bărbații care își permit financiar astfel de readuceri la viață o fac pentru a beneficia de… servicii diverse. E scump stimabile, dar poate obții o nevastă așa cum ți-ai dorit. Sau nu neapărat o nevastă, nu e obligatoriu pe linie contractuală, dar dacă știe să gătească și răspunde cuviincios când e întrebată ceva, atunci are șanse să fie reanimată, măcar și pentru o perioadă de probă. Povestirea este foarte bine scrisă și e probabil cea mai bună dintre finaliste, dar ai grijă, Will, că mergi pe o sârmă foarte subțire cu astfel de idei. Norocul tău mare a fost faptul că mișcarea „Me Too” a devenit oficială la câțiva ani după ce această finală Nebula s-a încheiat, altfel nu cred că răzbăteai până aici cu textul… În ziua de azi nu prea mai contează ce scrii, ci când și despre cine scrii.
Nota 9,8
Coabitare de Kij Johnson (câștigătoare la categoria povestiri scurte)
Pe bune, chestia asta a ieșit învingătoare? Povestirea e un fel de „N-am gură și trebuie să urlu” scrisă de un discipol complet lipsit de talent de-al lui Harlan Ellison. În text este vorba despre o astronaut și despre un extraterestru care întrețin relații sexuale pe întreaga durată a coabitării. În rest nu prea am găsit nimic demn de a fi menționat.
Nota 5,5
Se-adună bezna de Neal Barrett Jr.
Ca stil, un pic din textele lui Cortazar și din „Eu, supremul” de Augusto Roa Bastos, un pic mai mult din „Cineva deranjează trandafirii ăștia” de Gabriel García Márquez… și încă ceva de la autor. Practic o povestire sud-americană cu ambalaje de produse americane. Dar echilibrul dintre stiluri este bine gândit și mi-a plăcut.
Nota 8
Jucătorul de Paolo Bacigalupi
Sunt foarte subiectiv cu această nuveletă pentru că orice similaritate, de fapt orice iz de William Gibson mă face de devin ultra apreciativ în legătură cu ceea ce citesc. Și probabil că eu aș fi unul dintre cei o mie de internauți care ar da click pe articolul despre „afurisitul de fluture”…
Nota 8,7
Pacea Oțetului sau Orfelinatul pe Dos pentru Adulți Uzați de Michael Bishop
Ideea unui orfelinat pentru bătrâni rămași fără copii este deosebită… și atât de tristă. Și statul care (cum de ne-am imagina altceva) oferă “toate condițiile” celor vârstnici…
Nota 8,3
Trebuie să plec, a spus polițistul de Richard Bowes
O lume paralelă, reală pentru cei ce halucinează, se află în comă sau sub anestezie. Te întorci înapoi în realitate doar dacă ți se permite acest lucru… Un omagiu adus de autor lui Philip K. Dick.
Nota 7.5
Lumină divină de Ted Kosmatka
Așadar, e foarte simplu. Dacă nu există un detector conștient care să analizeze poziția unui electron în timpul unui experiment Feynman, atunci avem ca rezultat o stare de interferență. Dacă există, atunci avem o stare de undă. Întrebări?
Nota 8
Amintirea vântului de Rachel Swirski
Nuveleta este superbă dar nu e SF, nici vorbă. Nuveleta este absolut superbă, țin să repet acest lucru, dar nu are ce să caute într-o antologie de texte SF și cu atât mai puțin printre nominalizatele la premiile Nebula.
Nota ---
Păcătos, brutar, fabulist, preot; mască roșie, mască neagră, gentleman, brută de Eugie Foster (câștigătoare la categoria nuvelete)
Cea mai bună lucrare din antologie, aș spune chiar de departe… Nu m-aș mira dacă a fost votată în unanimitate drept câștigătoare a premiului.
Nota 9,8
O rețea încâlcită de Joe Haldeman
O negociere din zona afacerilor imobiliare între pământeni și o specie extraterestră numită !tang, în legătură cu un teren care ar putea deveni de interes turistic. Nimic spectaculos, dar Haldeman are stilul său unic. Dick Navarro, personajul central, rezolvă situațiile în stilul detectivilor din romanele polițiste ale anilor 50-60. Băutura la îndemână, puțin (sau chiar mai mult) umor și cazul e ca și rezolvat. Foarte rar mai găsesc de citit astfel de bijuterii clasice.
Nota 8,8
Doamnele de la Nell Gwynne de Kage Baker (nuvela câștigătoare)
Dacă nu aș fi cunoscut numele autoarei aș fi fost convins că am descoperit o nuvelă scrisă în urma unei colaborări între Verne, Doyle și Poe… O plăcere să citești așa ceva… O societate secretă încearcă să captureze câteva invenții minunate, având ca armă principală un grup entuziast dar disciplinat de dame de companie.
Nota 8
October 29, 2018
Spar by Kij Johnson
Whoa. What did I just read? I was impressed with the author's Ponies that I read before, and now I am even more intrigued, with trepidation.
A Memory Of Wind by Rachel Swirsky
This is another author I love. (Check out her If You Were A Dinosaur, My Love in the 2015 issue of the Nebula Showcase.) This piece is a bit weak--as the author writes in the intro, the protagonist doesn't have much agency. Still interested in reading more stories by the author.
Whoa. What did I just read? I was impressed with the author's Ponies that I read before, and now I am even more intrigued, with trepidation.
A Memory Of Wind by Rachel Swirsky
This is another author I love. (Check out her If You Were A Dinosaur, My Love in the 2015 issue of the Nebula Showcase.) This piece is a bit weak--as the author writes in the intro, the protagonist doesn't have much agency. Still interested in reading more stories by the author.
October 29, 2012
Pocos relatos de esta antología me han gustado y varios de ellos se han hecho incluso pesados de leer.
De la categoría Short Story, únicamente destacaría dos; I Remember the Future y Bridesicle siendo esta mi favorita y la que creo que se hubiera merecido el premio, al menos por su original concepto.
La primera historia trata de un escritor de ciencia ficción ya en sus últimos años de vida y que no se siente demasiado querido por su familia. Según va hablando con su hija, va recordando fragmentos de las obras que ha escrito a lo largo de los años. Estas historias serán más importantes de lo que en un principio podrían parecerle al protagonista.
En Bridesicle se nos cuenta la historia de una empresa que mantiene en una especie de éxtasis a mujeres que han muerto. Estas mujeres únicamente recobran la consciencia cuando algún cliente de la empresa se interesa en hablar con ellas. ¿El objetivo final? Buscar esposa. La empresa puede revivirlas si se paga una alta suma de dinero. Por tanto, algunos hombres hablan con diversas candidatas hasta encontrar a quien será su esposa ideal y que estará eternamente agradecida por haberlas resucitado.
Acabaré el comentario de la categoría hablando sobre la ganadora, Spar. ¿Qué tiene de especial esta historia para ser la premiada? Parece que su mérito es el escribir fuck y cunt cada dos frases. Un supuesto relato porno, más bien de violación mutua entre un alien y una humana que ni transmite ni como erótico ni como crítica. O eso, o no entendí que querían contarme.
De la categoría de Novelettes se salva alguna más.
The Gambler una crítica al periodismo sensacionalista donde lo importante no es la noticia sino la audiencia que consigues con ella.
Divining Light una historia interesante sobre la dualidad onda-partícula de la luz y las posibles derivaciones de las teorías cuánticas donde dos estados contradictorios son posibles al mismo tiempo. El único pero es que en ocasiones es ligeramente técnico.
Y la ganadora Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast. Original historia donde las personas de una sociedad no tienen ninguna personalidad ni vida definida. Cada mañana escogen una máscara y durante ese día, vivirán la vida que se encierra en ella. ¿Seré un asesino, seré un vendedor, seré un amante despechado? Pero en esta sociedad hay un tabú, y es el querer tener una personalidad propia, ajena a la que te indican las máscaras…
Finalmente, la ganadora de la categoría Novella. No se puede comparar con las otras candidatas ya que no se incluyen en el libro, pero The Women of Nell Gwynne’s es una historia interesante de temática steampunk en la que un grupo de prostitutas que son en realidad una especie de agentes de inteligencia de una sociedad secreta tienen que investigar un misterio. Por lo menos se deja leer, que después de alguno de los relatos de la antología, no es poco.
Puntuaciones:
Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela 2/5
I Remember the Future 4/5
Non-Zero Probabilities 1/5
Going Deep 3/5
Bridesicle 4/5
Spar 1/5
Getting Dark 2/5
The Gambler 4/5
Vinegar Peace 1/5
I Needs Must Part, the Policeman Said 1/5
Divining Light 4/5
A Memory of Wind 2/5
Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast 4/5
A !Tangled Web 3/5
The Women of Nell Gwynne’s 3/5
De la categoría Short Story, únicamente destacaría dos; I Remember the Future y Bridesicle siendo esta mi favorita y la que creo que se hubiera merecido el premio, al menos por su original concepto.
La primera historia trata de un escritor de ciencia ficción ya en sus últimos años de vida y que no se siente demasiado querido por su familia. Según va hablando con su hija, va recordando fragmentos de las obras que ha escrito a lo largo de los años. Estas historias serán más importantes de lo que en un principio podrían parecerle al protagonista.
En Bridesicle se nos cuenta la historia de una empresa que mantiene en una especie de éxtasis a mujeres que han muerto. Estas mujeres únicamente recobran la consciencia cuando algún cliente de la empresa se interesa en hablar con ellas. ¿El objetivo final? Buscar esposa. La empresa puede revivirlas si se paga una alta suma de dinero. Por tanto, algunos hombres hablan con diversas candidatas hasta encontrar a quien será su esposa ideal y que estará eternamente agradecida por haberlas resucitado.
Acabaré el comentario de la categoría hablando sobre la ganadora, Spar. ¿Qué tiene de especial esta historia para ser la premiada? Parece que su mérito es el escribir fuck y cunt cada dos frases. Un supuesto relato porno, más bien de violación mutua entre un alien y una humana que ni transmite ni como erótico ni como crítica. O eso, o no entendí que querían contarme.
De la categoría de Novelettes se salva alguna más.
The Gambler una crítica al periodismo sensacionalista donde lo importante no es la noticia sino la audiencia que consigues con ella.
Divining Light una historia interesante sobre la dualidad onda-partícula de la luz y las posibles derivaciones de las teorías cuánticas donde dos estados contradictorios son posibles al mismo tiempo. El único pero es que en ocasiones es ligeramente técnico.
Y la ganadora Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast. Original historia donde las personas de una sociedad no tienen ninguna personalidad ni vida definida. Cada mañana escogen una máscara y durante ese día, vivirán la vida que se encierra en ella. ¿Seré un asesino, seré un vendedor, seré un amante despechado? Pero en esta sociedad hay un tabú, y es el querer tener una personalidad propia, ajena a la que te indican las máscaras…
Finalmente, la ganadora de la categoría Novella. No se puede comparar con las otras candidatas ya que no se incluyen en el libro, pero The Women of Nell Gwynne’s es una historia interesante de temática steampunk en la que un grupo de prostitutas que son en realidad una especie de agentes de inteligencia de una sociedad secreta tienen que investigar un misterio. Por lo menos se deja leer, que después de alguno de los relatos de la antología, no es poco.
Puntuaciones:
Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela 2/5
I Remember the Future 4/5
Non-Zero Probabilities 1/5
Going Deep 3/5
Bridesicle 4/5
Spar 1/5
Getting Dark 2/5
The Gambler 4/5
Vinegar Peace 1/5
I Needs Must Part, the Policeman Said 1/5
Divining Light 4/5
A Memory of Wind 2/5
Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast 4/5
A !Tangled Web 3/5
The Women of Nell Gwynne’s 3/5
May 24, 2011
While not every story within the Showcase was a homerun for me, this is quite a compendium of talent and is worth taking a look at. With authors like N. K. Jemisin, Neal Barrett, Jr., Rachel Swirsky and many more, there should be something here that could please nearly every taste. However, it is worth noting that, as with anything of this nature, some stories and novellas will please readers more than others, depending on individual taste. Regardless, there are some heavy-hitting authors here that will probably make many genre fans pause and take notice. In the end, the Showcase is an impressive collection of talent, imagination, and well-deserved recognitions.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
P.S. I really don't feel right giving this book a rating, but on goodreads I feel like it's kind of a "must" so I'm putting it down as 4 stars, even though on my blog review I left the rating off.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
P.S. I really don't feel right giving this book a rating, but on goodreads I feel like it's kind of a "must" so I'm putting it down as 4 stars, even though on my blog review I left the rating off.
October 4, 2011
- "Divining Light" makes one think about the nature of reality long thereafter. This brilliantly creative writing is an excellent read for anyone who always wants to "understand" the world of quantum mechanics but never got beyond high school math. This story reminds me of the classic Clarke's story, "Nine Billion Names of God"
- The nebula winning story "Spar" is, imho, nothing other than alien porn, disguised as something more meaningful like "Communication is key...."
- Novellette winner "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist...." is interesting. More fantasy than SF.
- don't quite understand the popularity around Paolo B.'s "The Gambler", may be for its exotic Loatian setting? even so, doubt if the description did any justice.
- Not sure how Joe Haldeman's story got selected as rep. for his Grand Master designation, surely he has better stories.
- Did not get into the Novella winner, too steampunkish for me.
A Good Collection.
June 17, 2019
No bad stories in here at all. Which is to be expected I suppose considering it's a collection of all the nominees (except best novel) for the 2009 Nebula Awards. Some maybe had a touch of the 'meh' about them, but none I was considering skipping or bored with. Special mention for Divining Light the novelette by Ted Kosmatka which was amazing, and The Women of Nell Gwynne's one of the last novellas in the collection, by Kage Baker, which was very interesting even though it felt only tangentially SFF.
September 24, 2012
A good collection of stories. Some of them really got to me, others...not so much. Really, really did not like the award winner, "Spar." In fact, I found it just downright offensive that it won in the first place when there were so many other wonderful runner-ups! Overall, decent collection.
August 26, 2011
Bad collection. I kept hoping the next short story would be good...it never was.
October 2, 2015
Mixed bag of stories. Some were really good. Some were...well, who knows.
July 14, 2019
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3210130.html
I wrote some of these up at the time for the Hugos (novellas, novelettes, short stories), but this collection includes all of the short stories and novelettes, so that's three out of six short stories and five out of six novelettes which were new to me. It didn't change my personal judgement that "Spar" by Kij Johnson was the best of the short stories (though neither Hugo nor Nebula voters agreed) and I enjoyed “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” by Eugie Foster best of the Novella nominated novelettes. The book also has short stories by that year's SFWA Author Emeritus, Neal J. Barrett, and that year's SFWA Grand Master, Damon Knight; and also the two poems by Geoffrey A. Landis and that year's winner of the Rhysling Award (short form), a poem by Amal El-Mohtar. A solid collection.
I wrote some of these up at the time for the Hugos (novellas, novelettes, short stories), but this collection includes all of the short stories and novelettes, so that's three out of six short stories and five out of six novelettes which were new to me. It didn't change my personal judgement that "Spar" by Kij Johnson was the best of the short stories (though neither Hugo nor Nebula voters agreed) and I enjoyed “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” by Eugie Foster best of the Novella nominated novelettes. The book also has short stories by that year's SFWA Author Emeritus, Neal J. Barrett, and that year's SFWA Grand Master, Damon Knight; and also the two poems by Geoffrey A. Landis and that year's winner of the Rhysling Award (short form), a poem by Amal El-Mohtar. A solid collection.
April 26, 2024
I feel like this collection was a let down, most were boring and the alien/tentacle porn (Spar by Kij Johnson) was disturbing. N.K. Jemisin's short story (Non-Zero Possibilities) that lost to the alien/tentacle porn and Paolo Bacigalupi's losing novelette (The Gambler) were interesting but the others I'd rather not read more of their work.
November 5, 2018
The first one of these books that I really liked. I liked every story in this one, surprise, surprise.
October 23, 2012
Put together an eclectic collection of Nebula award winning short stories and novelettes, as well as a full length novella selected by Kevin J Anderson and you know you’re in for a treat. Each story is distinct in its style, but what all of them have in common is that they are well-written, original and challenging. As the title suggests, this huge tome cannot be read in one sitting, nor fully done justice to in a short review. I will however note the stories that stood out for me, in the order they appeared in the anthology.
First up is “Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” by Saladin Ahmed. It begins like a traditional Arabian Nights tale with a young court physician who has been exiled by his master for an indiscretion to a remote desert settlement. The village contains the usual mixture of gossips, do-gooders and nay-sayers, indeed the first part of the story comes across as a black comedy that wouldn’t be out of place in the Thousand and One Nights. But then things turn a lot more sinister when the physician’s services are called upon by Abdel Jameela, the local pariah who is said to be married to a woman who dabbles in black magic.
“Bridesicle” by Will McIntosh is also another that stood out for me, for its interesting take on the use of cryogenics. In the near future, people can take out insurance to have yourself or a loved one frozen until a cure can be found for their ailments; even if they are newly dead. When one young lady finds herself waking up to a man leaning over her, she realises that she had been in an accident and as a result has been frozen. However, things have changed a great deal since she was put under. She has become part of a collection of frozen postal-order brides that men can date and then chose to ‘defrost’ if they wish to marry them.
Then there is the novelette, “Divining Light” by Ted Kosmatka, who manages the impossible in this story by making Physics accessible to the lay reader. The story follows a burnt-out physicist who is being given a second chance by a college buddy to re-establish himself. He is given access to a veritable cornucopia of lab equipment and an open cheque-book to research whatever he pleases. Amongst the containers he discovers the tools to replicate the real science ‘double-slit experiment’, to see for himself how light can change from waves to particles, depending on how it is decoded or perceived by a viewer. Kosmatka then has the character take the next leap into discover, by introducing non-human observers, starting with small lab animals and working his way up through the various species. But the world isn’t ready for what he discovers . . . It’s safe to say that this story blew my mind, and as a stand-alone merits the full five stars!
Other notable stories include Rachel Swirsky’s retelling of the story of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, “A Memory of Wind”, which casts a fresh perspective on the Trojan War. Eugie Foster’s “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest: Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman Beast” is a story about a future where people have lost all sense of personal identity and only find expression through the various personas imprinted on their masks. This one resonated with Orwell’s “1984” and Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut”. The anthology also contains a number of Rhysling Award winning poems, one of which I found quite emotive, “Song for an Ancient City” by Amal El-Mohtar. Also featured in the collection are stories by SFWA Author Emeritus Neal Barrett Jr. and SFWA Grandmaster Damon Knight.
First up is “Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” by Saladin Ahmed. It begins like a traditional Arabian Nights tale with a young court physician who has been exiled by his master for an indiscretion to a remote desert settlement. The village contains the usual mixture of gossips, do-gooders and nay-sayers, indeed the first part of the story comes across as a black comedy that wouldn’t be out of place in the Thousand and One Nights. But then things turn a lot more sinister when the physician’s services are called upon by Abdel Jameela, the local pariah who is said to be married to a woman who dabbles in black magic.
“Bridesicle” by Will McIntosh is also another that stood out for me, for its interesting take on the use of cryogenics. In the near future, people can take out insurance to have yourself or a loved one frozen until a cure can be found for their ailments; even if they are newly dead. When one young lady finds herself waking up to a man leaning over her, she realises that she had been in an accident and as a result has been frozen. However, things have changed a great deal since she was put under. She has become part of a collection of frozen postal-order brides that men can date and then chose to ‘defrost’ if they wish to marry them.
Then there is the novelette, “Divining Light” by Ted Kosmatka, who manages the impossible in this story by making Physics accessible to the lay reader. The story follows a burnt-out physicist who is being given a second chance by a college buddy to re-establish himself. He is given access to a veritable cornucopia of lab equipment and an open cheque-book to research whatever he pleases. Amongst the containers he discovers the tools to replicate the real science ‘double-slit experiment’, to see for himself how light can change from waves to particles, depending on how it is decoded or perceived by a viewer. Kosmatka then has the character take the next leap into discover, by introducing non-human observers, starting with small lab animals and working his way up through the various species. But the world isn’t ready for what he discovers . . . It’s safe to say that this story blew my mind, and as a stand-alone merits the full five stars!
Other notable stories include Rachel Swirsky’s retelling of the story of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, “A Memory of Wind”, which casts a fresh perspective on the Trojan War. Eugie Foster’s “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest: Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman Beast” is a story about a future where people have lost all sense of personal identity and only find expression through the various personas imprinted on their masks. This one resonated with Orwell’s “1984” and Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut”. The anthology also contains a number of Rhysling Award winning poems, one of which I found quite emotive, “Song for an Ancient City” by Amal El-Mohtar. Also featured in the collection are stories by SFWA Author Emeritus Neal Barrett Jr. and SFWA Grandmaster Damon Knight.
September 4, 2024
I absolutely should have done more research before buying this, but in my defence, there is as far as I can see absolutely no indication on the cover that it's an awards-of-the-year selection rather than a celebration going back over the illustrious storied history of the Nebula Awards. (And I'm still of the opinion that the packaging gives that impression.)
I was looking for collections of SF short stories from the second half of the twentieth century (the Golden Age going on a good deal longer than usually held in my opinion.) But 99% of this book is from 2008/2009/2010 - reasonable, in a sense, since that's its aim. (Not a clearly stated aim, but an aim just the same.)
But it's also 99% absolutely friggin' shite, so there's that. The Golden Age is absolutely over, folks!!!
I was looking for collections of SF short stories from the second half of the twentieth century (the Golden Age going on a good deal longer than usually held in my opinion.) But 99% of this book is from 2008/2009/2010 - reasonable, in a sense, since that's its aim. (Not a clearly stated aim, but an aim just the same.)
But it's also 99% absolutely friggin' shite, so there's that. The Golden Age is absolutely over, folks!!!
June 2, 2025
Another bookfair find. Before reading this anthology, the Nebula awards weren't really on my radar. I suppose I'm fairly new to SF/ fantasy/ etc. Seems a bit random to have one year of Nebula awards included in a "Mammoth book of" series. Especially since there is a dedicated series "The Nebula Awards Showcase". But I didn't come across any of those books at the bookfair, so here we are.
My main takeaway from this book was that all winning stories for the 2009 Nebula award involved sex or perversion in some way. A synopsis would involve spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that. Also, not a topic I'm particularly interested in reading about. I felt like a lot of the finalists (but not winners) were better written, had more interesting themes, and were more unique.
My main takeaway from this book was that all winning stories for the 2009 Nebula award involved sex or perversion in some way. A synopsis would involve spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that. Also, not a topic I'm particularly interested in reading about. I felt like a lot of the finalists (but not winners) were better written, had more interesting themes, and were more unique.
June 2, 2013
The Nebula Awards are one of the great institutions in science fiction and fantasy. Each year since 1965, the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have voted for the Best Novel, Novella (40,000-17,500 words), Novelette (17,500-7,500 words), and Short Story (less than 7,500 words) in SF and fantasy. Compiling a list of the nominees and winners for all those years would get you an excellent reading list and a comprehensive cross-view of the best that can be found in the genres. To make this task easier, every ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
August 16, 2015
Great compilation based on the nominees and winners of the Nebula Awards (US Science Fiction awards). Opened my eyes to the breadth of what can be categorised as science fiction (really including speculative fiction) - true space-based things, ethereal thought pieces, adaptations of ancient greek tales, steampunk, poetry... A good book to read in short bursts when you have time to pick it up - this one stayed on Kindle on my phone to be read at times when I did not have the main book I was reading at the time on me (hence the 4.5 months to finish it :)). Highly recommended!
September 7, 2012
AS is usual with these collections mostly good stories with a couple of iffy stories and a couple of excellent ones. The issue as always with Science fiction collections is that it covers such a broad range of sub-genres fantasy, steam-punk, dystopias etc and it is therefore unlikely to please everyone - I rarely find anything in fantasy that I like and much steam punk leaves me cold. My favourite was probably Kage Baker's offering but choices are often mood dependant..
January 7, 2017
I dipped in and out of this collection for many months. Overall, I found the stories very entertaining and noteworthy. Some were quite experimental in nature, and yet I was glad for the opportunity to try something new. Surprisingly, my least favorite entry was that of the featured Nebulla winner, Kage Baker. Her tale, apparently inspired by her steampunk ventures, seemed more like an amateur dabble in erotic-spy fiction.
October 29, 2011
I really enjoyed it and as usual from reading an anthology, discovered a whole list of authors to explore. The author intros to each story really added to the reading.
I especially liked "Divining Light" by Ted Kosmatka, "I Needs Must Part, The Policeman Said" by Richard Bowes, and "A !Tangled Web" by Joe Haldeman.
Thanks, Paul, for the copy!
I especially liked "Divining Light" by Ted Kosmatka, "I Needs Must Part, The Policeman Said" by Richard Bowes, and "A !Tangled Web" by Joe Haldeman.
Thanks, Paul, for the copy!
August 24, 2012
Väga hea raamat, kui kaks täiesti mõttetut lugu (Michael Bishop ja Richard Bowes) välja arvata. Ja meeldiv on tõdeda, et Nebula saajate ning nominentide hulgas on ka nii palju naisi - tervelt viis!
Mõned asjad lugesin pärast lõpetamist kohe uuesti üle, mälu värskendamise mõttes, et kas ikka olid nii head (Kij Johnson, Will McIntosh, Ted Kosmatka). Olid küll. Soovitan soojalt!
Mõned asjad lugesin pärast lõpetamist kohe uuesti üle, mälu värskendamise mõttes, et kas ikka olid nii head (Kij Johnson, Will McIntosh, Ted Kosmatka). Olid küll. Soovitan soojalt!
February 3, 2016
Some really good stuff and some typical SciFi. Nearly all the short stories were quite good, the only novelette I cared for at all was Ted Kosmatka's, and it was AWESOME. And the Novella, Kage Baker's Ladies of Nell Gwynne's, was pretty good too. On the whole, worthwhile.
Read my full review here: http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.co...
Read my full review here: http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.co...
April 14, 2018
I am not really into SF anymore. (I do read the old guys like Asimov, Reynolds, Tubb.) But from time to time, for old times sake, I try something new. Like this collection of Nebula Award-winning stories. Some of the shorts are not bad. And I like The Gambler. But most are pretty lame. Maybe I just do not have the open mind required.
November 13, 2018
A great way to get back to my SciFi roots...some wonderful stories in this collection dealing with some thoughtful and insightful ideas. One story got me thinking about the Universe: if it is infinite, as some suggest, would going the opposite way (infinitesimal) be just as infinite? Contemplating such philosophical questions is fun!
August 28, 2011
I've been reading these for the last 10 years or so and I have to say I liked the new format. As with most short story collections, some stories are better than others and it's a matter of personal preference.
November 24, 2013
As varied a cross-section as it gets, spanning the far past to the distant future, from lovely poetry (Fireflies) to excellent hard SF (Bridesicle) via fun steampunk (The Women of Nell Gwynne's). Everyone's a winner baby, that's the truth.
December 30, 2017
This book with the multiple stories in it was a mixed bag for me.
Some stories I really enjoyed, others were ok, and then there were some shockers.
I will list the stories and the rating I give each at a later time.
Some stories I really enjoyed, others were ok, and then there were some shockers.
I will list the stories and the rating I give each at a later time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews