Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels discussion

I see that the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America elected Susan Cooper as the 40th Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master. Has anyone heard of her or read her books? I was really hoping this year that they would elect one of the more obvious candidates: Kim Stanley Robinson, George R R Martin, N K Jemisin, from our discussion last year (Robin McKinley thread). At the very least, I was hoping for someone I'd heard of. I see that her main claim to fame is The Dark Is Rising Sequence, which won a Newbery Medal and is apparently a children's fantasy classic. Never heard of it, nor have I ever seen it in any best fantasy list. I know that female authors were neglected in readership & recognition in the past, but at the risk of sounding like a pig, this seems like the scales have tipped too far. As Acorn suggested last year, they seem to be deliberately using this title to bring attention to neglected female authors of the past rather than non-gender-specific, stellar living authors. Maybe I'm just putting too much stock into the title.

I haven't read anything by her, but maybe she's more of a writers' writer?

I've never even heard of this person.

I have read the Dark Is Rising sequence, after seeing it praised online a few years ago by seemingly knowledgeable fans. I hadn’t been aware of it before that. So I read it in middle age, and it is indeed children’s fantasy, so I wasn’t presumably the ideal reader. However I thought it was well done and enjoyable. Very British.

I suspect we’re going to see continuing efforts to balance the mainly white male roster of Grand Masters.

From her wiki page:

For her lifetime contribution as a children's writer, Cooper was U.S. nominee in 2002 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition available to creators of children's books.

The American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award recognises one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". Cooper won the award in 2012 citing the five Dark Is Rising novels, published 1965 to 1977. The citation observed, "In one of the most influential epic high fantasies in literature, Cooper evokes Celtic and Arthurian mythology and masterly world-building in a high-stakes battle between good and evil, embodied in the coming of age journey of Will Stanton."

She has also been recognised for single books:
1974, Newbery Honor (runner-up for the Medal), The Dark Is Rising (1973 novel)
1976, Newbery Medal, The Grey King
1976, Tir na n-Og Award, The Grey King
1978, Tir na n-Og Award, Silver on the Tree
1989, B'nai B'rith Janusz Korczak Literary Prize, Seaward

Doesn't change my point of view though.

I've read "The Dark is Rising " series. They are really good. British. Children. But beautifully written and really held my attention read these books as an adult.

I read the first of The Dark is Rising series, Over Sea, Under Stone, as a short audio read. It was well written, good for kids, but a pretty simple "chase the MacGuffin" story. I'll probably read the other two when I need a quick audio read.

I read the first in the Dark is Rising years ago, but I am sure I didn't continue. And I don't remember a thing about it so I can't have loved it or anything, but this feeling that I should continue must mean I liked it somewhat. I keep telling myself that I should read the whole series, but somehow I never get around to it. Let me know if the rest of the series holds up, please, Allan

My daughter was in elementary school when we read it at bedtime over the course of a week. It was great fun.

I've read them all years ago. I loved them - they all have a slightly different feel, even though they are connected as a series. But remember- they are written for children.

Well the only requirement is to be a science fiction or fantasy writer, and only the officers of SFWA vote on it, so it's just a matter of whatever brought her to their attention... And as much as I hate to say it, that means writer/SFWA politics

No doubt, and I’m not saying she’s not deserving, but there are more obvious candidates.

To my mind the most obvious candidate is Kim Stanley Robinson. There must be reasons why he hasn’t already been awarded the honor, but I don’t know what they would be.

Yes, in an earlier post I mentioned KSR and George R.R. Martin, whose career in writing & television goes back to the 60s. I can think of several others:
Neil Gaiman
N K Jemisin
David Brin
Dan Simmons (though his politics might exclude him)

Others who could have been elected while they were alive:
Greg Bear
Michael Bishop

Jemisin is not yet 52 years old (born September 1972) and began publishing short fiction in 2004, novels in 2010. It may be that she’s considered too young, or relatively early in her career. Though obviously a distinguished writer.

Allan wrote: "Yes, in an earlier post I mentioned KSR and George R.R. Martin, whose career in writing & television goes back to the 60s. I can think of several others:
Neil Gaiman."

Gaiman is now accused of nonconsensual intercourse, so not likely to be named at least now (there has been no court decision yet)

Oleksandr wrote: "Gaiman is now accused of nonconsensual intercourse ..."

I had no idea...