Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels discussion

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) is proud to celebrate the longevity of this distinguished title with Nicola Griffith, our 41st Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master.

Nicola Griffith, PhD, is a dual UK/US citizen and the author of nine novels, including Hild, Spear, and Ammonite. In addition to her fiction and nonfiction (New York Times, Guardian, Nature) she is known for her data-driven 2015 work on bias in the literary ecosystem; as founder and co-host, with Alice Wong, of #CripLit; and for her work on queering the Early Medieval. Awards include The Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Society of Authors ADCI Literary Prize, two Washington State Book Awards, the Premio Italia, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Tiptree (Otherwise) awards, the Outstanding Mid-Career Authors Prize, and six Lambda Literary Awards. In 2024 she was inducted into the Museum of Popular Culture’s Science Fiction + Fantasy Hall of Fame.

https://nebulas.sfwa.org/41st-grand-m...

I planned, but still haven't managed to read her Hild

I haven’t read her work.

A very worthy inductee! I've read two of her novels, Ammonite and Spear, both excellent. I've been hoping to read Slow River this year and I've nominated it in our group a couple times, but would love to read Hild when the opportunity arises too.

Indeed, a worthy inductee. I've enjoyed all three of her novels that I've read: Ammonite, Slow River & Spear. I too want to read Hild, so maybe we can fit that in as a group read somewhere this year. My suggestion would be to nominate it as "Long" (560 pages) rather than Extremely Long in August & add the 4th Wayfarers book that month.

She is the 6th consecutive female Grand Master, but I have no qualms about her election as I had about the last two, as she's clearly worthy of the title.

I read the Slow River as part of Nebula winners. It's not my favorite favorite Nebula award winner, but it's not that bad either. Lots of lesbian sex. Since it's one of those things that an author might do to gain more traction in lieu of good writing, it kept me slightly ... suspicious, I guess is the word. But it is a solid book, and it aged decently. I am not sure I am looking for more from her at the moment (I got a TBR list of 400 books at least!) but I wouldn't avoid her either.

I quite liked Ammonite without feeling the urge to rush out and read more of her books. Slow River is on my ‘to be read’ shelf so might be time to give that a look

I remember people raving about Hild when it was new, and I’m somewhat interested in Anglo-Saxon England, so I guess that’s probably the one to try first.

Hi all, new to the group and late to the discussion…

I started Hild in 2023, but stopped in chapter 11, after about 9 hours of audio. The book was too dense for me as audio. I ddi like it though and might want to try it again in print.

I liked Spear quite a lot and even got myself a pretty, illustrated hardback edition.

Currently I am reading Ammonite. I am not far yet, but so far, so good. Very readable and modern sounding, despite having been published in 1992.

Zina wrote: "I read the Slow River as part of Nebula winners. It's not my favorite favorite Nebula award winner, but it's not that bad either. Lots of lesbian sex. Since it's one of those things that an author ..."

Is it sex in general or lesbian sex? She‘s queer, so lesbian sex is definitely in her wheelhouse.