5) Singularity Sky by

This is the first of this year’s Hugo nominees that I’ve read after the shortlist was announced (I’d already read Ilium and Paladin of Souls). I’ve been somewhat struck by those who have already done roundups of the shortlists tending to make comments along the lines of, well is a great guy but this isn’t a Hugo-quality book. Quite apart from the fact that after last year’s winner, the concept of a “Hugo-quality” book seems not quite as exalted as perhaps we would like, I think it’s really unfair. Let me state then that is a great guy and this is also a very good book.

As well as reflecting and refracting the very different future universes described by his friends Iain Banks and Ken MacLeod, there are all kinds of other influences in there, including slightly subversive genuflections towards both Bujoldian space opera and Boris Pasternak. Apart from its complex literary heritage, there is a core political message about freedom of information defeating repressive political regimes, obviously of relevance in today’s world, and a rather good love story. Recommended.