7) Light, by M John Harrison

I bought this some time back because it was very well reviewed by a number of people whose opinions I respect; it was on the shortlist for last year's BSFA and Clarke awards, which to me is usually a good sign, and won the James Tiptree Jr award for "gender-bending" science fiction. I didn't like it. I thought the sex was sordid, the characters unpleasant, and the plot barely comprehensible. Maybe I was just too tired from my travels, but if this is Harrison's best work I don't think I need to try again.