Nebula Awards

For those who haven’t seen but care (and if you are in that category, you should really be reading which is where I got this from):

Best Novel: The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, by Michael Chabon (born 1963; first Nebula or Hugo)
Best Novella: “Fountain of Age”, by Nancy Kress (born 1948; fourth Nebula, also has a Hugo)
Best Novelette: “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate”, by Ted Chiang (born 1967; fourth Nebula, also has a Hugo)
Best Short Story: “Always”, by Karen Joy Fowler (born 1950; second Nebula)

I note that 1) Once again, at least one of the Nebulas has gone to a first-time winner; there has never been a year without at least one first-time Nebula winner; 2) two out of four went to women; the Nebulas are more gender-balanced than the Hugos; and 3) two out of four were born between 1942 and 1951, whereas the average number of Nebulas won in previous years by authors aged between 57 and 66 is almost exactly 1, further evidence for my assertion that authors of that cohort win twice as many awards.

The winning novel is the only one of the nominees I had read (or indeed intend to read), and I enjoyed it. “Fountain of Age” is on my reading list for the Hugos; I’ve already read “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate”, and wouldn’t be surprised if Chiang pulls off the double again, though I have not yet read any of the other Hugo nominees in that category.

Other Nebula/SFWA stuff:

Nebula for Best Screenplay: Pan’s Labyrinth
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Damon Knight Grand Master for 2008: Michael Moorcock
SFWA Service Award: Melisa Michaels and Graham P. Collins
Author Emeritus: Ardath Mayhar (who I hadn’t heard of)
SFWA President: Russell Davis (whew!)
SFWA VP: Elizabeth Moon
SFWA Secretary: Mary Robinette Kowal
SFWA Treasurer: Amy Casil
SFWA Eastern Regional: Bud Sparhawk
SFWA Overseas Regional Director: Ian Whates

One thought on “Nebula Awards

  1. I believe so, yes. Big Finish have been doing some interesting recruiting from the ranks of comics writers.

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