So, I see that the shortlist is out now for this year’s Arthur C. Clarke award:
Kazuo Ishiguro – Never Let Me Go
Ken MacLeod – Learning the World
Alastair Reynolds – Pushing Ice
Geoff Ryman – Air
Charles Stross – Accelerando
Liz Williams – Banner of Souls
This one is almost as hard to call as the BSFA list.
Obviously the Ryman would be a fine pick, and I’d be equally happy with the MacLeod. And you know, I’d be almost as happy with Liz Williams winning–Banner of Souls was a good read (although, I have to admit, not up to the bar set by Air) and Liz has consistently been good; I also really dug her first Inspector Chen book, and am looking forward to the second one.
I’m a little ashamed to admit I haven’t read the Reynolds–it’s on the list, since I quite liked his first four books, but I’ve haven’t got to it yet.
The Ishiguro wasn’t as much to my taste as the others, although I can admit to its objective quality. And, as with the BSFA list, I continue to be confused by the overhyping of the craftmanlike Accelerando.
Still, there’s nothing on there that would really seem like a “bad win” to me.
