Literary Awards

[Michael]

So I've been seeing all of the information released about the awards for the speculative fiction field and I realised something. The David Gemmell Legend Award is the one I care the most about. The Nebulas and Hugos seem to be two of the most prestigious awards that Fantasy authors can win (and have won) though they have more of a Sci-Fi slant most of the time. Consider:

2011 Nebula Nominees
The Native Star, M.K. Hobson
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
Echo, Jack McDevitt
Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor
Blackout/All Clear, Connie Willis <-- winner, announced today (Australian time)

The Nebulas had 3/5 nominees from the fantasy field this year, which is a bit surprising, but of the three Jemisin is the only one that falls into my typical taste (though I would like to give Kowal and Okorafor a read at some point).

2011 Hugo Nominees
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Dervish House by Ian McDonald
Feed by Mira Grant
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

The Hugos have 1 fantasy and 1 horror, the rest are Sci-Fi. Consider instead:

2011 Gemmell Legend Nominees
BRETT, Peter V - The Desert Spear
HEITZ, Markus - War the Dwarves
JORDAN, Robert and SANDERSON, Brandon - Wheel of Time: Towers of Midnight
PEVEL, Pierre - The Alchemist in the Shadows
SANDERSON, Brandon - The Way of Kings
WEEKS, Brent - The Black Prism

...and the related category, Morningstar (Debut)Nominees

CHARLTON, Blake - Spellwright
HINKS, Darius - Warrior Priest
JEMISIN, N.K. - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
PEHOV, Alexey - Shadow Prowler
VICTORIA, Mary - Tymon’s Flight

I have read or would like to read almost everything on those two lists. I'm not trying to criticise the Nebulas and Hugos (they still kick butt in terms of honouring short fiction and other media), I'm just saying that the Gemmell Awards seem to capture my taste so much better. I didn't really realise that until this year. I think actually being at Worldcon last year had me very biased in favour of the Hugos.

Then of course there are the Locus Awards that were featured on the Ranting Dragon that I think do the sensible thing in splitting up their fantasy and sci-fi categories. They can have second place in my heart.

[Stephan]

I totally agree! The Gemmell awards seem to be much more in touch with general interest.

Of course, I have nothing against awards introducing new books to me. The best books are often those that don't reach the surface of general interest. However, I'd prefer them being introduced the way Locus did: split up by genre, with a recommended reading list and enough time to actually read those recommended reads.

[Michael]

I still bought a supporting membership to Renovation, more for the Hugo voter's packet than the actual voting! 8 full ebooks I would actually like to read and numerous novellas/novelettes for $50... done.

NOTE - almost every ebook sale apart from iBooks excludes Australia, and novels on iBooks are like minimum $10. I realise the packet might not be a bargain for US Kindlers.

[Stephan]

The Gemmell award winners are:

For the Morningstar Award for Best Newcomer, the winner was Darius Hinks for Warrior Priest (Black Library).

For the Ravenheart Award for Best Cover Artist, the winner was Olof Erla Einarsdottir for the cover of Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Harper Collins Australia).

For the Legend Award for Best Novel, the winner was Brandon Sanderson for The Way of Kings (Gollancz/Tor US) who received the major Snaga Award.

[Mark Lawrence]

Congratulations to Brandon Sanderson! ... so does he get to walk out of the award ceremony carrying a full-sized battle-axe?

[Stephan]

I think he does. Isn't that why all the authors love these awards more than any other award?

[Rebecca]

Yay for The Way of Kings!

[Michael]

I'm not trying to criticise the Nebulas and Hugos (they still kick butt in terms of honouring short fiction and other media), I'm just saying that the Gemmell Awards seem to capture my taste so much better.

Still this.

There's been some hilarious back and forth on Twitter about the quality of the art category winner however.

[pooks]

What is The David Gemmell Legend Award? I haven't heard of it. Is it given at one of the major cons, or is it something separate?

[Michael]

Online thing, voting is open to the genral public. I guess someone goes to visit the winner with the award (a replica of Snaga, the axe used by Gemmell's main character Druss) and take the mandatory photo.

http://gemmellaward.com/

Joe Abercrombie with the spoils of victory:

[pooks]

Sweeeeeeeet!

[myyrdneopia]

I just realized I sat three feet in front of that guy at NYCC last year!

[pooks]

I don't know if it's always there, but on the site it says the winners were announced in June in London:

http://gemmellaward.com/

[Michelle]

I think if I wrote a book and won that award my life would be complete...
The axe is to deal with the haters right?

[Stephan]

I think they always announce things at cons. If I remember correctly, the shortlist is announced at EasterCon in Birmingham.

[pooks]

I think if I wrote a book and won that award my life would be complete...
The axe is to deal with the haters right?

Give me the award in London and it's the cherry on top!