Who says science fiction and fantasy is for guys? The 2012 Nebula Awards have been announced. In the category of novels, there are six nominees, and four of them are women. Yeah, we rock.
- Throne of the Crescent Moon, Saladin Ahmed (DAW; Gollancz ’13)
- Ironskin, Tina Connolly (Tor)
- The Killing Moon, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
- The Drowning Girl, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc)
- Glamour in Glass, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
- 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
If there's anyone left who thinks that to enjoy, or create, science fiction and fantasy you have to be equipped with a penis, the 2012 Nebula Awards should help convince them otherwise.
The Nebula Award is one of Science Fiction/Fantasy's most prestigious awards. Just like ever other award, there's always a lot of complaining about what did and didn't make the list, but I'm thrilled to see such a large representation of women writers. Not only are four of the six nominees in the category “Novel” women, but as far as I can tell without having read them all, at least two of the books have strong romance elements. Ironskin, by Tina Connolly, is a fantasy re-telling of Jane Eyre. Glamour in Glass, by Mary Robinette Kowal, is a fantasy in which people in the Regency Era are able to create art and various magical effects by mastering the art of glamour.
Incidentally, romance favorite Catherine Asaro's novelette “The Pyre of a New Day” (from The Mammoth Book of SF Wars) is nominated under “Novelette”. It's nice to see a little romance in the sci-fi world although I can think of so many 2012 releases that deserved to be noticed.
I should clarify that this award is given to the best novel, novella, short story, or “dramatic presentation” that has been published in 2012, and the award is given out in 2013. At the same time, the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy is given out. Since the late 1990's, female authors have been represented almost as often as male authors but until then women were few and far between. That hasn't stopped Ursula K. LeGuin from winning the most awards of any single author, since the award's beginning. Go, Ursula!
I'd like to nominate Rivited, by Meljean Brooks. What do you think? What would you like to nominate for the 2012 Nebula Awards?
After taking a quick look through my reviews from last year, here’s a few other books I think deserved a nomination: Alif the Unseen (fantasy by G. willow Wilson), The Long Earth (science fiction by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter), Redshirts (science fiction by John Scalzi) with an honorable mention to Mira Grant for Blackout and Jim C. Hines for Libriomancer.
Aren’t 5 of the 6 women? (i.e. everyone by Saladin Ahmed)
Sorry, everyone BUT Mr. Ahmed.
Kim Stanley Robinson is a man.
Kim Stanley Robinson is a guy.
Kim Stanley Robinson is also male.
Yes, women do in fact read AND write SF/F. (Said the fantasy writer AND reader!) Go us. <3
Yep, two of these writers are gents. (“Note to Smart Bitches Research Dept.: Sigh. Must raise department budget.”)
I grew up on science fiction, far more than romance, having an older brother to borrow from. Women very definitely read it, and write it. Hurray!
Oh, actually, reading more carefully… Sarah writes that “four out of six” of the nominees are women, listing all six. Now I get it. She’s right. SB Research is vindicated.
Carrie S. wrote it – but I totally Googled Kim Stanley Robinson before making it live. 🙂
It’s pretty common to assume that Kim is female. I can’t find anything to suggest that Kim was ever asked to change his name or use only his middle name for his books. I find that interesting, because apparently a lot of women in the genre are still being asked to write under a male alias or at least only use their initials on the premise that sci fi/fantasy is for men, and men won’t read books by women (because of cooties?). Here’s two articles from io9, one about the current practice and one about some classic women authors who published under male names:
http://io9.com/5967253/female-…
http://io9.com/5077952/women-w…
I should warn you that learning about some of this stuff has made me so angry that I may need to eat an entire pan of brownies to calm down. And that, folks, is why I’m pleased to see women nominated for nebulas – we still need all the recognition we can get.
If Hines ever gets nominated, (I think “Libromancer” deserved the nod this year…), I say let him be either male or female in honor of his cover poses.
I was thrilled to see a bump up in women writers being represented for the Hugos in the last couple years, too!
Lois McMaster Bujold has won numerous Hugos and Nebulas. The Hugo award was, and probably still is, a tie pin, which speaks volumes for who they anticipated the winners would be. Bujold had her awards made into a lovely necklace.
Here’s the necklace – so pretty!
http://books.rocketgranny.com/…
In this day and age, I doubt most of the male winners have much use for a tie pin either.
The Hugo Award is a statuette, with each Worldcon designing its own base to complement the award’s iconic rocket shape. Each _nominee_ gets a lapel pin which she/he is entitled to wear as a nominee at the Worldcon. Here’s a pic of me passing a Hugo to the presenter at LA Con. I loved the deco design, but it was a heavy sucker. https://www.facebook.com/photo…
Thanks to Darlene for clarifying. To me, the pinnacle of achievement as a science fiction and fantasy author is the Hugo rocket ship or the Nebula. The World Fantasy Award is a weird and ugly bust of HP Lovecraft and while I would love to win that one too, man, that is one ugly award. Patrice Sarath
I like the fact that Ironskin is DRM-free. I might buy a copy just because of that. 🙂
You think SF authors got you angry – look up Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/…
Oh, but have you seen that, over on SF Signal, there were guys complaining that the list of nominees was “too girly”?
A tradition has started of the Campbell Award Winner (Best New Author award in SF) receiving a tiara. It looked fabulous on John Scalzi: http://scalzi.com/whatever/004…
I’d nominate “Riveted” in a heartbeat. I’d nominate anything by Meljean Brook for any prize in any category. She is awesome personified.
Also, as a life long X-Men collector and Anne MacCaffrey reader, I’ve never thought sci-fi is for boys. Although, from the looks I’ve received in the comic shop, they sure seem to think so.
Kim Stanley Robinson is a great writer. I think the Mars trilogy is the most accessible and character driven, if you want to try out his books.
And if those articles don’t depress enough, some of the comments certainly will.
2312 actually ended up having strong romantic elements and a happy ending. Surprised the hell out of me!
I’m going to have to check some of these out.
But oh how I hated Ironskin. I found it just plain bad. Surprised to see it here.