|
-
Hivemind social net
-
News
- Features
- Blogs
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Google Toolbar scifi
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
Nebula Awards Showcase 2005 edited by Jack Dann
01/06/2005 . Source: Paul Skevington 
pub: ROC. 327 page enlarged paperback. Price: $14.95 (US), $22.00 (CAN). ISBN: 0-451-46015-4. check out website: www.penguin.com
I'm sure I'm not unique in possessing several friends who haven't the faintest clue (or care) about SF and fantasy as a literary art form. I couldn't think of a better way of educating the ignorant masses than by giving them a copy of the latest 'Nebula Awards Showcase'. Here we have a collection of essays, short stories and novel extracts that epitomise the best that the field has to offer.
The fictional content is virtually perfect. I've got to admit to not being a fan of extracts, as I hate the feeling that I'm missing out on something. Thankfully, included within this book is a section from Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline', of which I already have two copies (don't ask, it's a long story.) This award-winning novella depicts the trials and adventures of a little girl as she ventures into a bizarre alternate world where she meets malignant versions of her own parents who, quite disturbingly, have buttons for eyes. It is a twisted fairytale, a dark children's story and a masterpiece. Furthermore, if you get the chance to hear the author read it live do not hesitate to take it as it is an experience not to be missed.
There is also an extract from Elizabeth Moon's 'The Speed Of Dark'. It only took a few paragraphs for me to be amazed by the audacity of the piece. The book's main character suffers from autism, a condition the author has much personal experience with as her son was diagnosed with it and this is not just a novel plot device. The story is told from the first person, we view the world through the filter of the strangely literal logic of the narrator. Amazingly, this never feels forced or contrived and I can't wait to finish the rest of it.
The short fiction is similarly well represented. Any doubts I had regarding Cory Doctorow's ability to provide variation in his subject matter are neatly squashed by his story 'Ownzored'. Although riddled with the sort of techno-babble that a Luddite like me has little hope of comprehending, this proves to be no impediment to the power of the narrative. Doctorow shows us a world in which the human body becomes as mutable and controllable as a computer programme. It is informative, contemporary and immensely enjoyable. In other words, it possesses all the qualities of a top class SF short story.
I'm also quite fond of Carol Emshwiller's story 'Grandma', wherein a super-heroine has to contend with the impact of her advanced years, as told through the eyes of her less than super-powered granddaughter. The pain of living up to the standards of ones forebears is a subject often addressed by modern authors. It is also one which benefits greatly from the thematic magnification the plot awards it. Also of note is Robert Silverberg's 'Sundance', a brilliantly plotted story concerning a man who is engaged in claiming a world for colonisation, a process requiring the extermination of the planets supposedly non-sentient indigenous life form. Silverberg's prose is lyrical and engaging and the conclusion is satisfyingly unpredictable.
'Empire Of Ice Cream' by Jeffrey Ford is also impressive. Ford is one of the few authors to tackle the subject of synesthesia (a condition where sound may be 'tasted' instead of heard, colours may be 'felt' instead of seen etc) successfully, making something that is intrinsically difficult to understand seem natural. Ford's tale explores the nature of art and the desire for escape from our mundane lives and skilfully illustrates the relationship between the two desires. It is understandable why this story garnered so much praise.
My favourite piece of fiction is undoubtedly 'Of A Sweet Slow Dance In The Wake of Temporary Dogs' by Adam-Troy Castro. The story depicts our narrator Robert as he meets and falls in love with a woman who resides in an earthly paradise. He soon discovers that although this land may seem perfect, the joy and love he has gained so cheaply comes with a terrible price. Castro employs imagery that is just as effective when wrapping the reader's brain in honey soaked visions of happiness as when it is treating their mind as a punch bag. The contrasting effect of the brutality at the core of Castro's story is the heart of its success. I want more.
Aside from the fiction, the essays provide some enlightening perspectives on the varying schools of thought pertaining to the sub-division of SF and fantasy into specific genres. China Mieville argues coherently for the existence of the 'New Weird', whilst Jeff VanderMeer's essay 'The Romantic Underground: An Exploration Of A Non-existent And Self Denying Movement' parodies the whole concept of genre labelling in a characteristically acerbic polemic.
The 'Nebula Awards Showcase 2005' is a great indicator of the current state of SF and fantasy literature. The outlook is good. I can't wait to see what next year brings.
Paul Skevington
|
|
