Well, I Just Got My Ballot...

[duchess of malfi]

...for making nominations for the awards to be given at the World Fantasy Awards in Madison in November. Anything I nominate must have been published in 2004 or have a 2004 cover date.

I read a lot of books and don't pay a lot of attention to the years things are first published. And being particularly busy these days, I was hoping that people could throw in the names of a few very good fantasy novels published in the year 2004 other than Runes and Wolfe's The Wizard? I've read both of those recently, and I think they both came out in 2004?

Here are categories in case anyone is interested (I can nominate up to five things/people in each category).

Lifetime achievement (there is a huge list of people who have been given this in the past, but it does not include some of my all time favorite writers like SRD and GRRM).

Novel

Novella (10,000 to 40,000 words)
(I am hoping Legends 2 was published in 2004 because there were a couple of really good ones in that anthology)

short fiction (under 10,000 words)

anthology (multiple authors)

collection (one author)

artist

special award - professional
(I have no idea what this is for -- I have to read up on it)

special award - nonprofessional
(I have no idea what this is for, either)

[Myste]

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is something you should probably look at before you send in your nominations, duchess--it's at the top of my to-read pile, and I've heard nothing but good things.

Oh, and Patricia McKillip's Alphabet of Thorn came out. She'd be a good shot for Lifetime Achievement, as well.

[duchess of malfi]

I have not heard of the Jonathan Strange book...will have to see if I can fit it in. (I don't want to vote for anything I haven't read and enjoyed.)

I did read Alphabet of Thorn, and thought it was a good book, though perhaps not up to level of the one McKillip had written before it, In the Forests of Serre, which I thought was superb. Nontheless, it might well go on to my ballot, as I can nominate up to five novels.

And since McKillip has not been a previous grand master, yes, she would be a great nominee.

[Ainulindale]

Runes and Wolfe's The Wizard? I've read both of those recently, and I think they both came out in 2004?

Yes both were realeased last year, as was Wolfe's The Knight


In regards to best novel this is how I see it, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke was the best novel I read last year, however their are some other real good ones, my favorites were Iron Council by China Mieville, Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart, System of the World by Neal Stepheson.

I don't really read a surplus of the other categories but I read a little bit.

For novella I liked Gene Wolfe's Golden City Far and the Gorgon in the Cupboard by Mckillip

The only novelette taht comes to mind is Jeff Vandermeer's 3 Days in a Border Town.

I have read quite a few short stories recently, I like Gene Wolfe's Pulp Cover, The Last Geek by Michael Swanwick, or Neil Gaiman's Forbidden of Faceless Slaves.

Anthologies, I haven't read many this year but I liked Robert Silverberg's Between Worlds

Colelction, 2 really stood out to me Jeff Vandermeer's Secret Life and Ian Macleod's Breathmoss and other Exaltations (Mcleod has a new book coming out soon as well, his last one The Light Ages is a classic)

[Roland of Gilead]

The Dark Tower VII, The Dark Tower. At least it was the best book I read in 2004.

[Warmark Jay]

I'm sure Clarke will take the Novel honors with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell", but I'd vote for Steven Erikson.

[Ainulindale]

I'm sure Clarke will take the Novel honors with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell", but I'd vote for Steven Erikson.

For what novel? The same day you posted this about Garden's of the Moon, which most certainly is not eligible, and by your account your only 50 pages through it:

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the insight - I'm about 50 pages into "Gardens" and it's excellent. Nice to read an epic fantasy written for adults.

I'm only asking, as if Erikson has another current epic series out that's not The Malazan Book of the Fallen related, I would like to know about it.

[duchess of malfi]

I know that Gardens of the Moon has been out for ages in some countries, but I believe it was only released last year here in the US.

That does bring up some good questions about eligibility. I know that in the past some of George RR Martin's books, as well as Robin Hobb's have been released in some European nations for months before the US release.

The Erickson books are not a case of months, but years (Deadhouse Gates was just released very recently).

That makes me wonder now which release date the committee goes by -- the first release date of the book anywhere or the release date of the book in the host country for the convention?

Am confused now. [/b]

[duchess of malfi]

Well, I did not fill out all of the categories, but here's what I am about to mail off to Canada.

Grand Master nominees:
Stephen R. Donaldson
Patricia McKillip
Lois McMaster Bujold
David Zindell

Best Novel of 2004 (I know people will probably laugh at some of my choices, but I was limiting these to things I have actually read):
Runes of the Earth by Stephen Donaldson
Wizard by Gene Wolfe
Knight by Gene Wolfe
Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
The Dark Tower by Stephen King (it does culminate and crown the man's career, after all)


Anthology (multiple authors)
Irresistable Forces ed. by Catherine Asaro (great story by Bujold in it)
The First Heros edited by Turtledove and Doyle

Collection (one author)
Changing Planes by Ursula K. LeGuin
Stable Strategies by Eileen Gunn

[Myste]

Oh, cool, duchess! You got two of my all-time faves in the grand master category and 2 of my faves in Best Novel.

PS--Have you read McKillip's new one, btw? I have to wait for it to come out in paper...

[Lord Mhoram]

Ainulindale,

I've known after reading 50-100 pgs of a book that it was excellent or one of the best I've read in a while.

Why can't Warmark Jay judge that book thus?

which most certainly is not eligible

Why not? As duchess pointed out, it was release (I believe) in 2004 in the U.S. and was, in my opinion, an excellent fantasy novel in many respects - world building, a good intro to a series, solid magical background, great mythology, and even a few enjoyable characters, despite the vast criticisms of Mr Erikson's characterization.

[Ainulindale]

Ainulindale,

I've known after reading 50-100 pgs of a book that it was excellent or one of the best I've read in a while.

Why can't Warmark Jay judge that book thus?

You would justify awarding a novel a major genre prize to a novel after reading 50 pages of it, and then ask me why I would disagree with that line of thinking? Simple, it's absurd, and not responsible. I'm not say Jay has chosen incorrectly, I am saying that the opinion is not based on complete knwoeldge of a book, for all he knew it could have completely been dire the rest of the way. Perhaps we should just judge books by there cover and prologues from now on.

I'm not saying it didn't merit attention (5 years ago) I'm saying regarding any book, such a nomination is at the very least questionable.

I'm sure Jay knows my comments are not personal in nature.

Why not? As duchess pointed out, it was release (I believe) in 2004 in the U.S. and was, in my opinion, an excellent fantasy novel in many respects - world building, a good intro to a series, solid magical background, great mythology, and even a few enjoyable characters, despite the vast criticisms of Mr Erikson's characterization.

What Duchess doesn't point out is that U.S. release date doesn't matter. For instance Ian Bank's Algebraist is up for a ton of awards this year and has not even been released in the U.S. yet. It's not eligible simply because the U.S. release date has nothing to do with the World Fantasy Awards principles. Gardens of the Moon The book was written in 1999. It's NOT eligible, not by my mandate, but by the rules of the award.

This has nothing to due with how good Garden's of the Moon is, it is damn good start to a series, I gave it a stellar review, and I think it's a excellent series however, first it's simply not eligible, second I don't thnk it particulary wise to nominate an award for a book one has only read 50-100 pages.

The book was published in 1999, period.

[Lord Mhoram]

Ainulindale,

You would justify awarding a novel a major genre prize to a novel after reading 50 pages of it, and then ask me why I would disagree with that line of thinking?

If it was the best book he has read all year, sure why not? It's not like his is the deciding vote.

and I think it's a excellent series however, first it's simply not eligible, second I don't thnk it particulary wise to nominate an award for a book one has only read 50-100 pages.

Well then, if the book is ineligble that's fine. I certainly see that point. I merely responded to your post because you seemed to single a member out, and I myself would have nominated Mr Erikson's Gardens of the Moon or Deadhouse Gates.

[Ainulindale]

Well then, if the book is ineligble that's fine. I certainly see that point. I merely responded to your post because you seemed to single a member out, and I myself would have nominated Mr Erikson's Gardens of the Moon or Deadhouse Gates.

Just to hammer this down, the nominess in 1999, thus it is not eligible for 2004:

1999 World Fantasy Awards Nominations

Best Novel

Tamsin, Peter S. Beagle (Roc)
The Rainy Season, James P. Blaylock (Ace)
Gardens of the Moon,
Steven Erikson (Bantam Press)
A Witness To Life, Terence M. Green (Forge)
A Red Heart of Memories, Nina Kiriki Hoffman (Ace)
Thraxas, Martin Scott (Orbit)

Thraxas by Martin Scott ended up winning which is IMHO one of thw most questioanble victories in the awards history. It was IMHO the weakest of the nominess - Erikson's being the second weakest. The other 3 were real strong IMHO.

[danlo]

Gardens is just the first book--give Erikson a break (besides I need to read Deadhouse, anyway) (surmises Ain is a tad grumpy today ) It's prob my fault: we went so crazy in anticipation of Erikson, at the Hangar, that some of us were calling the series one of the greatest ever (which it prob is) before we had read the first 50 pages. It's all Murrin's fault!

[CovenantJr]

anthology (multiple authors)

Tch, if only the selection committee hadn't dawdled so much

[duchess of malfi]

PS--Have you read McKillip's new one, btw? I have to wait for it to come out in paper...

My book club is offering it in this month's circular, so I will probably go ahead and order it.

yet another thing to sit in my big pile of "things to be read" -- though certain authors immediately go to the top of the stack, and McKillip is one of them

[gyrehead]

What I sent in:


Grand Master nominees:
I don't think I filled this out as I kept thinking I had to pull up my list of past honorees and never got around to it. Unless I put Katharine Kerr and Kate Elliott down. I know I was thinking about them when I pulled it out.



Best Novel:
1.The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
2.The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
3.The Book of Flying by Keith Miller
4.The Burning Land by Victoria Strauss
5.Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip



Anthology (multiple authors)
To Weave a Web of Magic (the only one that had more than one work I really liked)

I didn't have any U.S. novellas to submit

Od Magic is probably my favorite McKillip since Song for the Basilisk.

[Ainulindale]

After reading a lot more book published in 2004 in the last couple of months, here are my choices:

Best Novel of 2004

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Fourth Circle by Zoran Zivkovic
Move Undergroud by Nick Mamatas
Iron Council By China Mieville
The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce
Light by M. John Harrison
Stamping Butterflies by Jon Courtney Grimwood
The Algebraist - Ian M. Banks
London Revenant by Conrad Williams


I want to put Bakker, but TDTCB came out in mid 2003 (and I'm not sure if it qualifies or not, at any rate it's not top 5 anyway so it doesn't amtter IMHO.




Collection:

Secret Life by Jeff VanderMeer
Punktown: Third Eye by Jeffrey Thomas
Breathmoss and Other Exhalations by Ian R. Macleod
Use Once then Destroy Conrad Williams
Things that Never Were: Fantasies, Lunacies, and Entertaining Lies by Matthew Rossi
New Universal History of Infamy by Rhys Hughes