Congratulation to Joe Abercrombie, whose novel The Blade Itself,is one of five finalists for the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Memorial Award for the best first novel in the sf/fantasy field for the year 2007. The award has been given for each year since 1982 by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc., and consists of a plaque and a $750 check.
The Blade Itself Carving Up a Reputation Read More »
A huge congratulations to Stephan Martiniere, whose cover illustration for the third book in Kay Kenyon’s ongoing space opera quartet entitled The Entire and the Rose, the forthcoming City Without End, just won the Silver Spectrum award in the book category. All of Stephan’s covers in this series have been amazing. Book one, Bright of the Sky,made the Spectrum annual the year it was released, and we’re hearing good things about A World Too Near– which just hit shelves this week. (For a look at these two covers side by side, see Kay’s website.) And now, unveiled here for the first time, the winning cover of City Without End. This is my favorite of the three “Entire” pieces, and maybe one of my favorite Martiniere illustrations ever.
What do you think?
Meanwhile, long as we’re talking about The Entire and the Rose, I’ve just spotted some very thoughtful, articulate (and spoiler ridden) reviews of Bright of the Sky and A World Too Near up at SF Reviews. Of book one, they say, “If what you crave in your SF is a fresh and dynamic approach to world-building, wed to epic storytelling with believably flawed heroes and vividly imagined alien cultures, and you’re frustrated that nobody seems to be bloody doing it, odds are you’ve been skipping over the Kay Kenyon novels every time you go to the bookstore.” Meanwhile, looking at book two, they say, “…it must be said that at the end of the day, this series, exciting as it’s turning out to be, is in many ways pure fantasy formula — just tricked out in the most gorgeous production values imaginable. But who cares if it’s formula as long as the entertainment value is blowing your doors, right? A World Too Near is sweet, splendid entertainment. Kay Kenyon will have you solidly hooked with this series, and if you’ve never had her name down on your reading list before now, it’s way past time you added it.”
City Without End takes Silver Spectrum Award Read More »
A very big congratulations to Mary A. Turzilo, whose story “Pride” from Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge,makes the Nebula Awards Shortlist for best short story. You can read “Pride” online as a PDF too. Here’s the full category:
"Pride" Makes Nebula Awards Shortlist Read More »
Via SFSignal: The American Library Association’s first Reading List Awards for genre fiction has been announced. The list, chosen by a council of “ten librarians who are experts in readers’ advisory and collection development” includes two Pyr titles: Ian McDonald’s Brasyland Kay Kenyon’s Bright of the Sky.
Woo-hoo!
ALA’s Reading List Awards Read More »
Big news this morning. Adam Roberts’ Gradisilhas been short-listed for the Philip K. Dick Award. Congratulations, Adam!We’re thrilled. (Remember: sample chapters online here.) Here’s the full press release:
2007 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced
The judges of the 2007 Philip K. Dick Award and the Philadelphia SF Society are pleased to announce seven nominated works that comprise the final ballot for the award:
GREY by Jon Armstrong (Night Shade Books)
UNDERTOW by Elizabeth Bear (Bantam Spectra)
FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF DR. BRAIN by Minister Faust (Del Rey)
NOVA SWING by M. John Harrison (Bantam Spectra)
GRADISIL by Adam Roberts (Pyr)
ALLY by Karen Traviss (Eos)
SATURN RETURNS by Sean Williams (Ace Books)
First prize and any special citations will be announced on Friday, March 21, 2008 at Norwescon 31 at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport, SeaTac, Washington.
The Philip K. Dick Award is presented annually with the support of the Philip K. Dick Trust for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. The award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the award ceremony is sponsored by the NorthWest Science Fiction Society. Last year’s winner was SPIN CONTROL by Chris Moriarty (Bantam Spectra) with a special citation to CARNIVAL by Elizabeth Bear
(Bantam Spectra). The 2007 judges are Steve Miller, Chris Moriarty (chair), Steven Piziks, Randy Schroeder, Ann Tonsor Zeddies.
For more information, contact the award administration:
David G. Hartwell (914) 769-5545.
Gordon Van Gelder (201) 876-2551
For more information about the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society,
http://www.psfs.org/:
Contact Gary Feldbaum (215) 563-2511
For more information about Norwescon: http://www.norwescon.org/:
Contact NorthWest SF Society: (360) 438-0871
Gradisil Short-listed for the PKD Award Read More »
Since everybody’s doing it, here’s my 2007 output. Or rather, here are the 17 books that Pyr released in 2007, on which I served as editor, in order of appearance.
The Man Who Melted, Jack Dann (reprint)
Fast Forward 1, Edited by Lou Anders (anthology)
Gradisil, Adam Roberts
Keeping It Real, Justina Robson
Breakaway, Joel Shepherd
Bright of the Sky, Kay Kenyon
Context, John Meaney (paperback after hardcover)
Brasyl, Ian McDonald
The Hanging Mountains, Sean Williams
Hurricane Moon, Alexis Glynn Latner
Ivory: A Legend of Past and Future, Mike Resnick (reprint)
The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
River of Gods, Ian McDonald (paperback after hardcover)
The Metatemporal Detective, Micheal Moorcock
Selling Out, Justina Robson
Killswitch, Joel Shepherd
Starship: Mercenary, Mike Resnick
More on these titles on the catalog page of the Pyr website, including substantial excerpts for many of them.
For Your Consideration: Pyr Books I Edited in 2007 Read More »
We’ve just received word this morning that Adam Roberts’ brilliant near future novel of space colonization and revenge, Gradisil,has been nominated by the Libertarian Futurist Society for the prestigious 2008 Prometheus Award. Established in 1979, the Prometheus Award is one of the oldest fan-based awards in SF&F. Members nominated worthy works, a winner then determined by jury. The award, which is given out at the World Science Fiction Convention, is presented to “outstanding science fiction or fantasy (broadly defined) whose plots, themes, characters and/or specific issues reflect the value of personal freedom and human rights, or which seriously or satirically critique tyranny or abuses of power– especially unchecked government power.” For those wishing to congratulate Adam, stop by his blog.
No connection, we should point out, between Prometheus Books and the Prometheus Award, beyond a fondness for Greek Titans and their ideas.
Update: This is apparently just round one, as the Prometheus Awards have nominees, then select finalists from those nominees, then select a winner.
Prometheus Award (no relation) Read More »
I am back from Japan and the Hugo Awards, where it was a great honor to accept the award for Ian McDonald. Ian won Best Novelette for “The Djinn’s Wife“, originally published in Asimov‘s July 2006 issue. “The Djinn’s Wife” is, of course, part of the future India milieu Ian created in his Hugo-nominated novel River of Gods.Pictured left is co-host George Takei, Yours Truly, and Ian’s beautiful Hugo, which featured a statue of long-running Japanese SF hero Ultraman.
Meanwhile, the evening before, I was equally honored to accept a Chesley Award on behalf of Stephan Martiniere in the category of Best Cover Illustration – Hardcover for the wonderful work he did for the cover of River of Gods.
My full convention report is here. Also, be sure to see Jay Lake’s LiveJournal for some more great pictures from the show.
Hugo and Chesley Awards Read More »
The Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Artists has just released their list of the 22nd Annual Chesley Awards Nominees. ASFA members can download the Final Ballot here, and vote by August 10th.
Obviously, I’m thrilled that Stephan Martiniere’s wonderful illustration for the Pyr edition of Ian McDonald’s River of Godstops the list of the “Best Cover Illustration — Hardback Book.” Stephan is nominated again in the category of Award for Artistic Achievement.
Meanwhile, my dear friend and illustrator for all five of my own anthologies, John Picacio, is also up twice, for the amazing work he did on the cover of the Eos reissue of A Canticle for Leibowitzand for the cover of Interzone magazine’s 204th issue.
But beyond all that, I’m deeply honored to have shown up on the shortlist myself for Best Art Director. I don’t know if this is the first time someone from editorial has made the shortlist, but it’s got to be a rare occurrence if not a unique one. So I want to say upfront that while I’m very pleased and proud, what this nomination means is that people think our books look really damn good, and that is a credit to a great many people. Beyond the fabulous illustrators we’ve had the privilege to work with — Picacio, Martiniere, Caniglia, Brian W. Dow, Greg Bridges, Bob Eggleton, Jim Burns, Dave Seeley, among others — my parent company Prometheus Books has a fabulous art department, and one that is very patient to put up with me breathing over their shoulders to the degree that I do. Jaqueline Cooke, Grace M. Conti-Zilsberger, and Nicole Sommer-Lecht are all tremendous, very talented, and I am very grateful to them to work so hard and so well in the service of the Pyr line. What’s more, I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Irene Gallo and John Picacio, who have both been very free with their time and their advice and are much wiser souls than I.
Now, here’s the full list:
Best Cover Illustration — Hardback Book
* Stephan Martiniere, “River of Gods”, by Ian McDonald, Pyr, Mar 2006
* Jon Foster, “The Demon and the City”, by Liz Williams, Night Shade Books, Aug 2006
* Donato Giancola, “The Thirteenth House”, by Sharon Shinn, Ace, Mar 2006
* Todd Lockwood, “Temeraire: In the Service of the King”, by Naomi Novik, SFBC, 2006
* James A. Owen, “Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica)” by James A. Owen, Simon & Schuster, Sept 2006
Best Cover Illustration — Paperback Book
* John Picacio, “A Canticle for Leibowitz”, by Walter M. Miller, Eos, May 2006
* Daniel Dos Santos, “Moon Called”, by Patricia Briggs, Ace, Feb 2006
* Vince Natale, “Queen of Attolia”, by Megan Whalen Turner, Eos, Jan 2006
Best Cover Illustration — Magazine
* Steven Gilberts, “Dark Wisdom: the Magazine of Dark Fiction”, Winter 2006
* Renee LeCompte, “Fantasy Magazine”, Summer 2006
* John Picacio, “Interzone” #204, May/June 2006
* r.k.post, “Dragon” #336, January 2006
Best Interior Illustration
* Tony Di Terlizzi, “Care and Feeding of Sprites”, by Holly Black & Tony Di Terlizzi
* Omar Rayyan, “Cricket Magazine”
* Yvonne Gilbert, “The Ice Dragon”, by George R.R. Martin, Starscape, Oct 2006
* Justin Sweet, “Kull: Exile of Atlantis” by Robert E. Howard, Del Rey, Oct 2006
* Ruth Thompson & Lawrence Allen Williams, “The Book Angels” by Todd Jordan, Sterling 2006
* Michael Kaluta, “The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden” by Catherynne M. Valente, Spectra, Oct 2006
* James A. Owen, “Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica)”, by James A. Owen, Simon & Schuster, Sept 2006
Best Color Work — Unpublished
* Jim Burns, “Dryad of the Oak”, acrylic
* Donato Giancola, “Tristan and Isolde”, oil
* Stephen Hickman, “Galadriel’s Harp”
* Michael Whelan, “Retrospection”, acrylic
* Benita Winckler, “Changing”, digital
Best Monochrome — Unpublished
* Donato Giancola, “Red Sonya”, pencil & chalk
* Stephanie Pui-Man Law, “Plum Blossoms”, ink
* Alex McVey, “Love Bites”, pencil
* Tom Fleming, “Spring”, pencil
* Joe Bellafatto, “The Great Temptation: Angel of Death”
Best Three Dimensional Art
* Laura Reynolds, “Ice Dragon”, mixed
* Gabriel Marquez, “Cthulhu V2”, porcelain
* Scott Webb, “Head over Heels”, polymert clay
* Forest Rogers, “Sea Maid’s Music”, clay and misc.
* Luke Eldridge, “Gargoyle Descending”, wire
Best Gaming Related Illustration
* Carl Critchlow “An Ill Wind Blows”
* Ralph Horsley “Thri-Keen”
* Todd Lockwood, “Dragons of Fearum”
* Richard Sardinha,”Coils of Set”
* Eva Widerman, “Seed of Undead”
* Paul & Michael Bielaczyc, “Knightly Order of Ansalom”
Best Product Illustration
* Douglas Fitch, production design for LA Opera’s,”Hansel and Gretel”
* Nathan Crowley, architectural design for the movie, “The Lake House”
* Eugenio Caballero and William Stout, production designer and conceptual designer for the movie “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Award for Artistic Achievement
* Stephan Martiniere
* John Jude Palencar
* Kinuko Y. Craft
* John Howe
* Alan Lee
Best Art Director
* Irene Gallo, Tor Books
* Matt Adelsperger, Wizards of the Coast
* Lou Anders, Pyr
* David Stevenson, Del Rey
* Jeremy Jarvis, Wizards of the Coast
* Judith Murello, Berkley Publishing Group
* Nicolas Sica, Bookspan (SFBC)
* Justin Stewart, Apex Magazine
22nd Annual Chesley Awards Final Ballot Read More »