Science Fiction

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. has announced the recipients of the 2012 Nebula Awards®. The Nebula Awards® are voted on and presented by the active members of SFWA for outstanding science fiction and fantasy published in 2012. The awards were announced at the Nebula Awards® Banquet held at in San Jose, CA, May 16-20. The Recipients of the 2012 Nebula Awards: NOVEL:  2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK) NOVELLA: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (Tachyon) NOVELLETTE: “Close Encounters” by Andy Duncan (The Pottawatomie Giant & Other Stories) SHORT STORY: “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12) RAY BRADBURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (director),  Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar (writers), (Journeyman/Cinereach/Court 13/Fox Searchlight) ANDRE NORTON AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOK: Fair Coin, E.C. Myers (Pyr) 2011 DAMON KNIGHT GRAND MASTER AWARD: Gene Wolfe SOLSTICE AWARD: Carl Sagan and Ginjer Buchanan KEVIN O’DONNELL JR. SERVICE TO SFWA AWARD: Michael H. Payne ABOUT SFWA The award is presented at the Annual Nebula Awards Weekend, held this year May 17 to May 20, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, near Reagan National Airport. The Nebula Awards are voted on and presented by active members of SFWA. More information about the Nebula Awards Weekend is available at http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/nebula-weekend/. Founded in 1965 by the late Damon Knight, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America brings together the most successful and daring writers of speculative fiction throughout the world. 2012 Nominees: Novel 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) Novella On a Red Station, Drifting, Aliette de Bodard (Immersion Press) After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, Nancy Kress (Tachyon) “The Stars Do Not Lie,” Jay Lake (Asimov’s 10-11/12) “All the Flavors,” Ken Liu (GigaNotoSaurus 2/1/12) “Katabasis,” Robert Reed (F&SF 11-12/12) “Barry’s Tale,” Lawrence M. Schoen (Buffalito Buffet) Novelette “The Pyre of New Day,” Catherine Asaro (The Mammoth Book of SF Wars) “Close Encounters,” Andy Duncan (The Pottawatomie Giant & Other Stories) “The Waves,” Ken Liu (Asimov’s 12/12) “The Finite Canvas,” Brit Mandelo (Tor.com 12/5/12) “Swift, Brutal Retaliation,” Meghan McCarron (Tor.com 1/4/12) “Portrait of Lisane da Patagnia,” Rachel Swirsky (Tor.com 8/22/12) “Fade to White,” Catherynne M. Valente (Clarkesworld 8/12) Short Story “Robot,” Helena Bell (Clarkesworld 9/12) “Immersion,” Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12) “Fragmentation, or Ten Thousand Goodbyes,” Tom Crosshill (Clarkesworld4/12) “Nanny’s Day,” Leah Cypess (Asimov’s 3/12) “Give Her Honey When You Hear Her Scream,” Maria Dahvana Headley (Lightspeed 7/12) “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species,” Ken Liu (Lightspeed 8/12) “Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain,” Cat Rambo (Near + Far) Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation The Avengers, Joss Whedon (director) and Joss Whedon and Zak Penn (writers), (Marvel/Disney) Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (director),  Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar (writers), (Journeyman/Cinereach/Court 13/Fox Searchlight ) The Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard (director), Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (writers) (Mutant Enemy/Lionsgate) The Hunger Games, Gary Ross (director), Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray  writers), (Lionsgate) John Carter, Andrew Stanton (director), Michael Chabon, Mark Andrews, and Andrew Stanton (writers), (Disney) Looper, Rian Johnson (director), Rian Johnson (writer), (FilmDistrict/TriStar) Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction a

This is Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!So Sarah and I were away all week in Portugal and spent most of it reading. It was a lazy week and very nice - unfortunately I returned yesterday to more bad news so all the good has pretty much been wiped out already. Still I did managed to read some good books while we were away including another fantastic installment in the Dresden Files - Ghost Story by Jim Butcher, a fun anthology - Those Who Fight Monsters edited by Justin Gustainis, a quick visit to The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. I also finally started the City of Bones by Cassandra Clare and caught the penultimate visit to Bon Temps with Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris. So that's five books read this week...You'd think being on holiday all week I wouldn't have any new books to share - and you'd be wrong! When I got back yesterday there was a pile of parcels waiting for me with some books I had ordered on line and a giveaway win!ReviewPoison - Sarah PinboroughPublisher: GollanczPOISON is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the Snow White story which takes all the elements of the classic fairytale that we love (the handsome prince, the jealous queen, the beautiful girl and, of course, the poisoning) and puts a modern spin on the characters, their motives and their desires.I was chosen bu Gollancz Geeks to review Poison for them so I will be picking it up this week!WonTime Warped - Claudia HammondPublisher: CanongateHave you ever tried to spend a day without looking at a clock or checking your watch? It's almost impossible. Time rules our lives, but how much do we understand about it? And is it possible to retrain our brains and improve our relationship with it? Drawing on the latest research from the fields of psychology, neuroscience and biology, and using original research on the way memory shapes our understanding of time, the acclaimed writer and broadcaster Claudia Hammond delves into the mysteries of time perception.Along the way, Claudia introduces us to an extraordinary array of characters willing to go to great lengths in the interests of research, such as the French speleologist Michel, who spends two months in an ice cave in complete darkness. We meet one group of volunteers who steer themselves towards the edge of a stairwell, blindfolded, and another who are strapped into a harness and dropped off the edge of tower block. Time Warped shows us how to manage our time more efficiently, speed time up and slow it down at will, plan for the future with more accuracy and, ultimately, use the warping of time to our own advantage.I won this over at Curosity Killed The Bookworm. Non-fiction is not my usual read but this sounds like it could be quite different and interesting! Thanks Ellie!BoughtDeadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) - Charlaine HarrisPublisher: GollanczSookie has a murder investigation on her hands. A young girl has died at a vampire party - and it looks as though her lover, Eric, might be responsible. Eric swears he didn't do it, the police don't believe him, and even Sookie isn't so sure. Nor is she inclined to take his word for it, not having caught him enjoying the victim's blood minutes before she was killed.But something strange is going on. Why had Sookie been asked to come to the fateful party a few minutes early - just to catch Eric in the act? And why had the victim spiked her own blood before approaching Eric? Was it simply because she wanted to be irresistable, or was it something more sinister?Sookie will have to find out ... but it's the worst moment to investigate, as her Fae family are having troubles of their own and Sookie is, inevitably, drawn in. And there is one last complication. The cluviel dor her grandmother left her. It will grant her one wish, which could fulfil Sookie's heart's desire. The only problem is, she still doesn't know what - or who - her heart truly d

SFWA presented the 48th annual Nebula Awards in San Jose, CA on May 18. In addition to the Nebula Awards, SFWA also presented the Solstice Awards, the Kevin O’Donnell Service to SFWA Award, the Damon Knight Grand Master Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the Ray Bradbury Award. Best Novel: 2312, by Kim Stanley Robinson Best Novella: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, by Nancy Kress Best Novelette: “Close Encounters,” by Andy Duncan Best Short Story: “Immersion,” by Aliette de Bodard Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy: Fair Coin, by E. C. Myers Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation: Beasts of the Southern Wild, written by Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar, directed by Benh Zeitlin Solstice Award: Ginjer Buchanan and Carl Sagan Kevin J. O’Donnell Service to SFWA Award: Michael H. Payne Damon Knight Grand Master Award: Gene Wolfe

The winners of the 2012 Nebula Awards have just been announced! NOVEL: 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK) [Our review] NOVELLA: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (Tachyon) NOVELETTE: “Close Encounters”, Andy Duncan (The Pottawatomie Giant & Other Stories) SHORT STORY: “Immersion“, Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12) RAY BRADBURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (director), Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar (writers), (Journeyman/Cinereach/Court 13/Fox Searchlight ) ANDRE NORTON AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY: Fair Coin, E.C. Myers (Pyr) 2011 DAMON KNIGHT GRAND MASTER AWARD: Gene Wolfe SOLSTICE AWARD: Carl Sagan and Ginjer Buchanan KEVIN O’DONNELL JR. SERVICE TO SFWA AWARD: Michael H. Payne Congrats to all! Related posts: FINALISTS: 2012 Nebula Awards (With Free Fiction Links!) Coming Soon: A Documentary About Andre Norton WINNERS: 2011 Nebula Awards

The winners of Analog Science Fiction and Fact‘s AnLab Award and Asimov’s Science Fiction’s Readers’ Award have been chosen. They are: Analog Science Fiction and Fact Analytical Laboratory Winners BEST NOVELLA: “Nightfall on the Peak of Eternal Light” by Richard A. Lovett & William Gleason (7-8/12) BEST NOVELETTE: “Ninety Thousand Horses” by Sean McMullen (1-2/12) BEST SHORT STORY: “Titanium Soul” by Catherine Shaffer (6/12) BEST FACT: “Faster Than a Speeding Photon” by Edward M. Lerner (1-2/12) BEST COVER: October 2012 by Michael Whelan Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award Winners BEST NOVELLA: “Murder Born” by Robert Reed (2/12) BEST NOVELETTE: “The Way of the Needle” by Derek Künsken (3/12) BEST SHORT STORY: “Final Exam” by Megan Arkenberg (tie) (6/12) “Sexy Robot Mom” by Sandra McDonald (tie) (4-5/12) BEST POEM: “Future History” by Joe Haldeman (2/12) BEST COVER Artist: Laura Diehl The awards were presented at a breakfast celebration during Nebula Awards weekend. Related posts: WINNERS: Analog’s AnLab Awards and Asimov’s Readers’ Awards WINNERS: Analog/Asimov’s Readers’ Awards WINNERS: Analog/Asimov’s Readers’ Award

The winners for the 2012 Aurealis Awards, given to works of SF, fantasy, and horror by Australians, have been announced! BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION (TOLD PRIMARILY THROUGH WORDS): Brotherband: The Hunters by John Flanagan (Random House Australia) BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION (TOLD PRIMARILY THROUGH PICTURES): Little Elephants by Graeme Base (Viking Penguin) BEST YOUNG ADULT SHORT STORY: “The Wisdom of the Ants” by Thoraiya Dyer (Clarkesworld)Media Release – 2013 Aurealis Awards ceremony Page 2 of 2 BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL: Dead, Actually by Kaz Delaney (Allen & Unwin) Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin) BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK / GRAPHIC NOVEL: Blue by Pat Grant (Top Shelf Comix) BEST COLLECTION: That Book Your Mad Ancestor Wrote by K. J. Bishop (self-published) BEST ANTHOLOGY: The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Six edited by Jonathan Strahan (Night Shade Books) BEST HORROR SHORT STORY: “Sky” by Kaaron Warren (Through Splintered Walls, Twelfth Planet Press) BEST HORROR NOVEL: Perfections by Kirstyn McDermott (Xoum) BEST FANTASY SHORT STORY: “Bajazzle” by Margo Lanagan (Cracklescape, Twelfth Planet Press) BEST FANTASY NOVEL: Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin) BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY: “Significant Dust” by Margo Lanagan (Cracklescape, Twelfth Planet Press) BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL: The Rook by Daniel O’Malley (Harper Collins) PETER MCNAMARA CONVENORS’ AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: Kate Eltham KRIS HEMBURY ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD: Laura Goodin Congratulations to all the winners! Related posts: WINNERS: 2009 Aurealis Awards FINALISTS: 2012 Aurealis Awards WINNERS: 2013 Ditmar Awards

The winners if the 20th Spectrum Fantastic Art Awards have been announced! Advertising: Gold: Dan Dos Santos, Dragon Empress Silver: Android Jones, Ganeshatron Book: Gold: David Palumbo, Fed Silver:Charles Vess, Tanglewood: I Didn’t Know She Was a Bottle Witch Comics: Gold: Paolo Rivera, Daredevil #10 Silver: David Petersen, Mouse Guard Black Axe #4, Page 19 Concept Art: Gold: Allen Willams, Tree of Tales Silver: Daniel Dociu, Guild Wars 2, Norn Lodge Dimensional: Gold: Virginie Ropars, Acanthopis III Editorial: Gold: Sam Bosma, Stability Silver: Sam Weber, Cancer Monster Institutional: Gold: Kekai Kotaki, Stampede Silver: Lucas Graciano, Dragon Swarm Unpublished: Gold: Cory Godbey, The Fish Master Silver: Andrew Mar, Tell-Tale Heart And the 2013 Grand Master award goes to Brom! Congratualtions to all! Related posts: FINALISTS: 2013 Spectrum Fantastic Art Award WINNERS: Spectrum 16 Awards Finalists: Spectrum Fantastic Art Award

Here is the cover art and synopsis of the upcoming novel Heaven’s Fall by David S. Goyer & Michael Cassutt, the third novel in the series that began with Heaven’s Shadow and Heaven’s War. Here’s the synopsis: Mankind’s first contact with extraterrestrial life led to an incredible revelation. Their last may lead them to extinction. Twenty years have passed since the mysterious Near-Earth Object nicknamed Keanu appeared in the night sky and transported an assortment of humans from all over Earth into its interior. There they discovered that Keanu was an immense long-range spaceship—and they were not its only inhabitants. They joined forces with the aliens called the Architects, who had come from a distant galaxy to seek help in fighting the vicious Reivers. And they defeated them—or so they thought. Now Keanu has reestablished contact with Earth—and discovered that the Reivers have, in fact, taken over the planet, placing most of the population under their dominion. A few scattered pockets of humanity, constantly in danger of being assimilated, have mounted a resistance. As the Reivers prepare a devastating strike against the Architects, Rachel Stewart, who grew up in Keanu, leads a small band of human survivors in an attempt to infiltrate the massive Reiver fortress in the American West. But their only hope for victory may yet be somewhere inside the NEO. If the men and women still in Keanu cannot find it, humanity will be finished. And the galaxy will be next. Book info as per Amazon US [Also available via Amazon UK]: Hardcover: 432 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover (August 6, 2013) ISBN-10: 0441020933 ISBN-13: 978-0441020935 Here are the covers for all three book in the series… Related posts: The SF Signal Podcast (Episode 060): Lou Anders Chats with David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt, Authors of ‘Heaven’s Shadow’ REVIEW: Mirrored Heavens by David J. Williams Cover & Synopsis: “Before the Fall” by Francis Knight

"Beast raised her head and growled. I opened my eyes. I was sitting in an oversized soft chair, trying to cure my headache with a cup of coffee. Dealing with intruders was the next to last thing on my want-to-do list this morning, the last thing being anything that involved werewolves." 3.5 out of 5 http://demo.ilona-andrews.com/2012/10/chapter-3-part-1/

A woman and child get some outback alien help. 3.5 out of 5 http://www.sqmag.com/008-20130501-chinamans-bluff-cat-sparks.html