The Gemmell Legend Awards

The David Gemmell Legend awards are open for voting on best 2011 fantasy novel, fantasy debut, and cover art. No registration required, just click to vote!

http://gemmellaward.com/

Anyone read any of the nominees for best debut?

The Unremembered by Peter Orullian
Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick
The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe
The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P Beaulieu
Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper
The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
The Whitefire Crossing by Courtney Schafer
Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I read Among Thieves and think it worthy of a nomination at least. Several of the others are in my TBR mountain somewhere

I haven't read (or even heard) of any of them. How embarrassing!

shame on you, Chorecrat! Shame I say! :)

haven't read any, never heard of any, and no idea who David Gemmell Legend is either. But none of that will stop me from voting!

I've only heard of 3 of them- but I am reading Among Thieves at the moment.

#5 - Ah, democracy!

MrAndrew - you may well be better served by seeking out some David Gemmell books then, rather than trying any of the nominees. Gemmell died 6 years ago aged 57 and left a legacy of 30(ish) excellent fantasy books - a very interesting man too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell The awards are in his memory.

yes, but what about this David Gemmell Legend guy?

btw i never said that i was going to try reading any of the nominee's books. I just said that i was going to vote. There's no test, is there?

>9 Why would you feel the need to vote in this award when you're apparently so ignorant of the whole fantasy genre, nevermind this year's debuts ?
Just to be contrary ?

I mean, David Gemmell, even if you don't think he was that good (wasn't too thrilled with what I read from him personnally), you must have been living under a rock for the name not to ring a bell.

I think MrA's trying to make a point about the validity of online voting competitions.

...yes... that's it. I'm making a hilarious, erudite and cuttingly perceptive statement on the inherent flaws in the democratic system. Or possibly just being a tool. It's best to just ignore me, please carry on.

btw, i have heard of Fantasy. It's a sex thing, right?

What's the other option ? Make everyone register somewhere and pay to receive some voter's package which content they might read, and/or pay even more to attend some in-person event for voting rights ?
There's a least one like this, but it's not foolproof, in fact you could probably find people willing to rant at some length on how biased it is, with strong statistical hints that just where the voting took place probably did influence previous winner choices.

While online "anonymity" may seem to make for easier ballot stuffing and encouraging drive-by votes by people not overly interested in the books, most people have better use of their online time than fill polls they don't care about, and one might hope some measures have been taken to spot instances of likely manipulation.

Jarandel - all true. I have a lot of time for the David Gemmell awards and none for the Hugos, but each to their own :)

And as someone with a PhD in what might be unkindly called statistics I can tell you that random voting generally constitutes white noise and the effects are usually negligible in a poll like this.

14 - Generally true. That said, I know some online polls do get votebombed by a determined set of people. It's rather unlikely to happen in this case, but in polls where politics, religion and social issues come up (which issues we won't discuss here - board policy) it's not uncommon to get a bunch of people who don't otherwise care to come by and vote multiple times (through proxies, etc. if necessary) to effect a desired result.

voting closes 31st March

#16 - And how's your book doing votes wise so far, Mark? Or can't you tell until it's all over?

#10 - Well, then. I guess I must be living under a great big rock. No bells were rung here. ;o)

Clam, if it makes you feel any better, that rock crosses several continental plates. There was a distinct absence of bells ringing here too ;-)

#18 - It does, Hugh. Thank you. :o)

Yep, the rock goes this direction too. :) clammy, I can vividly seeing you open your clamshell and peeking out to say that. ;)

I know of Gemmell - I've never read any though. He writes epic fantasy along the line of Eddings.

#20 - Hee hee!

I do eat a pasta shape called Gemelli, though. Does that count?

#21, respectfully (having read both authors) I wouldn't tend to clump Gemmell and Eddings too closely together.

My personal take: Gemmell's work is a lot harder edged...

With regard to the discussion: while Gemmell's work may be fairly widely known in the fantasy field, I'd not presume 'everyone' here has heard of him - the reading tastes of the folks in the Green Dragon are way too eclectic in my observation, and not at all 'under a rock'.

#22 - Clam! LOL!!!

23 - I wasn't suggesting similar quality! As I said, I haven't read them, so I'm not able to judge that (especially given the subjective nature of judging quality). It was more the similar world-building that I was alluding to.

Just for some context about David Gemmell - here's his obituary http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/aug/02/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries

He died in 2006.

#24 - with appreciation for your response - actually, I said nothing about the quality of either author.

Only a gentle note to potential readers as a person who has read numerous works from the body of work of both the mentioned authors: the impression I wished to leave - in my opinion, Gemmell and Eddings are not that similar in story tone and content.

Gemmell's work is harder edged.

I was at GenCon with Bradley Beaulieu last year. Very nice guy. He'll (and I) will be at Origins at the end of May this year, too.

I have a signed copy of 'Winds' from him, but I am ashamed to say I have not yet read it.

The shortlists are up and voting continues until the end of May. No registration required.

Legend (best novel):
http://www.gemmellaward.com/page/the-legend-award

Morningstar (best debut novel):
http://gemmellaward.com/page/the-morningstar-award

Ravenheart (best cover):
http://gemmellaward.com/page/the-ravenheart-award