Stephen Kotowych

Things are getting better.

I have been catching up reading the Nebula Award series books. Back a few issues ago I wept (figuratively) for the state of fantasy and science fiction. If the stories represented in the books a few years ago were the best, then there was not a lot of good out there. As I have worked forward, the genre seems to be recollecting itself. And the representatives of the genre as exhibited in these collections were getting better.

And with this issue, much of its former show more glory has been restored. These are good stories. (Are they great? I think a couple of them are.) In fact, only two left me cold. The rest were well worth the read.

I disagree with the selection for best short story. The winner, R.S.A. Garcia’s “Tante Merle and the Farmhand 4200”, is very good. (It is the story of technology in a rural setting that gains a sort of sentience – a sweet tale that is told with deftness that never gets cloying) But I think “The Sound of Children Screaming” by Rachel K. Jones was the best of the lot. A school shooting, and an escape route right out of “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”. Except the promise doesn’t live up to the reality and the teacher has to decide which horror is worse. Maybe a touch heavy-handed, but still a memorable and incredible story.

But that’s not all. P. A. Cornell’s “once Upon a Time at the Oakmont” (the story of a building that is outside of time and the resident’s who come from various times, all having to be careful not to explain the future to other residents) is very good. And “Window Boy” by Thomas Ha – an exploration of the future where filters keep the truth out (horrible description, but it’s the best I’ve got right now) – was also right in there.

And that’s just the short stories. I could go on in a similar manner about the novelettes. And I think the most telling thing about the quality of these stories is that, while it has been a few weeks since I read them, I still vividly remember them.

I still have a quibble with the approach used of novel and novellas – little snippets that read like the blurb off the back of the books. There is nothing redeeming in this, except that it does mention the winners and runners up. This time there was an excerpt from the winning novella, but it was only three pages long. None of this makes me want to explore further.

And, finally, I have always thought it strange that the games that were included in the awards for game writing have their descriptions included. Strange until, this time, one intrigued me to the point of my purchasing it. I guess it works.

If this is the current state of science fiction and fantasy (at least the state as of 2023), then things are looking good.

We’ll see what the next edition brings.

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There might be hope.

I have been catching up on the Nebula award winners through the “Nebula Awards Showcase” editions. I have always read these editions because I figure that, because they are voted on by actual writers, there is a good chance these are some of the best writing out there.

Unfortunately, the prior editions have been beyond disappointing. If they represented the direction of the genre, then it was headed into a death spiral. However, based on this edition (and remember, it show more represents 2021, so I am a few years behind) things might be getting better.

There are still way too many offerings that are present tense – present tense when it really does not serve the story. And some of the writing still feels insubstantial. But there are some good ones here, also. “Let all the Children Boogie” by Sam J. Miller uses fantasy (?) to tell the story of two people drawn together, and the pains that make up who they are. (In my mind, much better than the winner, which was just a little too “cute” for me.) “Mr. Death” by Alix E. Harrow which follows one individual who delivers death, and the tough choices that must be made. (Also, better than the winner.) Or “Just Enough Rain” by P. H. Lee where an angel starts dating a mortal – which sounds trite and done before but trust me, it is much more.

And there are other good stories. Again, the tide may be turning. There may be good writing out there that is worth reading. This book indicates such is the case.

One quibble with the way the book is structured. As always, it is hard to determine what to do regarding Best Novelette and Best Novel. In this edition, snippet descriptions of each are presented. These read like blurbs on the back of the book and, as such, they are nigh on useless. Again, it is hard to determine how best to present these categories, but this is definitely not the right way.

Skip those. (Or go ahead and read them; they’re short.) But do read the full stories contained herein. show less

Based on the contents of this edition of the Nebula Award stories, the state of science fiction and fantasy is getting better. Now, let’s keep in mind these are the awards for 2022, so this is an assessment made on something slightly in the past. Nonetheless, this collection shows progress from the doldrums, boredom, and “who cares” that was happening in past editions.

As background, I have always thought the Nebula Awards offered a good barometer of what is occurring in the profession, show more primarily because it is voted on by the community of authors. And I will add that my assessment – current, past, and future assessments – comes from a history of owning and having read every edition since the very first.

So, again, there are some very good stories in here. And I also believe that, based on the nominees, the best were selected. Samantha Mills’ “Rabbit Test” (short story winner) is an interesting approach to helping us understand the journey that has occurred for women’s rights over their own bodies. At first, it paints a dark picture. Based on new technologies that allow more intrusion, rights take a beating. But then the future brightens – the pendulum swings (as it always does.) It is just a shame that the pendulum has to take out human beings in the process.

John Chu’s “If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You” (novelette winner) uses a superhero to address the loneliness of difference. While this story focuses on that difference, loneliness, and fear from the perspective of a gay protagonist, the story is true for any of us who have been ostracized in any way.

And, of course, with just an excerpt, it is hard to tell if C. L. Polk’s “Even Though I Knew the End” was the best Novella, but it starts a good story.

So, yeah, good stories. There are exceptions. I won’t name names, but there are ones that bore, ones that preach, and ones that tread previously trodden roads without finding a new path. But that leads me to my next question. Good stories; but are they the best that are out there. This may be the old guy talking, but I’m not reading anything that grabs me, shakes me, and makes me want to read more.

Good stores, but are they great? show less

I read this anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories over a period of months and enjoyed it. I tend to read a lot of works by American and British authors, so reading this many Canadian writers was a refreshing change. I enjoyed that some of the stories had a Canadian setting while others tackled themes that resonate for Canadians (e.g. resource extraction... but in space!). I'm looking forward to reading volume 2 when it comes out in late 2024.