Dubious Awards

I was just looking at Flatland and under Awards/Honors someone entered, "Fantasy: 100 Best Books" and "thisrecording.com 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of All Time (43)"

Do you consider these awards? If, say, The New York Times includes you in a year-end list does that mean an award/honor?

I have my doubts. Debatable. Where does it end?

Debatable indeed. Personally I wouldn't even include the NYT listing. But there's a lot of such debatable stuff around - especially in the "somebody whatsoever - you may never even have heard of of them before - thinks you should read this before you die" category.

Matt, this presents an interesting problem. Presumably, we would all like a long and happy life in which to read all the wonderful books out there. On the other hand, looking at what's actually on many (too many) of these lists), an early departure might not be so bad. As long as people read your stuff -- and mine (hohoho). And Rick Harsch's, and Ellen Ekstrom's . . . (Unsolicited Testimonial for the latter two, be it understood)

Call me a cynic, but being on a list with 1001 other books doesn't really feel like much of an "award."

Far from being a cynic, you are a worthy votary, even comrade, of the Goddess of Truth. No cheap flattery intended -- but you know that already. Realistically, I suppose I have read maybe twelve to fifteen-thousand adult-level books in my life, and, as you suggest, one out of twelve or fifteen isn't exactly close company.

4 -- It gets worse. Consider the number of nominees for all these lists and awards.