Thoughts on 2012 Hugo nominations: Novels
Jul. 31st, 2012 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormsewerFrom least to most favorite:
5. Deadline by Mira Grant
Zombie bloggers and conspiracies.
I read through Chapter One. Given my earlier encounters with works in this series, I was not about to be impressed. And indeed it does start, once again, with stupid people doing stupid things and managing to survive. There is some new pathos involved, though, which is enough that I won't rank this below "No Award." Congratulations.
4. A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
The latest book in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, it starts with the aftermath of a large battle at a place called "The Wall."
I haven't read any of these books before or seen the television version of Game of Thrones, but what I read of this (the Prologue and the Tyrion chapter) confirms that it's like a standard epic fantasy, but with the brutality turned up to eleven. I can't say it's really my bag at this point in my life, but I'll probably give the TV show a go at some point.
3. Embassytown by China Miéville
Set for the most part in a human embassy town (thus the name) on a planet inhabited by aliens with a unique language.
I was originally intending to read the whole thing, because I haven't yet read any Miéville, but he has a Reputation, so I thought I should give him a go. But after reading about 20% of it, I decided there are too many other ways I'd rather spend my time than in slogging through this. There are some very interesting ideas, but I found the characters flat, the plotting virtually non-existent, and the prose surprisingly clunky. Twenty-percent into the book, and I still have no clear idea what it's about or where it's going beyond what I wrote above. So, I guess I am of the Tycho School of Miéville criticism (oh, there's a comic, too).
2. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
Hardish SF space opera, with more than a little space noir and space horror mixed in, set in the asteroid belt.
I actually read the whole thing. There's a lot to like here. The world-building is excellent, and the physics in general seems pretty well thought-out. Characterization is outstanding. Plotting is tight and absorbing. It ends at a reasonable point, yet leaves you burning with curiosity about what's going to happen next. Quite skillful, that. There are some annoying aspects, though. For instance, the bad guy's plan is mind-blowingly stupid. And why is it that no one in the future seems to know or care anything about epidemiology? Anyway, overall it was a fun and absorbing read.
1. Among Others by Jo Walton
In Britain in 1979, a girl who loves reading science fiction and fantasy and has just come through some difficult experiences starts life at a new boarding school.
I read this one all the way through, too. Rather against my will, I really liked this book. It would have been easier for me to like it if it wasn't nominated for awards (though I probably wouldn't have read it in that case); it just seems like pandering. I'm certain that most fans of science fiction will find a lot to sympathize and identify with in the main character; I know I certainly did. There are constant references to the books the main character is reading and her thoughts on them, which hits the nostalgia factor that seems to play so well with Hugo voters, and which I find so annoying. So, that biased me against the story from the beginning. But it won me over. The main character is just so... lovable. So good-hearted, so smart, but also naïve and damaged by forces beyond her control. I can indeed see a lot of myself at fifteen in her, and I feel immense affection for her. This book was obviously crafted with lots of love; it burns with sincerity, and in the face of that I can't really hold its apparent "pandering" against it. I suppose my one complaint would be that it ends rather abruptly. When I was 95% of the way through it I could not see how the story could possibly be wrapped up in the space remaining, but it was. The ending was nicely done, but it felt premature, like we just skipped 200 pages of the actual novel. But all in all, it is a lovely book, a treasure; it makes me want to shut myself up in a library and read forever.
Thoughts on the short story noms
Thoughts on the novelette noms
Thoughts on the novella noms
Thoughts on the other noms
5. Deadline by Mira Grant
Zombie bloggers and conspiracies.
I read through Chapter One. Given my earlier encounters with works in this series, I was not about to be impressed. And indeed it does start, once again, with stupid people doing stupid things and managing to survive. There is some new pathos involved, though, which is enough that I won't rank this below "No Award." Congratulations.
4. A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
The latest book in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, it starts with the aftermath of a large battle at a place called "The Wall."
I haven't read any of these books before or seen the television version of Game of Thrones, but what I read of this (the Prologue and the Tyrion chapter) confirms that it's like a standard epic fantasy, but with the brutality turned up to eleven. I can't say it's really my bag at this point in my life, but I'll probably give the TV show a go at some point.
3. Embassytown by China Miéville
Set for the most part in a human embassy town (thus the name) on a planet inhabited by aliens with a unique language.
I was originally intending to read the whole thing, because I haven't yet read any Miéville, but he has a Reputation, so I thought I should give him a go. But after reading about 20% of it, I decided there are too many other ways I'd rather spend my time than in slogging through this. There are some very interesting ideas, but I found the characters flat, the plotting virtually non-existent, and the prose surprisingly clunky. Twenty-percent into the book, and I still have no clear idea what it's about or where it's going beyond what I wrote above. So, I guess I am of the Tycho School of Miéville criticism (oh, there's a comic, too).
2. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
Hardish SF space opera, with more than a little space noir and space horror mixed in, set in the asteroid belt.
I actually read the whole thing. There's a lot to like here. The world-building is excellent, and the physics in general seems pretty well thought-out. Characterization is outstanding. Plotting is tight and absorbing. It ends at a reasonable point, yet leaves you burning with curiosity about what's going to happen next. Quite skillful, that. There are some annoying aspects, though. For instance, the bad guy's plan is mind-blowingly stupid. And why is it that no one in the future seems to know or care anything about epidemiology? Anyway, overall it was a fun and absorbing read.
1. Among Others by Jo Walton
In Britain in 1979, a girl who loves reading science fiction and fantasy and has just come through some difficult experiences starts life at a new boarding school.
I read this one all the way through, too. Rather against my will, I really liked this book. It would have been easier for me to like it if it wasn't nominated for awards (though I probably wouldn't have read it in that case); it just seems like pandering. I'm certain that most fans of science fiction will find a lot to sympathize and identify with in the main character; I know I certainly did. There are constant references to the books the main character is reading and her thoughts on them, which hits the nostalgia factor that seems to play so well with Hugo voters, and which I find so annoying. So, that biased me against the story from the beginning. But it won me over. The main character is just so... lovable. So good-hearted, so smart, but also naïve and damaged by forces beyond her control. I can indeed see a lot of myself at fifteen in her, and I feel immense affection for her. This book was obviously crafted with lots of love; it burns with sincerity, and in the face of that I can't really hold its apparent "pandering" against it. I suppose my one complaint would be that it ends rather abruptly. When I was 95% of the way through it I could not see how the story could possibly be wrapped up in the space remaining, but it was. The ending was nicely done, but it felt premature, like we just skipped 200 pages of the actual novel. But all in all, it is a lovely book, a treasure; it makes me want to shut myself up in a library and read forever.
Thoughts on the short story noms
Thoughts on the novelette noms
Thoughts on the novella noms
Thoughts on the other noms
