Musings of a Babylon Lurker

Hugo Awards 2010 : Short stories vs. Novellettes

Sunday, June 27th, 2010 | awards | No Comments

This year I generally liked the novellettes better than the short stories. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues when I get to read the novellas.

Tags: Hugo Awards

Hugo Awards Novellette : “It takes Two” by Nicola Griffith

Sunday, June 27th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

A very well chosen title for a cautionary tale. Nicely ambiguous. Are we talking about Richard and Cody, or about Cody and Susana.

Going deep into the question of how reliable our memories are, and how we could be influenced to do things we would not otherwise do.

While the idea could be said to be lifted from the “Red Pill/Blue Pill” choice in “The Matrix”, this story has a quite different take on the concepts of memory and reality.

8/10

Tags: Hugo Awards, scifi

Hugo Awards Novellette : “Eros, Phillia, Agape” by Rachel Swirsky

Sunday, June 27th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

Interesting take on the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence evolving into consciousness. In this case involving a robot, or should I say android.

I found the story a bit longer than I would prefer for this relatively simple plot, on the other hand I found the writing itself interesting and somewhat captivating.

Also the relationship between robots/androids takes an interesting turn when the robot is set free to evolve. Maybe a good example why most robot stories abide Asimov’s rules.

8/10

Tags: Hugo Awards, scifi

Hugo 2010 Novelette : “One of our Bastards is Missing” by Paul Cornell

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 | awards, books, fantasy, scifi | No Comments

I have mainly known Paul Cornell from his stories in the Doctor Who universe (“Father’s Day” and “Human Nature/Family of Blood”). his is my first Cornell story outside that.

Nice to see that he is nominated in two categories this story is best Novelette and also in the graphic story category – mor about the graphic story later.

This one starts nicely out, the protagonist, a security officer is confronted with a mystery at the wedding of the princess.

The story has a slight surreal feel, but at the end it is quite consistent. So we have got mystery, betrayal and a good wrap-up.

Two more novelettes to go, and for now my choice is between this one and the Eugie Foster one

8/10

Hugo2010 : Novellette : “Sinner, ….” by Eugie Foster

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

Full title :
“Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest : Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast”

I listened to that one last year on the Escape Pod podcast.

The question is wether this is science Fiction, Fantasy or what . Genre really does not matter .

This is one of those wonderful small stories that I like.
The choices and consequences of people. Which mask should I wear today, in essence which identity do I choose for today, and the consequences of those choices.

On top of that, the question of your true identity (the “Who are You” question to which there is, it seems, no right answer.

This story has a chilling end when the protagonist reveals his true nature.

8/10

Tags: Hugo Awards

Hugo Awards 2010 : Novellette : “Overtime” by Charles Stross

Sunday, June 13th, 2010 | awards, books, fantasy, scifi | No Comments

The story uses the premise of an office/organisation for eliminating the “supernatural”. even if the “magic” they perform is done with mathematics and logic.

The build-up in this story felt long drawn and the conclusion too short, and not as surprising as I had expected.

OK story for me

7/10

Hugo Awards 2010 Novellette : “The Island” by Peter Watts

Monday, June 7th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

A massive ship building Wormholes (Stargates ?) for billions of years. People who are in suspended animation for most of their lives. An AI that wants full control.

Finally, they meet an intelligence massively more intelligent than humans. Truly alien. I am, in a small amount reminded of Fred Hoyle’s novel “The Black Cloud” from the 1950′s, but the twist at the end of the story is good. Maybe not quite as alien as first thought.

This is clearly better than any of the short stories I have read for this year.

Lurker’s rating : 8/10

Tags: Hugo Awards

Hugo Reading : Short Story : “Bridesicle” by Will McIntosh

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

A story on the possibility of being preserved at death with the possibility of revival.

The combination with a “dating service” may seem a bit macabre, but the story actually works better than the other Hugo nominated short stories this year – at least for me.

This one will get my preferred vote for setting more thoughts in motion than the others.

7/10

Tags: Hugo Awards

Hugo Nominee, Short Story : “Non-Zero Probabilities” by N.K. Jemisin

Sunday, May 30th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

A bit of an odd story, about very improbable things happening much more often than they should – or concentrated in one place, but not in others.

This one has an unusual take on probability and superstition. I generally liked it, even if is not something exceptional.

N.K. Jemisin was another complete unknown to me, so good to see a new author.

6/10

Tags: Hugo Awards

Hugo Awards 2010 Short Story : “Spar” by Kij Johnson

Saturday, May 29th, 2010 | awards, books, scifi | No Comments

Hmmm

A short story on the theme of “Sex with an Alien”.

The whole story has one single scene , the alien is certainly non humanoid.

Unfortunately the most often asked question during reading the story was “when is it over” I found it repetitive and boring. Sorry I could not give a better review. The story must have been found good by someone, since it was nominated.

This may be an experimental story, but to me it failed.

2/10

Tags: Hugo Awards