Nebula Awards Showcase 2015. edited by Greg Bear
NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2015
RATED 80% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE = 3.87 OUT OF 5
13 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 5 GOOD / 2 AVERAGE / 2 POOR / 0 DNF
A solid respectable anthology that presents the Nebula Award nominees and winners in a clear and bright light, letting them speak for themselves. Every nominee for Short Story and Novelette is included as well as the winner of Novella category, excerpts from winning novels, poems, articles, and one reprint from the newly minted Grand Master Samuel R Delaney. I have only considered the complete stories in this anthology for rating and review, but I do recommend reading the entire volume.
The Nebula Awards are given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). This anthology, while called Showcase 2015, includes stories originally published in 2013.
My top selections from among these Nebula Nominees:
If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love • (2013) • short story by Rachel Swirsky. Not truly Science Fiction or Fantasy, this incredible short story embraces the language of both in a bittersweet love vignette. To reveal too much would be to spoil the surprise, but this is quite powerful.
Alive, Alive Oh • (2013) • short story by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley. A tragic tale of motherhood stranded on a planet that was only supposed to be a temporary mission. This one slowly walks forward the rational outcome of its premise to the painful conclusion.
The Waiting Stars • (2013) • novelette by Aliette de Bodard. Two stories told in alternating segments. Two women explore a derelict Mind Ship to recover what is left of their family member. On another planet, two girls have been rescued from ‘fate-worse-than-death’ but at the cost of any connection to their memories or culture. This is space opera and human drama with complex multi-layered characters as well being great space opera.
In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind • (2013) • novelette by Sarah Pinsker. This is haunting. An architect on his deathbed with one last design to draw. Memories of a secret he designed years ago. The pain of family secrets and mystery of their discovery. I didn’t go to a Great rating when in read this in Sarah Pinsker’s Collection, but I love this even more now.
NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2015 IS RATED 80% POSITIVE
13 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 5 GOOD / 2 AVERAGE / 2 POOR / 0 DNF
How do I arrive at a rating?
If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love • (2013) • short story by Rachel Swirsky
Great. While not truly Science Fiction or Fantasy, this incredible short story embraces the language of both in a bittersweet love vignette.
The Sounds of Old Earth • (2013) • short story by Matthew Kressel
Good. As everyone is escaping a dying earth for space colonies, one man lingers with his ducks.
Selkie Stories Are for Losers • short fiction by Sofia Samatar [as by Sophia Samatar]
Average. Longing and various stories about selfies discovering their fur coats.
Selected Program Notes from the Retrospective Exhibition of Theresa Rosenberg Latimer • (2013) • short fiction by Kenneth Schneyer
Good. A haunting masterpiece of fantasy(?) experimentally told through program notes of artwork created by one woman over a lifetime.
Alive, Alive Oh • (2013) • short story by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
Great. A tragic tale of motherhood stranded on a planet that was only supposed to be a temporary mission.
The Waiting Stars • (2013) • novelette by Aliette de Bodard
Great. Two stories told in alternating segments. Two women explore a derelict Mind Ship to recover what is left of their family member. On another planet, two girls have been rescued from ‘fate-worse-than-death’ but at the cost of any connection to their memories or culture.
Paranormal Romance • (2013) • novelette by Christopher Barzak
Poor. One dimensional characters, a love-witch and a werewolf- go on a bad first date. Pedestrian.
They Shall Salt the Earth with Seeds of Glass • (2013) • novelette by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Average. Two sisters from a rural farming community that is oppressed by the Glassine must travel to the city to try to get an abortion.
Pearl Rehabilitative Colony for Ungrateful Daughters • (2013) • novelette by Henry Lien
Good. A fun fantasy adventure of ‘mean-girls’ who compete while training in a figure skating martial art.
In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind • (2013) • novelette by Sarah Pinsker
Great. This is haunting. An architect on his deathbed with one last design to draw. Memories of a secret he designed years ago. The pain of family secrets and mystery of their discovery.
The Litigation Master and the Monkey King • (2013) • novelette by Ken Liu
Poor. A Chinese lawyer (and a mystical Monkey King ?!!?) decides to do the right thing at the cost of his life.
The Weight of the Sunrise • (2013) • novella by Vylar Kaftan
Good. In an Alternate History Incan Empire where smallpox was contained, a man is brought to the King to translate a negotiation with Americans over a vaccine.
Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones • (1968) • novelette by Samuel R. Delany
Good. A wild ride as a small time crook works his way up through a series of interactions and parties. Pretty groovy 1960s style.
