This is a showcase of Nebula prize-winners and nominees for 2006. So, the cutting edge of sci-fi and fantasy. Oh dear, the genre looks like it's in trouble. Admittedly, it does feel like it's awarded by writers, for writers. There are a couple of introspective articles on the state of sci-fi publishing. Personally, I don't care about that, and would rather have some good stories. And, well, I suppose the stories arent bad per-se. Well-drawn characters and backgrounds, neat little plots and so on, but pretty much zero content as far as, well, proper science fiction goes. The final story, Vernor Vinge's Cookie Monster, is fantastic (if a little harsh), and makes up for everything else. Perhaps I'm just too much of a fan of 'hard' science fiction.
Posted 2007-01-02.