tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post3562630841815326176..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: Ideations, major book awards, and an apologia for non-speculative literaturesLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-48900893819346250172010-10-19T19:11:17.573-05:002010-10-19T19:11:17.573-05:00This just seems to come back to criteria and not n...This just seems to come back to criteria and not necessarily a blanket negative bias. I know if I want to read "the best" work on "the human condition," I might be wary of reading a Dragonlance novel, for example. When I think about past Booker winners, such as David Mitchell and even Peter Carey to an extent, I wonder why there is such an antipathy from several genre fans. I just guess it's not good until <i>their</i> category is "the best." <br /><br />Reading myopia certainly is an insidious thing and runs in several directions. All I know is that crime, SF, fantasy, romance, etc. have each had exemplary novels recognized in some form or fashion as "classics" that have something to say to generations of readers. I just can't summarily dismiss those awards which might point me toward excellent realist fiction.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-39996658856714902002010-10-19T08:29:31.171-05:002010-10-19T08:29:31.171-05:00The Booker controversy is HUGE HUGE HUGE in the my...The Booker controversy is HUGE HUGE HUGE in the mystery/crime community. <br /><br />The former chairman of the Booker Prize committee said “A mystery has as much chance of winning the Booker as a donkey winning the Derby.”Brian Lindenmuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519203797661128049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-86883662814117528452010-10-19T07:24:30.463-05:002010-10-19T07:24:30.463-05:00Unless there's a list of what got submitted fr...Unless there's a list of what got submitted from genre and you then read those books and the ones shortlisted, and then believed some of the genre ones should've been on there, I don't know how you can reach that conclusion that quickly, Adam. And even if you did then reach that conclusion, doesn't the judging panel *change* every year? So...what's the point of generalizing in this way? Man, am I sick to death of SF tribalism. JeffVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-13596545976454935442010-10-19T06:15:20.155-05:002010-10-19T06:15:20.155-05:00Point taken regarding the Jacobson. Currently rea...Point taken regarding the Jacobson. Currently reading the Donoghue and my early take seems to jibe with your review and I plan on reading <i>C</i> later this month.<br /><br />I remember that kerfuffle with KSR last year. I just am not certain which books were submitted for consideration this year, as that might help me understand matters more. All I know is that some awards aren't designed for certain fictions. Much as I laud the Krilanovich debut, I just cannot see it ever getting major recognition in genre circles due to its thematic content. I do think it'd be the sort of book that you could have some fun reviewing, though, Adam.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-38709861187775369782010-10-19T06:08:36.462-05:002010-10-19T06:08:36.462-05:00My comment got truncated! I meant to start off by ...My comment got truncated! I meant to start off by linking to my thoughts on <a href="http://punkadiddle.blogspot.com/2010/10/emma-donoghue-room-2010.html" rel="nofollow">Room</a>, which I liked a lot.The Spirit of Creative Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08814590995293463174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-26057448431287698242010-10-19T06:07:38.518-05:002010-10-19T06:07:38.518-05:00My thoughts on McCarthy's C and the winner, Ho...My thoughts on <a href="javascript:void(0);" rel="nofollow">McCarthy's C</a> and <a href="http://punkadiddle.blogspot.com/2010/10/howard-jacobson-finkler-question-2010.html" rel="nofollow">the winner, Howard Jacobson's Finkler Question.</a><br /><br />Last year there was a big kerfuffle that the Man Booker doesn't shortlist SF. The judges complained that publishers don't submit it. This year, publishers submittedit. The Man Booker judges didn't shortlist it. The prize is biased against the genre, I'm afraid.The Spirit of Creative Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08814590995293463174noreply@blogger.com