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Originally Posted by DiapDealer
Catching up on my short genre fiction, I stumbled across this gem; Creation by Jeffrey Ford (reprinted in Fantasy Magazine). It's stories like this that I think should be garnering awards. It's all a matter of taste--at least I hope it is!--but Kij Johnson's 2010 Nebula-winning short-story Ponies left me dumb-founded; as did her 2009 Nebula winner. This is the best that short genre-fiction has to offer?! 
To be fair, Jeffrey Ford's Creation was nominated for a Nebula in 2002, but didn't win. Is there a huge socio-political, clique-ey aspect to the short-fiction universe that I'm unaware of? Is it just Kij Johnson's "turn?" Do I just have horrible tastes in short fiction? Or has "good" become antiquated criteria, and subtext (delivered in a shocking package) all that matters anymore.  Whatever. Stop focusing on the negative....... whoosah.
Creation is an example of the whimsical, beautiful, thought-provoking style of short-story that would win the annual DiapDealer Award.  |
Yes, I think there is a huge socio-political, clique thing in the short-fiction universe.
Just like with the major awards for a lot of the books. Lots of jockeying for position.
If you like shorts--check out Nancy Fulda's "Dead Men Don't Cry." I've only read one J. Ford story, but some of Nancy's stories are pretty hard-hitters. One of the best (IMO) in the collection is also for sale for 99 cents (BackLash). Okay, it's more adventure style, which is totally my thing but Fulda obviously has read classic sci-fi and well understands the genre. She applies her expertise well. I love her characterization; I am so drawn to the characters. A couple of the stories in the collection remind me of Orson Scott Card's style (and I mean the depth, not any of the political leanings or whatnot.) She can tell a story.