Hugo, Campbell and Alfie Awards

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The other selections in those categories are no slouches either. It would have been hard for me to vote against Seveneves and The Builders myself (if I were a Hugo voter). I hadn't read any of the novelette noms.

I was rather disappointed with Seveneves. I think it had more infodumps per page than any other book I've read. Assuming that the calculations that the debris from the moon would have heated up the atmosphere enough to make the earth uninhabitable for at least 5000 years, I thought there was not enough time for them to create enough infrastructure in space to survive that long. I didn't believe that society would not have collapsed into chaos after they realized that they had about two years to prep for long term survival, and I didn't believe in the social dynamics of the survivors. I don't think I would have finished it if I hadn't been reading for voting for awards. There are more reasons why I disliked it, but I'd be going into spoiler territory.

I have been voting for the Hugos for about 6 years. Some of the nominees each year are not to my taste, and a lot of my first choices are not the winners, but it's rare that I actually dislike the winner.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Big fan of Dillon's art, by the way.

Any relation to the Dillon's artwork that graced some of the early (1960s) Ellison years in paperback? I think it was Diane and Leo Dillon? -- I don't have my collection here with me.

[DiapDealer]

@bgalbrecht: Normally, I'd agree with you. But some authors can infodump on me and get away with and some can't. I learned long ago the Stephenson was one who could.

I don't mean that Stephenson can infodump better than others, or anything like that. But rather that some authors's styles just "click" with me. Stephenson clicks with me. With every book from The Big U to Seveneves *shrug*

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Any relation to the Dillon's artwork that graced some of the early (1960s) Ellison years in paperback? I think it was Diane and Leo Dillon? -- I don't have my collection here with me.

I've never heard it mentioned anywhere if so.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Any relation to the Dillon's artwork that graced some of the early (1960s) Ellison years in paperback? I think it was Diane and Leo Dillon? -- I don't have my collection here with me.

I don't believe so. Leo and Diane lived in Brooklyn, and I met them and their son Lee. He's the relative I'm directly aware of.

Aside from Ellison's work, they did the covers for Terry Carr's Ace SF Specials line, Time magazine covers, and an assortment of children's books. They won two Caldecott Awards. They worked at facing drawing boards, and when a commission came in, after discussing the approach they would take, one would start and work on it a bit, then pass it over. They commented that on their best work, they couldn't tell you who did what part.

Leo died in 2012: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/bo...ies-at-79.html
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Dennis

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I don't believe so. Leo and Diane lived in Brooklyn, and I met them and their son Lee. He's the relative I'm directly aware of.

Aside from Ellison's work, they did the covers for Terry Carr's Ace SF Specials line, Time magazine covers, and an assortment of children's books. They won two Caldecott Awards. They worked at facing drawing boards, and when a commission came in, after discussing the approach they would take, one would start and work on it a bit, then pass it over. They commented that on their best work, they couldn't tell you who did what part.

Leo died in 2012: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/bo...ies-at-79.html
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Dennis

Thank you for the information.

I absolutely loved (and still love) their work.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Thank you for the information.

I absolutely loved (and still love) their work.

I was in awe of them from the first time I saw their work.

Decades back, a guy I knew who wanted to become an artist's agent talked to the Dillons about representing them. He saw a strong market for their original paintings. He said they had a closet full of paintings done for clients, and had no idea there was a market for them. My jaw dropped, because I'd have considered trading a body part for a Dillon original.

But Leo and Diane were commercial artists, working for reproduction, and selling the rights to reproduce their work. There was an enormous gulf between commercial artists and fine artists, who did sell the original. That they were not aware there was a market for their originals was not an enormous surprise.

I've been involved for decades in helping to run literary SF conventions, and one fixture at such things is an Art Show where illustrators can sell the original art for stuff they were commissioned to do, and I've met an assortment of prominent artists in the genre that way.
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Dennis

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I was in awe of them from the first time I saw their work.

Decades back, a guy I knew who wanted to become an artist's agent talked to the Dillons about representing them. He saw a strong market for their original paintings. He said they had a closet full of paintings done for clients, and had no idea there was a market for them. My jaw dropped, because I'd have considered trading a body part for a Dillon original.

But Leo and Diane were commercial artists, working for reproduction, and selling the rights to reproduce their work. There was an enormous gulf between commercial artists and fine artists, who did sell the original. That they were not aware there was a market for their originals was not an enormous surprise.

I've been involved for decades in helping to run literary SF conventions, and one fixture at such things is an Art Show where illustrators can sell the original art for stuff they were commissioned to do, and I've met an assortment of prominent artists in the genre that way.
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Dennis

In all the posts I've read by you, you have the most wonderful stories about your involvement with SF and SF authors. I would love to read your personal stories.

I wish you would write that book.

I WOULD BUY IT IN A HEARTBEAT.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

In all the posts I've read by you, you have the most wonderful stories about your involvement with SF and SF authors. I would love to read your personal stories.

I wish you would write that book.

I WOULD BUY IT IN A HEARTBEAT.

You're the second person to tell me that. When you're involved in organized SF events for four decades, you meet people and accumulate stories. I wouldn't know where to begin.

SF fandom is a cross between a small town and a sprawling dysfunctional family, complete with the relatives you don't talk about. (Precisely which those are will depend on who you are...) Many of the stories are "You had to be there..." told to people who are also part of the family, because "mundanes" (the SF fan descriptor for folks who aren't fans) will lack the context to get the story.

With only one or two exceptions, the pros I've met have been splendid people as well as good at what they did, and some have become friends.

I met Leo, Diane, and their son Lee decades back. The Brooklyn Museum had an exhibit of Brooklyn Artists of Science Fiction and Fantasy for which I did promotional graphics, and I was present at the opening. As I recall, Lee had just dropped out of school with his parent's support to pursue a career in art. He had jewellery on exhibit that I gawked at, and said "I can't wait to see what you're going to be doing down the road!" Leo and Diane turned in unison and said "We can!"

Sometimes I can make magic happen. The last con I was at was in April, and David Weber was Guest of Honor. I made up a set of custom bookplates for the Safehold series, because I didn't feel like logging the hardcovers to the con. David quite understood. While he was signing, I asked "What's your tipple when you drink?" His favorite was something I don't properly recall that he gets in Poland, but he said "I like single malt scotch..."

One of the things I do at SF conventions is run invitational gatherings devoted to single malt and other fine spirits, and there was an instance at that con. I just grinned and said "Have we got something for you!", and gave him an invite. When he came to the party, he was looking at the spread that would put the average bar to shame, trying to decide what to sample. Another old friend who was present said "Don't bother. I have something better." and reached into his bag, pulled out a small bottle containing Bowmore Black, and poured a dram for David.

Bowmore Black was bottled in 1969, and is generally considered the finest single malt ever produced. If you can find it these days, it will cost $7K or more for a bottle. (If you can find it. Good luck.) When I got to sample it a few years previously, I held up a hand and said "Don't bother me. I'm having a religious experience!" David was properly appreciative. I just smiled and said "My work here is done."
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Dennis

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

You're the second person to tell me that. When you're involved in organized SF events for four decades, you meet people and accumulate stories. I wouldn't know where to begin.

SF fandom is a cross between a small town and a sprawling dysfunctional family, complete with the relatives you don't talk about. (Precisely which those are will depend on who you are...) Many of the stories are "You had to be there..." told to people who are also part of the family, because "mundanes" (the SF fan descriptor for folks who aren't fans) will lack the context to get the story.

With only one or two exceptions, the pros I've met have been splendid people as well as good at what they did, and some have become friends.

I met Leo, Diane, and their son Lee decades back. The Brooklyn Museum had an exhibit of Brooklyn Artists of Science Fiction and Fantasy for which I did promotional graphics, and I was present at the opening. As I recall, Lee had just dropped out of school with his parent's support to pursue a career in art. He had jewellery on exhibit that I gawked at, and said "I can't wait to see what you're going to be doing down the road!" Leo and Diane turned in unison and said "We can!"

Sometimes I can make magic happen. The last con I was at was in April, and David Weber was Guest of Honor. I made up a set of custom bookplates for the Safehold series, because I didn't feel like logging the hardcovers to the con. David quite understood. While he was signing, I asked "What's your tipple when you drink?" His favorite was something I don't properly recall that he gets in Poland, but he said "I like single malt scotch..."

One of the things I do at SF conventions is run invitational gatherings devoted to single malt and other fine spirits, and there was an instance at that con. I just grinned and said "Have we got something for you!", and gave him an invite. When he came to the party, he was looking at the spread that would put the average bar to shame, trying to decide what to sample. Another old friend who was present said "Don't bother. I have something better." and reached into his bag, pulled out a small bottle containing Bowmore Black, and poured a dram for David.

Bowmore Black was bottled in 1969, and is generally considered the finest single malt ever produced. If you can find it these days, it will cost $7K or more for a bottle. (If you can find it. Good luck.) When I got to sample it a few years previously, I held up a hand and said "Don't bother me. I'm having a religious experience!" David was properly appreciative. I just smiled and said "My work here is done."
______
Dennis

You just made my point!

It's those types of stories that helps to 'humanize' science fiction.

And....you can write (which I've known for some time).





ADDED: I think if you had your own thread here at Mobileread and just sort of talked about science fiction and the things you've been involved in, along with your personal experiences, that you would find many contributors who would join in with their own stories. It would make for incredibly wonderful reading, like having Clifford D. Simak sitting in a room with you.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

You just made my point!

It's those types of stories that helps to 'humanize' science fiction.

And....you can write (which I've known for some time).

Yes, I can write. Effective communication has been critical for me. Depending on how you count, I've had five or six different careers over the years, and was able to do so because I could communicate. Often as not, a chunk of my function was translating across domains and explaining concepts so those in a different domain would grasp them.

Years back, someone I met in person after corresponding commented that "You speak the way you write." Well, yes. I tend to speak in grammatical sentences, arranged in logical order. It's simply how my mind works. The late Isaac Asimov was a prime example of it. He submitted first drafts, because the first draft was what he wanted to say. He didn't do a lot of local revising first because he didn't need to. Editing came when the editor reviewed the first draft and sent back suggestions for revision.

It seems to be atypical, and I've interacted with folks elsewhere who don't work that way, and have to do a lot of revision to get the end result to be what they intend.

ADDED: I think if you had your own thread here at Mobileread and just sort of talked about science fiction and the things you've been involved in, along with your personal experiences, that you would find many contributors who would join in with their own stories. It would make for incredibly wonderful reading, like having Clifford D. Simak sitting in a room with you.

I never did meet Clifford Simak, which I regret because I adore his work. There are an assortment of folks where I'd give a lot to just be present in the room listening while they told stories.

But one issue is that I don't have compression technology to magically stuff 48 hours into a 24 hour day. It's an aspect of another issue, where I say "If I could learn to read a different book with each eye, I might at least slow the rate at which my To Be Read Stack accumulates. The nice thing about eBooks is that you don't call the paramedics if it topples over on me!"

If other folks want to chime in on stories I tell, it's fine by me if they want to start a separate thread for it. I'm just unlikely to be the thread starter. The problem is "So many interests. So little time."
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Dennis