Fantasy

Which young adult sf/f titles, if any, would you recommend to an adult reader who would not otherwise consider reading YA fiction because they think it's only suitable for kids?

A lot of standards appear, but Scott Westerfield shows up in many answers from the all-star panel.

Winners of this year's Nebula Awards, presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, were announced this evening, Saturday April 26, 2008. Best novel: Michael Chabon - The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Click through to see short story and cinema winners.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) will be handing out the Nebula Awards Saturday evening, 26 April 2008, at a ceremony in Austin, Texas. SFScope is not in Texas, but SFWA has announced that there will be a live feed of the ceremony available on line.

I’m happy to see The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny made this list. Both would make great movies IMO. But if I had to choose just one it would be the latter. There is some grand special effects potential there. Opinions?

The results of this year’s Tiptree Award have been announced. The winner is The Carhullan Army (Daughters of the North in the U.S.) by Sarah Hall. The James Tiptree, Jr. Award is given for for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender, and is intended to reward those women and men who are bold enough to contemplate shifts and changes in gender.

I understand (second-hand, since I don't surf much) that there is some concern out there in InterNet Land that the Hugo ballot features only four women nominees this year (last year there was only one). As it happens, gender distribution of SF writers is something I keep track of.

A lot of books these days are hybrids of several genres. The Cassie Palmer series, for example, appeals mainly to fantasy, mystery and romance fans. The question I get asked most frequently is, does trying to please the readers of so many genres, each of which has its own rules and expectations, cause any problems?

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (lovingly– and mercifully– abbreviated as F&SF wherever possible) is a digest-sized (think Reader’s Digest or Prevention, or the old TV Guide) magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy short stories, book and movie reviews, an occasional related non-fiction article, and cartoons.

Author Robert Olen Butler is about to publish a book of short stories imagining the sexual encounters of famous couples. He claims that the book is “not really about the fitting together of the bodies” but is “a rendering of the inner consciences of these people.” I dunno…Santa and a female elf? Says more about the author’s inner conscience if you ask me.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction started an editorial blog. The magazine has been one of the mainstays of genre fiction for decades. "Here you’ll find news about the magazine, interviews with our contributors, contests and giveaways, and other fun stuff."