Honoring Our Own

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt
It amuses me beyond belief that the AI believes that the Prometheus Awards are that formal and well heeled! While I made it a point of wearing an evening dress to receive mine, knowing it might be the last one I ever got, I think I shocked the heck out of the presenters. :D

Hi, guys.

Promo post in a few minutes, but:

My husband says I should have made my feelings on the Prometheus this year clear at some point, so I’m doing it now: While of course I was disappointed No Man’s Land didn’t win, (Mostly because, I’ll be honest, it would give it a sales push. There are things I need to do, most of all bring the second one, but my brain got eaten by furniture refinishing — research for Dyce, I SWEAR — and packing.) I was not in the slightest bit surprised nor upset.

You see, J. Kenton Pierce’s novel was much more of a LIBERTARIAN novel, as well as an amazingly mature work for what I believe is his first novel. A Kiss for Damocles: Book 1 of Shai (Tales From the Long Night).

The problem, you see, is that while I believe that No Man’s Land is award worthy (And probably the one in the series most worthy of it, since I was working on the technique to show the whole, complex culture without bogging down the story) the Prometheus is a LIBERTARIAN award. And therefore the most Libertarian novel should receive it.

That the other awards have traded their birthright for a pot of (hackneyed) message and trendy nonsense is not the Prometheus fault, and while it remains the only award that MIGHT go to people to the right of Lenin, it must remain true to its charter which is both excellence AND political orientation.

As for Dave Freer’s win for Storm Dragon, well, the novel is both Libertarian and well… Dave Freer is possibly the best writer of science fiction alive and working today. And that level of sheer excellence MUST be recognized. And, again the Prometheus is the only award available for those of us not anointing ourselves with eau de collectivism.

Why am I saying this now? Well… Because today is the ceremony recognizing these wins. I might or might not be in the audience, since the phone having died made an already hectic schedule more insane (because I now need to acquire a new phone asap.) but I’ll certainly be there in spirit, (waving my pompoms and doing a little dance. No, you don’t need to picture that. Horrific I know. Have some brain bleach.)

Below is the announcement:

Don’t miss the 46th Prometheus Awards on Zoom Sunday Aug. 16

The 46th Prometheus Awards ceremony, open to the public, will take place via Zoom at 1 p.m. Sunday Aug. 16 (Eastern time).

The hourlong awards show, honoring outstanding science fiction and fantasy that explores libertarian and anti-authoritarian themes, will include the first Special Prometheus Award for Young Adult Fiction along with presentations of the two annual categories for Best Novel and the Prometheus Hall of Fame for Best Classic Fiction.

Among the 10 speakers: Prometheus-winning novelists Travis Corcoran, Dave Freer and J. Kenton Pierce; and leading libertarian thinker and law professor Ilya Somin, giving the keynote address on libertarian currents in science fiction.

Accepting the Hall of Fame award for Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World will be Pulitzer-winning writer-editor Jack Miles and Huxley’s two adult grandchildren, Tessa and Trev Huxley.

Corcoran, a two-time Best Novel winner (The Powers of the Earth, Causes of Separation), will present the Special Award following his speech about the vital connection between literacy and liberty and the importance of Young Adult Fiction to encourage and inspire new generations of readers.

Pierce, based in Pennsylvania, will accept the Best Novel award for A Kiss for Damocles.

Freer, based in Tasmania, Australia, will accept the Special Award for Storm-Dragon.

Here’s the direct Zoom link for the Prometheus ceremony:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87824388418?pwd=CsoznF4wtlLNTYvEotlIpVJkCoGb9I.1

For more information about the awards show, the lineup of speakers, and capsule descriptions of each winning novel, check out the latest post at the Libertarian Futurist Society website (www.lfs.org) on the Prometheus Blog page:

https://www.lfs.org/blog/by-the-numbers-the-many-reasons-to-watch-the-46th-prometheus-awards-ceremony-this-sunday-aug-16-on-zoom-heres-the-link/

18 thoughts on “Honoring Our Own”

  2. Yes, it is Pierce’s first novel, though it went through multiple drafts and critiques before I (the editor) even saw it.

    And No Man’s Land is certainly libertarian, just less overt about it than the other nominees. Which at least some at LFS recognized.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Happening now. BTW finally starting A Kiss for Damocles. I’ve been enjoying this series a bunch and this book is no exception.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Congratulations on the nomination Sarah. I enjoyed No Mans Land. I am looking forward to the sequel.

    My current conundrum is I cannot install the current Kindle Windows app. It will not install.

    The older version installs. I can read any book that is already downloaded, older books that have been downloaded but subsequently removed from the Windows download (my version of Kindle “archive”) because Epubor and Calibre (take that Kindle).

    Why is this important? Because any new book released since the release of the will-not-install Kindle version, will not download with the older Kindle version.

    Have not gone far enough to determine where to send a **complaint to the Kindle app developers (have had other issues to deal with). Did research enough to find Redit thread discussing the problem and what Windows/hardware combo traits prevent the installation. Not like I can change either one (which is a Kindle problem, not mine). If Kindle is eliminating Windows support, that is different (does not make me happy, but that is their right to be idiots). Nook did this. Nook just made the app not easy to find. But new purchased books still download (and I can still purchase through the Nook Windows app).

    That I can read either online through the appropriate sites, both on my laptop or phone, and the phone apps are still supported, is beside the point. I do not want to read books online*. Phone books are fine when impracticable to have the laptop.

    (*) We do not always have access to the internet. Not even via cell.

    (**) Need to try, again. Not that I’ll have the laptop at the hospital. Hubby said he’d bring it, if I want it. I doubt it.

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    1. This might be related to Amazon turning off support for older Kindles. Before May of this year, Amazon said they were dropping support (download, updates, and so on) for any Kindle (Fires for sure, don’t know the others) from 2013 or earlier. Mine still works, but the features available on the newer Kindles are either missing or rather harder to use.

      I liked the old one because it was sturdy. Thicker glass, and it didn’t feel flimsy like the larger new Fires without cases. (Easily corrected.) OTOH, it requires a USB micro cable, and I found that that connector is by far the least reliable one of the USB family. Give me USB-C, please!

      I had Kindle for PC on my Linux box, but never used it. Once Amazon “upgraded” the old Kindle to a) make PC to Kindle communication useless, and b) prevent jailbreaking, my habit of not reading fiction at the desk meant it wasn’t useful. I had to install an older version of the Amazon app; the newer one wouldn’t work with the Vine not-quite-Windows-emulator.

      The old Fire software would let me load my digital pics directly to the Kindle. I have to do that through Amazon’s cloud service, and that’s a hard nope.

      (FWIW, a 10″ Kindle Fire is the most cost effective way my old eyes can read fiction. I have a 6″ one, also, but it’s more for the “I’ll have a few minutes to read, and it’s bigger than a phone.”)

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      1. I really do not want a 3rd device. Had one for years. Samsung 8″ tablet. Not the Nook version. But standard Samsung tablet that ran both Kindle and Nook after downloading. In fact ran the PC versions only to download and pull into Calibre (I am not *borrowing the books, I paid for them; damn it). But when both the laptop and tablet died at the same time, cost of an Surface tablet w/keyboard was less than options replacing both individually, I got the **Surface.

        (*) I know that is not Nook or Kindle take. Tough. I am not spreading the digital copies anywhere beyond their lending methods. Actually, I do not even do that, but I am legally entitled to.

        (**) Really thought I wanted a tablet where I could use or not use the keyboard. Never used the tablet without the keyboard, in three years. Mom has it now. Difference between the tablet and what I have now is 1 TB drive, VS 256 GB. Newer Surface was $500 more, with same specs and smaller screen. New was Christmas gift from hubby and son. Did not need it yet. Mom can use the old one. It will last her longer than it would have lasted me based on her usage. Physically, the tablet is taking more wear and tear. But internal hardware is not working as long or often.

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    1. There’s a bunch. Somebody mentioned a list of the stories in chronological order (in the world), but I didn’t get a link. JKP does have a list of the stories as endnotes in the later novels, I think. I picked up a handful of Raconteur Press Anthologies where he had his stories. Various story aspects make more sense when you’ve read the other stories, though his writing is easy on the brain. (forex, Zeddy has quite a back story, and Shai’s shotgun Has A History.)

      FWIW, the starting story (I think) is the novella An Apple for the Legion.

      @D. Jason Fleming: Could you elaborate on the timeline stories? Like where to find the list?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I don’t have the full timeline, I am most familiar with the novels, having edited them. I’ve only read a few of the novellas and shorts (I’m a bit of a slow reader, at least compared to most around here, and my reading time is at a premium; I play catch-up with shorts as and when I can).

        The novella An Apple for the Legion takes place, I believe, on the very day the Long Night begins. It is available as a standalone.

        Back Alley Angels and Badlands Devils contains two novellas, one predating the main series by a century or two, the other providing immediate backstory to Ravati’s first novel.

        A Kiss for Damocles is Shai’s first novel, and as good an entry point into the world and its history as you could ask for.

        Warlord of Greenline Town is Ravati’s first book, and is just about perfectly parallel in story time to Damocles

        Stormjammer is Shai’s book two, though Ravati is on the cover, and turns up rather spectacularly in it.

        And I have Ravati’s book two, but haven’t gotten to it just yet (another novel needs to be edited first).

        There’s a short about the Watchful Mother that is lovely and heartbreaking, that takes place in the time immediately after the Long Night begins. And at least one other short I know I’ve read, but it’s not coming to mind just now.

        Pierce has at least half a dozen other stories in the world, but I’ve not yet read them. Not out of any disdain or lack of desire, but simply because…

        Well, in April I was ordered, by several people at the Press, to Take A Break. About two weeks into the (kicking and screaming) break, I realized they were right: I was redlining and close to burnout. And apparently I still look exhausted most of the time, even though from the inside I feel loads better, and have been editing again for a few months.

        Anyway, Pierce has a list somewhere with the full timeline. I’ll prevail upon him to make it (the parts that aren’t spoilery, at any rate) a post on his Substack.

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        1. Thanks! I’ve read the stories from what I’ve seen as endnotes, and might have most of the stories. They are absolutely wonderful.

          [Looks at list. Maybe another anthology or two the pick up. Oh frabjous day!]

          Liked by 1 person

  6. I’ve read Storm Dragon (as recommended by you Sarah). And excellent juvie that also appeals to scifi libertarian older (don’t ask how old) adult nerds like me.

    i can’t wait for Freer’s (hopefully) sequel to this one.

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  7. Thank you again for the kind words, ma’am. Being on a slate alongside you and the others is a heck of an honor.

    All of my stories take place in the Tales From the Long Night universe, most of them on Hesperides Colony. Some of these stories contain history…and on occasion, secrets, hidden from Shai and Ravati.

    Here’s a timeline of all the stories published to date, with links to the appropriate novella or novel, assuming I haven’t bumblethumbed my tinying of URLs.

    The stories so far – by J. Kenton Pierce

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