Honoring Our Own

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/