Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Would be better if they had included more of the actual stories, April 21, 2007
This year's collection was OK, but too much of its length was taken up with 9 various articles on the state of SF, why Nebulas are still important, etc., and a long reprint of an old Harlan Ellison short novel from 1968 (the longest piece in the collection). I have every volume of the Nebula Award stories from the first, and I enjoyed them a lot more when they printed all of the nominated short stories plus the winning novella and novelette rather than articles on the future of Canadian SF, trends in publishing, etc. Still worth getting for the few stories Mike Resnick allows us to read, but could be improved.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Award-Winning Sci-Fi & Fantasy, August 14, 2007
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America--and the Nebula Award--have been around for more than four decades. The Nebula is awarded each year to honor the best of the best in a particular year's short stories, novellas, novels, poems, etc. It is the premier award given to authors of science fiction and fantasy. The winners are chosen by the members of the SFFWA and then published in that year's anthology.
In addition to the winners, this year's book includes essays written by some of the top SF&F writers about such subjects as the history and future of science fiction and fantasy, a round table discussion, and an essay on Canadian publishing.
Overall, like any anthology, I found stories I liked and others I didn't. Had I picked this off the shelf and looked at the first or second story, it would immediately have been put back, but then I would have missed the ones further in that I did enjoy. The first one made no sense to me, had multiple points of view, sometimes within the same paragraph, which made it difficult to follow. Whose head was I supposed to be in? Unfortunately, I've found this seems to becoming more and more popular in "modern" writing. Sorry, but I don't like it.
However, the later stories were more to my traditional liking, and I really did enjoy them, as well as the essays. Another feature is a listing at the back of the book that shows the Nebula winners from the 1965 to today, a list I find most helpful as I will search out some of the stories I've missed when I have time. I found the interspersion of fiction and non-fiction a nice blend that adds to the appeal of the collection.
Overall if you are a fan of science fiction and fantasy, then you should definitely pick up a copy of this book. After all, it is the best of the best for the past year. But as with any anthology, understand that there may be stories you like and others you do not. And that's okay. If we all had the same taste, what a boring world this would be.
Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
08/14/2007
4.5-Books on WUAT = 5-Stars on Amazon
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Free SF Reader, May 16, 2009
Some articles included here too along with the fiction, one on self-justification re: Nebulas, and another about the Andre Norton award. Also a short fiction roundtable including Ellen Datlow, Martin H. Greenberg, and Ben Bova, discussing trends.
Plus a list of past winners. Haldeman's novel isn't remotely award worthy, so the excerpt is a waste of space to me. Also an incredibly dull Ellison piece, here, is also a missed opportunity.
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : MAGIC FOR BEGINNERS - Kelly Link
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : I LIVE WITH YOU - Carol Emshwiller
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT - Dale Bailey
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : STILL LIFE WITH BOOBS - Anne Harris
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : IDENTITY THEFT - Robert J. Sawyer
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : MY MOTHER DANCING - Nancy Kress
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : CAMOUFLAGE [EXCERPT] - Joe Haldeman
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : THE FAERY HANDBAG - Kelly Link
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : MEN ARE TROUBLE - James Patrick Kelly
Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 : THE RESURGENCE OF MISS ANKLE-STRAP WEDGIE - Harlan Ellison
Foxy lady Library larceny lives.
3.5 out of 5
Multi personality generosity.
3.5 out of 5
No Triffids, Kraken, Cuckoos or Lichen.
4 out of 5
A well-built werewolf still has to eat Billy.
4.5 out of 5
Ballbuster artificial transfer fossil defense detection.
3.5 out of 5
Only human.
3.5 out of 5
I'm a shapeshifting alien. But I do look good in a bikini.
3 out of 5
Accessory home hunt.
4 out of 5
Dame overload detection devilish.
4 out of 5
Hollywood players.
2 out of 5
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