Shiver me Timbers! The 2024 Nebula Finalists – Part One

Ahoy there me mateys!  The Nebula Finalists for 2024 have been announced. Thanks to Matey Nicole for letting me know. Though I like seeing who wins the Nebulas, I usually concentrate on following the Hugo awards because those were the ones I knew of as a child.  Looking at this year’s list,  I figured a) I would share; b) I would make an effort to read most some of the works in certain categories; and c) I will add some excitement to me year waiting for the winners to be revealed on 06/08/2024.

I am using the list as published on the SWFA website with links to me reviews (click the titles) where applicable.  Under each category I will share me thoughts thus far.  I will do another update as we get closer to the reveal.  I am only going to track the categories of specific interest to me.  They be:

Best Novel

• The Saint of Bright Doors, Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)
• The Water Outlaws, S.L. Huang (Tordotcom; Solaris UK)
• Translation State, Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
• The Terraformers, Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK)
• Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, Wole Talabi (DAW, Gollancz)
• Witch King, Martha Wells (Tordotcom)

Thoughts:  The Leckie was only surprisingly okay and I abandoned the Wells.  The Chandrasekera is on hold at the library (7 weeks to go).  The Huang and Newitz are on the Ports for Plunder list (tbr to ye landlubbers).  I have heard of the Talabi but I am not sure if I would like it.

Hoped for Winner: To Be Determined.  The two I read, I wouldn’t vote for.  I am going to try to read more of the nominees and see what I think.

Best Novella

• The Crane Husband,  Kelly Barnhill (Tordotcom)
• “Linghun“,  Ai Jiang (Dark Matter Ink)
• Thornhedge, T. Kingfisher (Tor; Titan UK)
• Untethered Sky, Fonda Lee (Tordotcom)
• The Mimicking of Known Successes,  Malka Older (Tordotcom)
• Mammoths at the Gates,  Nghi Vo (Tordotcom)

Thoughts: I have read four though somehow I missed reviewing Linghun.  The Barnhill is on the list to read. The Older I have heard of but it is not available at the library in e-book form and I tend to not buy books unless I know I will reread them.

Hoped for Winner: The Kingfisher is an excellent and unexpected retelling of Cinderella.  The Vo is a amazing look at grief and also of friendships changing over time.  Why make me choose between two excellent choices?  Fine. Vo then Kingfisher.  But either can win.

Best Novelette

• “A Short Biography of a Conscious Chair“, Renan Bernardo (Samovar 2/23)
• I Am AI, Ai Jiang (Shortwave)
• “The Year Without Sunshine“, Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny 11-12/23)
• “Imagine: Purple-Haired Girl Shooting Down The Moon“,  Angela Liu (Clarkesworld 6/23)
• “Saturday’s Song“, Wole Talabi (Lightspeed 5/23)
• “Six Versions of My Brother Found Under the Bridge“, Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 9-10/23)

Thoughts:  None.  None of them.  There is work to be done here.  I have linked to the stories online where available.

Hoped for Winner:  To Be Determined

Best Short Story

• “Once Upon a Time at The Oakmont“, P.A. Cornell (Fantasy 10/23)
• “Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200“, R.S.A Garcia (Uncanny 7-8/23)
• “Window Boy“, Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld 8/23)
• “The Sound of Children Screaming“,  Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare 10/23)
• “Better Living Through Algorithms“, Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld 5/23)
• “Bad Doors“, John Wiswell (Uncanny 1-2/23)

Thoughts:  None again.  Dang it.  I will try to track these down and read them all before the big announcement.  I have linked to the stories online where available.

Hoped for Winner:  To Be Determined

The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

• To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)
• The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern, J. Dianne Dotson (Android)
• Liberty’s Daughter, Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood)
• The Ghost Job, Greg Van Eeckhout (Harper)

Thoughts:  I was not enamored with the Blackgoose book which made dragons rather boring.  The library has the Van Eeckhout book so I will try to read that.  Sadly the library does not have the other two but they both sound fun.

Hoped for Winner:  To Be Determined

So there ye have it.  Me Nebula wishes for now.  I will keep y’all posted as I continue readin’ through the nominees.  In the meantime

Always remember:

Q: When do pirates remove the anchor?

A: At the kracken of dawn!

Hardy har har!

x The Captain