jimb@ISM780B.UUCP (09/16/85)
For those that may not have heard, here are the major 1985 Hugo Winners. Best Novel: NEUROMANCER, by William Gibson Best Novella: PRESS ENTER*, by John Varley Best Novellette: BLOODCHILD, by Octavia Butler (6/84, Asimov's) Best Short Story: THE CRYSTAL SPHERES, by David Brin (1/84, Analog) Best Dramatization: 2010 (the movie) John W. Campbell Award (for best new writer. technically not a Hugo): Lucius Shepard Personal Commentary: I highly recommend the following nominees that didn't win: Novels: THE PEACE WAR, by Vernor Vinge (previously reviewed on this net) EMERGENCE, by David Palmer (a first novel, based on two novellas, first & second sales, in Analog. Good, despite (?) ending.) Novella: SUMMER SOLSTICE, by Charles Harness. (I thought this was (6/84, Analog) better than PRESS ENTER, which is a very fine work.) Novelette: BLUED MOON, by Connie Willis (very funny) (1/84, Asimov's) Short Stories: THE ALIENS WHO KNEW, I MEAN, *EVERYTHING* by George Alec Effinger (3/84, F&SF) (also funny) SYMPHONY FOR A LOST TRAVELER, by Lee Killough (3/84, Analog) (Excellent. I thought it should have won.) It's interesting that this year's big-name novels JOB: A COMEDY OF JUSTICE (Heinlein) and THE INTEGRAL TREES (Niven) did not win, the same fate as. last year's big-name novels. My preliminary info. says PEACE WAR came in second. It's encouraging to see that while name recognition and attendant high sales may get a work on the ballot, more discerning judgment is used by the voters for the final selection. As per my earlier comments about Asimov, I'll cast down the gauntlet again and say that I don't think INTEGRAL TREES is anywhere near Niven's previous quality and while JOB is an improvement over other recent Heinlein, that's not saying a hell of a lot.