Kim Stanley Robinson insisted that Adam Roberts' Yellow Blue Tibia should have won the prestigious Booker Prize, but now that wrong has been somewhat righted, as Roberts' book is one of four finalists for the best-novel British Science Fiction Awards.
Roberts tells the Guardian he's
"really delighted to be shortlisted ... The list of winners of the novel prize, going back to John Brunner's marvellous Stand on Zanzibar in 1970, doesn't contain a single second-rate book – not one in all that time," said Roberts on learning of his shortlisting. He pronounced himself "surprised" to be among the finalists, "provoked in part by the fact that I've never been shortlisted for this award before". "That only makes me more chuffed to be on the list this year, of course," he said. "It's particularly nice to be in such extraordinary company: any of the other three could win and deserve it."
The other finalists are China Mieville's The City And The City, Ursula K. Le Guin's Lavinia and Stephen Baxter's Ark.
Here's the full list of finalists in other categories, including Adam Tredowski, whose art appears above:
Short
Ian Watson & Roberto Quaglia - The Beloved Time of Their Lives - The Beloved of My Beloved, Newcon Press
Eugie Foster - Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast - Interzone
Ian Whates - The Assistant - The Solaris Book of Science Fiction Volume 3
Ian McDonald - Vishnu at the Cat Circus
Kim Lakin-Smith - Johnnie and Emmie-Lou Get Married - Interzone
Dave Hutchinson - The Push, Newcon PressArt
Adam Tredowski - covers of Interzone issues 220, 224 and 225
Nitzan Klamer - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, cover, art project published online (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kipizki/3753443748/in/set-72157621759215456/)
Stephanie Pui-Min Law- Emerald - http://www.shadowscapes.com/image.php?lineid=23&bid=512
Stephan Martiniere - Cover of Desolation Road by Ian McDonald: http://www.angel.org/will/site/files/ian-mcdonald-desolation-road.jpgNon-Fiction
Nick Lowe - Mutant Popcorn, Interzone
John Clute - Canary Fever, Beccon
Deepa D - I didn't Dream of Dragons -
Farah Mendlesohn and Edward James - A Short History of Fantasy