false 3 0 false false Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 18 08:54:12 -0700 2009 Mon May 18 09:39:46 -0700 2009
I was sitting in a bar reading this in brussels and drinking some beer served to me by some guy from quebec. he was a funny mix of surly and nice at the same time and quizzed me on why i liked La Choufe so he could bring me a beer that i would like just as much, but something that is not exported from Belgium. I don't remember what that was, but i guess that's a moot point as i won't have it again until i am in Belgium.

The whole time this ordering and drinking is going on there a pair of lanky belgian dudes at the table across from me who seem to be staring my way. When I'm nearly done with my beer, one comes over and asks what i am reading. Somewhat dodging the question and trying to give the easiest answer i say, "oh it's a collection of science fiction stories" and briefly flash the cover. At this point it becomes apparent he knew what i was reading, but was asking as a way to break into the conversation as he replies, "Oh yes, I was on Wikipedia looking up the nebula awards just this afternoon. I really love science fiction but wanted to research some new authors that I could get into and thought i should read the list of award winners to get some ideas." he then grills me on what my favorite science fiction authors are, which i am wholly unequipped to answer. I tell him he should read Octavia Butler and Stanislaw Lem, the latter of which piques his interest a bit, but the former he seems skeptical of. I try to sell him some more on Butler and maybe, just maybe, got him interested. Then i try to see if there is any good Belgian sci-fi, to which he promptly says no.

Anyways, ss a collection of stories representing the winners and nominees for the most recent round of Nebula Awards, this book is, as one would expect, full of its ups and downs. On the whole the downs are not too far down, but the ups are never that high up. As a sampling though, i feel like i came away with some names of authors who i would feel compelled to read more from. "Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter" by Geoff Ryman was a highlight. the other two that were really strong were the ones by Jennifer Pelland and Nancy Kress. Pelland's being this weird cyborg/captivity sexualized nurse and her patient thing. and then Kress' was a good dystopian future/corporate scheme to make people forever young.

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