Earth and other unlikely worlds: What Is The Clarke Award For?

Paul McAuley writes:

It seems quite simple. It is, according to its simple self-description, an award for ‘the best science fiction novel published in Britain in the given year’. A measure and celebration of achievement in science-fiction writing that isn’t limited to novels published within the science-fiction genre. But what is meant by ‘best’? and what is meant by ‘science fiction’?

Source: Earth and other unlikely worlds: What Is The Clarke Award For?