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Nebula Awards Showcases #35
Nebula Awards Showcase 2001
A collection of the best of the fiction and poetry that earned Nebula Awards for 2000, bestowed by the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, includes award-winning texts by Ted Chiang, Leslie What, Octavia Butler, and Mary A. Turzillo, as well as stories by Michael Swanwick, Brian W. Aldiss, and other notables.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Robert Silverberg
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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 23, 2018
This is what it’s name implies, a showcase of Nebula award winners mainly from 1999. And I did enjoy it. It is modest in size, a mercy, and has six pieces of fiction, a couple of poems (mostly skipped) and some short articles about the Nebula awards.
Story of your life is a Nebula winner for best novella by Ted Chiang. It has interesting time line perceptions combined with linguistics as a researcher tries to communicate with aliens. I loved it. Time plus linguistics. Bliss!
Mars is no place for Children by Mary A Turzillo is an exciting adventure story about a medically vulnerable child on Mars and it is heartwarming in the best possible way I enjoyed this too.
The Cost of doing Business by Leslie What is dark and sad and unsettling as is The Wedding Album by David Marusch. I didn’t enjoy them.
Judas Danced by Brian W Aldiss. Yuk.
Radiant Doors by Michael Swanwick is fascinating and I read it twice so I could savour all the delicious details. I don’t know why he included some violent sex scenes.
The Epilogue from The Parable of the Talents by Octavia E Butler is included as a sample from the best novel 1999. Even though it is part of a book from part of a series I enjoyed it.
Story of your life is a Nebula winner for best novella by Ted Chiang. It has interesting time line perceptions combined with linguistics as a researcher tries to communicate with aliens. I loved it. Time plus linguistics. Bliss!
Mars is no place for Children by Mary A Turzillo is an exciting adventure story about a medically vulnerable child on Mars and it is heartwarming in the best possible way I enjoyed this too.
The Cost of doing Business by Leslie What is dark and sad and unsettling as is The Wedding Album by David Marusch. I didn’t enjoy them.
Judas Danced by Brian W Aldiss. Yuk.
Radiant Doors by Michael Swanwick is fascinating and I read it twice so I could savour all the delicious details. I don’t know why he included some violent sex scenes.
The Epilogue from The Parable of the Talents by Octavia E Butler is included as a sample from the best novel 1999. Even though it is part of a book from part of a series I enjoyed it.
July 6, 2007
This was a fun and quick read. Some stories are better than others, but over all it was great.
October 10, 2008
The standout story is "Radiant Doors" by Michael Swanwick.
January 29, 2017
collection of nebula-award stuff
December 21, 2021
NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2001
RATED 75% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE = 3.83 OUT OF 5
6 STORIES : 2 GREAT / 2 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
I’m not sure I understand the decision-making behind this the way this anthology is structured. In the 2015 Nebula showcase that I just read, all the novelettes and short short finalist were included. That made for a nicely diversified bit of reading. In Nebula Awards Showcase 2001, it is only the winners that were included. Plus very good runners up in the novella and short story categories. I understand that many of the winners were quite long, but it really reduces the enjoyment of the book for me.
There is more here than just stories. The epilogue of the Nebula-Winning novel “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler is include. Gary K Wolfe gives us a solid overview of the year in Science Fiction. There is a tribute to - and essay by - Daniel Keyes of “Flowers for Algernon.” Some award-winning poetry rounds out the book.
The Nebula Awards are given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). This anthology, while called Showcase 2001, includes stories originally published in 1998 and 1999. Something in the way the Nebula rules are written leads to this being common.
There are two Great Novellas in this book:
Story of Your Life • (1998) • novella by Ted Chiang.
One of the most brilliant science fiction stories ever written. The story of alien first contact is told with a strong focus on very smart scientific thoughtfulness. The story of a mother and her relationship with her daughter is deeply human and nuanced in the way of the best Fiction.
The Wedding Album • (1999) • novella by David Marusek.
A sprawling story of sentient holograms that are created as a memento for a married couple. They experience the destruction of the couple they represent, the liberation of beings like themselves, and so much more. Very inventive, but filled with emotion. You can buy the novella here.
***
NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2001 IS RATED 75% POSITIVE
6 STORIES : 2 GREAT / 2 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
Story of Your Life • (1998) • novella by Ted Chiang
Great. One of the most brilliant science fiction stories ever written. The story of alien first contact is told with a strong focus on very smart scientific thoughtfulness. The story of a mother and her relationship with her daughter is deeply human and nuanced in the way of the best Fiction.
Mars Is No Place for Children • (1999) • novelette by Mary A. Turzillo
Good. A young girl with leukemia rebels against her parents who are going to send her back to earth for treatment, leading to a perilous adventure.
The Cost of Doing Business • (1999) • short story by Leslie What
Average. In the future, you can hire people to take physical and sexual assaults for you.
The Wedding Album • (1999) • novella by David Marusek
Great. A sprawling story of sentient holograms that are created as a memento for a married couple. They experience the destruction of the couple they represent, the liberation of beings like themselves, and so much more. Very inventive.
Radiant Doors • (1998) • short story by Michael Swanwick
Good. In this horrific story, a tortured refugee from the future brings with her a piece of technology that can control people.
Judas Danced • (1958) • short story by Brian W. Aldiss
Poor. In a world where people watch the past for entertainment, a Jesus-figure is brought back from the dead, but can’t dance because of his clubfoot.
RATED 75% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE = 3.83 OUT OF 5
6 STORIES : 2 GREAT / 2 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
I’m not sure I understand the decision-making behind this the way this anthology is structured. In the 2015 Nebula showcase that I just read, all the novelettes and short short finalist were included. That made for a nicely diversified bit of reading. In Nebula Awards Showcase 2001, it is only the winners that were included. Plus very good runners up in the novella and short story categories. I understand that many of the winners were quite long, but it really reduces the enjoyment of the book for me.
There is more here than just stories. The epilogue of the Nebula-Winning novel “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler is include. Gary K Wolfe gives us a solid overview of the year in Science Fiction. There is a tribute to - and essay by - Daniel Keyes of “Flowers for Algernon.” Some award-winning poetry rounds out the book.
The Nebula Awards are given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). This anthology, while called Showcase 2001, includes stories originally published in 1998 and 1999. Something in the way the Nebula rules are written leads to this being common.
There are two Great Novellas in this book:
Story of Your Life • (1998) • novella by Ted Chiang.
One of the most brilliant science fiction stories ever written. The story of alien first contact is told with a strong focus on very smart scientific thoughtfulness. The story of a mother and her relationship with her daughter is deeply human and nuanced in the way of the best Fiction.
The Wedding Album • (1999) • novella by David Marusek.
A sprawling story of sentient holograms that are created as a memento for a married couple. They experience the destruction of the couple they represent, the liberation of beings like themselves, and so much more. Very inventive, but filled with emotion. You can buy the novella here.
***
NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2001 IS RATED 75% POSITIVE
6 STORIES : 2 GREAT / 2 GOOD / 1 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
Story of Your Life • (1998) • novella by Ted Chiang
Great. One of the most brilliant science fiction stories ever written. The story of alien first contact is told with a strong focus on very smart scientific thoughtfulness. The story of a mother and her relationship with her daughter is deeply human and nuanced in the way of the best Fiction.
Mars Is No Place for Children • (1999) • novelette by Mary A. Turzillo
Good. A young girl with leukemia rebels against her parents who are going to send her back to earth for treatment, leading to a perilous adventure.
The Cost of Doing Business • (1999) • short story by Leslie What
Average. In the future, you can hire people to take physical and sexual assaults for you.
The Wedding Album • (1999) • novella by David Marusek
Great. A sprawling story of sentient holograms that are created as a memento for a married couple. They experience the destruction of the couple they represent, the liberation of beings like themselves, and so much more. Very inventive.
Radiant Doors • (1998) • short story by Michael Swanwick
Good. In this horrific story, a tortured refugee from the future brings with her a piece of technology that can control people.
Judas Danced • (1958) • short story by Brian W. Aldiss
Poor. In a world where people watch the past for entertainment, a Jesus-figure is brought back from the dead, but can’t dance because of his clubfoot.
March 31, 2025
Among a few other things, I think a story needs 2 things: a good actual story and good writing (what people fancier than me would call "prose").
I'm quite a bit less critical when it comes to prose. I'm not into Shakespeare or poetry, so as long as it's not buttered with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, I'm easy to please in that category.
But I need a good story. I need to read something that doesn't make me think "WTF was the point of that?".
That's where I struggle with this book of short stories. The prose is great (I think?) but the stories, I find just left me kinda bored. Small ideas wrapped in beautiful wordy wrapping paper.
Not for me, this one.
I'm quite a bit less critical when it comes to prose. I'm not into Shakespeare or poetry, so as long as it's not buttered with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, I'm easy to please in that category.
But I need a good story. I need to read something that doesn't make me think "WTF was the point of that?".
That's where I struggle with this book of short stories. The prose is great (I think?) but the stories, I find just left me kinda bored. Small ideas wrapped in beautiful wordy wrapping paper.
Not for me, this one.
June 23, 2019
Some of these were good, others I didn't care for.
June 19, 2021
Hit and miss. The Bones of the Earth, by Ursula K. Le Guin, gets this a bonus star from me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews