How about a S&L award at the end of the year?

[Dara]

I'm a fan of the Lemmie. One overall is good too.

[Caitlin]

One overall, out of 12 + official alts. Otherwise the pool is too limited.

[AndrewP]

Shouldn't the Lemmie be awarded to the worst book, not the best?

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

AndrewP wrote: "Shouldn't the Lemmie be awarded to the worst book, not the best?"

Are you calling Lem the dragon the worst dragon?

[Micah]

Tom wrote: "AndrewP wrote: "Shouldn't the Lemmie be awarded to the worst book, not the best?"

Are you calling Lem the dragon the worst dragon?"

How dare you, GOOD SIR!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!! ;)

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

I like the idea of 2 awards and then one chosen as the overall winner.

Occasionally a book we read will fall into both sword and laser categories. Will it be eligible for all 3 awards?

[AndrewP]

Don't blame me, V came up with the designation :)

I was just thinking of what might happen if an author is presented the Lemmie while being unaware of the S&L/Goodreads community. Then, he or she comes to Goodreads and discovers that it's often used as a term of ridicule. Awkward.

[Erik]

So... it's nearly the end of the year, is this S&L award thing going to happen? Will a Lemmie be awarded?

[terpkristin]

Erik wrote: "So... it's nearly the end of the year, is this S&L award thing going to happen? Will a Lemmie be awarded?"

I bet Ancillary Justice takes home all the prizes. ;)

[Art]

someone should set up a poll and get this thing going or it will be too late

[AndrewP]

Just a poll with all the picks for the year should be all that's needed. The 12 books plus the alternative picks if T&V want them included.

I would guess it would be a toss up between 'Name of the Wind', 'The Martian' and 'Night Circus'. Luckily 'Ancillary Justice' was last year so it's not eligible

[Rob]

Einstein intersection for me, though my money for a winner is on the Martian.

[Rob]

Einstein intersection for me, though my money for a winner is on the Martian.

[Rob]

Einstein intersection for me, though my money for a winner is on the Martian.

[Erik]

We've got 11 days before the poll should even really be posted (posting on January 1st hopefully gives everyone a chance to finish THE NIGHT CIRCUS before the vote). Also, this could be a really cool thing to announce on the 200th episode of S&L.

If alt picks are left out, these would be the nominees:

SWORD:
A Wizard of Earthsea
A Dance of Cloaks
Promise of Blood
The Name of the Wind
Alif the Unseen
The Night Circus

LASER:
The Einstein Intersection
Altered Carbon
The Martian
Dawn
Stories of Your Life and Others
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Erik wrote: "We've got 11 days before the poll should even really be posted (posting on January 1st hopefully gives everyone a chance to finish THE NIGHT CIRCUS before the vote). Also, this could be a really co..."

I like this for the 200th episode! Are y'all ok with holding the posting until then? Maybe we should do it the last week of December. Most people will be done by then, no?

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

A couple could be in both categories.

"Alif the Unseen" & "Stories of Your Life and Others" are really Sci-Fi/Fantasy

"Alif the Unseen" is really about technology (with a few fantastical creatures)
and "Stories of your Life and Others" has a lot of fantasy elements. A few of the stories are definitely fantasy.

[Erik]

Tom wrote: "I like this for the 200th episode! Are y'all ok with holding the posting until then? Maybe we should do it the last week of December. Most people will be done by then, no?"

Sounds good. I just wanted to make sure this idea hadn't been forgotten. I had assumed if it happened, it would be you or Veronica who posted the poll so it was all official-like.

[Joanna Chaplin]

Erik wrote: " had assumed if it happened, it would be you or Veronica who posted the poll so it was all official-like. "

Yeah, it should be all official and be announced in a podcast, and have at least a week so that people get a chance to consider and respond. I'm glad that this isn't being forgotten!

[Andrew]

I started a thread on this not realizing this one already existed, sorry guys. I appreciate Veronica's comment, its easy to come up with good ideas and harder to work towards making them happen!

It would be a great idea, and this award should not in any way competition with the Hugos. Whatever we think of puppies, surely we all wish the Hugos well, and hope it will flourish as an award in the future(well anyone worth listening to in the debate should wish that I think).

So the 'Lemmies' might simply be:

1. GR members choice for best S and best L of the year (2 awards)
2. Tom and Veronica's personal choice for best L and S respectively (2 awards)
3. Best newcomer S and best newcomer L (2 awards)

Base it on books published in a calendar year (anywhere in the world) and award it in the following year at a con.

Awards given out, parties enjoyed, everyone goes home happy...

[AndrewP]

How about just putting up a Poll with the 12 SL picks for the year and doing a simple vote like that.