Given the complexity and multiple variables in weighing works of speculative fiction for how well they fit the distinctive dual focus of the Prometheus Awards, many LFS members and Prometheus judges have found a set of questions useful to answer as they read different works and consider their eligibility and quality.
These questions also may help LFS members as they read and rank finalists before voting to choose each year’s Prometheus winners.
After outlining a set of basic eligibility questions in the previous Prometheus Blog post, this post will focus on further questions related to overall literary quality.
Perhaps it’s helpful to view both sets of questions as a two-part if/then process of discovery and analysis:
• First, does the novel (or the broader varieties of works of fiction that the Prometheus Hall of Fame recognizes) fit the distinctive focus of the Prometheus Awards on libertarian and anti-authoritarian sf/fantasy? (And if such themes are evident, are they just at the threshold of eligibility, or do they meaningfully surpass such minimum standards?)
• Second, if the work of fiction does meet at least minimal eligibility standards for potential nomination for Best Novel or Best Classic Fiction (our Hall of Fame, does it deserve a formal nomination on its merits?
In short, how strong is the work in literary quality – in terms of writing finesse, readability, clarity, plotting, pacing, plausible world-building, believable characters, and other qualities that might be relevant, such as imagination, ingenuity, suspense, mystery, humor, etc.
PART TWO: QUESTIONS OF LITERARY QUALITY
* Was it hard to get started reading this work?
* Roughly how many chapters or pages into the novel or story did you have to read before finally getting caught up in it and its fictional universe? (Assuming you ultimately did!)
* Did the story, especially in opening chapters, establish its context and provide enough exposition to make everything clear and perhaps even intriguing?
* Did the basic plot and story make sense to you by the end?
* Did you find the central character(s) understandable and believable?
* Did you come to care about any of the characters?
* What do you see as this work’s biggest strength(s)?
* Did this work have major flaws? If so, describe them.
* Was the setting believable? And did you accept it as real, at least for purposes of reading the story?
* If it’s science fiction, does the science and technology portrayed seem plausible and respect known laws of physics, etc? (And if it’s fantasy, are its premises and consequences consistent enough to suspend disbelief?)
* In terms of what you now understand of the author’s goals and foundational assumptions in setting up the story, did it fulfill such expectations?
* Does the story have a satisfying ending?
* Does the ending feel complete (even if, as many novels and acceptable nominees do these days, the author sets up a cliffhanger, or resolves its central conflict/story while leaving an opening for sequels)?
* If the novel is a sequel or part of a series, does it ultimately stand alone as an independent story? (Explain if previous books should be read to make sense of it, or to get the most out of it).
* Regarding sequels or novels within a series, does this book offer enough basic context and exposition, especially in initial chapters, to help newbie readers make sense of it?
* Did aspects or elements of this novel seem derivative, and/or remind you of other novels or authors? If so, was that acceptable, an asset or a major flaw?
* Overall, did this work largely seem fresh in its approach (even if it reworks familiar themes, plots or other aspects of classic sf/fantasy)?
* Was the plot compelling, propelling you along to the end?
* What do you think of the writing level? Did the author seem experienced, competent and skilled – or more like a neophyte?
* Did you notice any distracting typos, missing words or duplicate words? If so, was that bad enough to undermine the novel’s appeal?
* Overall, did you enjoy reading this novel and would you recommend it to others?
Note: Check out the earlier Prometheus Blog post outlining the preliminary set of questions to ask regarding basic eligibility for the Prometheus Awards.
* For further insights about the distinctive focus of the Prometheus Awards, check out previous Prometheus Blog posts on “What Do You Mean ‘Libertarian’? (and why Tolkien’s trilogy deserved its Prometheus)” and “A 40th Anniversary Retrospective: Introducing a Reader’s Guide to the Prometheus Awards Winners.”
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROMETHEUS AWARDS:
* Prometheus winners: For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees – including the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards – visit the enhanced Prometheus Awards page on the LFS website, which now includes convenient links to all published essay-reviews in our Appreciation series explaining why each of more than 100 past winners since 1979 fits the awards’ distinctive dual focus.
* Read “The Libertarian History of Science Fiction,”an essay in the international magazine Quillette that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.
* Watch videos of past Prometheus Awards ceremonies (including the recent 2023 ceremony with inspiring and amusing speeches by Prometheus-winning authors Dave Freer and Sarah Hoyt), Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog’s Video page.
* Check out the Libertarian Futurist Society’s Facebook page for periodic updates and links to Prometheus Blog posts.
* Join us! To help sustain the Prometheus Awards and support a cultural and literary strategy to appreciate and honor freedom-loving fiction, join the Libertarian Futurist Society, a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf/fantasy fans.
