{"id":6315,"date":"2023-08-23T19:20:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T00:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/?p=6315"},"modified":"2024-01-03T19:26:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T01:26:07","slug":"see-the-video-of-2023-prometheus-awards-ceremony-speeches-by-sarah-hoyt-dave-freer-heinlein-trust-and-society-reps-and-lfs-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/see-the-video-of-2023-prometheus-awards-ceremony-speeches-by-sarah-hoyt-dave-freer-heinlein-trust-and-society-reps-and-lfs-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"See the video of the 2023 Prometheus Awards ceremony: Speeches by Sarah Hoyt, Dave Freer, Heinlein Trust and Society leaders and LFS judges"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s the value of liberty?<\/p>\n<p>How does culture and politics affect science fiction?<\/p>\n<p>Why do the Prometheus Awards matter &#8211; perhaps more today than ever?<\/p>\n<p>All those intriguing questions were explored by a variety of authors, leaders and sf fans in the recent 43rd annual Prometheus Awards ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>Airing live Aug. 19, 2023, to an international audience, the hourlong ceremony honored Dave Freer, winner of the 2023 Prometheus Award for Best Novel for <em>Cloud-Castles<\/em>, and the late great Robert Heinlein, whose 1966 story &#8220;Free Men&#8221; was inducted into the Prometheus Hall of Fame for Best Classic Fiction.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the video of the 43rd Prometheus Awards ceremony:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2023 Prometheus Award Ceremony\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZzljTjWO2Gk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The video has now been posted on YouTube and on the LFS website&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/videos\/\">Video page.<\/a> Check it out!<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few excerpts from the award winners&#8217; and award presenters&#8217; speeches to whet your appetite, and make clear why the 2023 Prometheus Awards ceremony is worth a look and a listen:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1858\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1858\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1858\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/prometheus-awards-40th-anniversary-panel-set-with-f-paul-wilson-lfs-leaders-for-virtual-reality-new-zealand-worldcon-sarah-hoyt-and-wilson-to-lead-lfs-panel-and-awards-ceremony-at-north-american-s\/sarah-hoyt-n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?fit=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"160,160\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Sarah Hoyt\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Sarah Hoyt (File photo)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?fit=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?fit=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1858\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?resize=160%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?w=160&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sarah-Hoyt-n.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1858\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Writer Sarah Hoyt. Creative Commons license)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Past Prometheus winner Sarah Hoyt <em>(Darkship Thieves)<\/em> presented the Best Novel award to Freer, her friend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t express how strange it is to be presenting the same award that marked the most important moment of my career to one of my best writing buddies, one who has walked with me through all the hard points, and celebrated with me at all the high points,\u201d Hoyt said.<\/p>\n<p>In his acceptance speech, Freer discussed his winning novel and what inspired it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Because I am a new Australian and intensely interested and proud of the heritage of the country that offered me a home, a refuge, I used something which is very much part of the history of Australia for my book: the settlement by convict transports,&#8221; Freer said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cloud-Castles-8_.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5471\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/lfs-members-make-15-nominations-for-the-next-prometheus-award-for-best-novel\/cloud-castles-8_\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cloud-Castles-8_.jpg?fit=145%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"145,218\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Cloud Castles 8_\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cloud-Castles-8_.jpg?fit=145%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cloud-Castles-8_.jpg?fit=145%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5471 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cloud-Castles-8_.jpg?resize=145%2C218&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"145\" height=\"218\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My human colonists in this story are themselves imports from an Australia of the future \u2013 crash landed onto a tiny landing point on a world with no habitable land \u2013 onto an alien relic \u2013 a few square miles of anti-gravity plate, once the meeting place and trading station of two inimical alien empires.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You see: <em>Cloud-Castle<\/em>s was set on this gas dwarf world, in the habitable zone of the upper atmosphere, not just because it was a fascinating biome but because it offered the ultimate libertarian environment: one in which bondage was very difficult once you got out among the floating vegetation of \u2018the outback\u2019.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>HEINLEIN&#8217;S LEGACY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Art Dula, primary trustee of the Heinlein Trust, and Heinlein Society president John Tilden discussed Heinlein&#8217;s life and legacy in accepting the Hall of Fame award.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6227\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6227\" style=\"width: 237px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6227\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/heres-the-zoom-link-to-the-43rd-prometheus-awards-ceremony-aug-19-with-past-winner-sarah-hoyt-to-present-best-novel-to-dave-freer-and-heinlein-society-trust-leaders-celebrating-heinleins\/art-dula_1350\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?fit=1092%2C1380&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1092,1380\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPad mini&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1373628433&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.04&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Art Dula_1350\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Art Dula, president of the Heinlein Trust Photo courtesy of Dula&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?fit=237%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?fit=660%2C834&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6227\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?resize=237%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?resize=237%2C300&amp;ssl=1 237w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?resize=810%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 810w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?resize=768%2C971&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Art-Dula_1350.jpg?w=1092&amp;ssl=1 1092w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6227\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Art Dula, president of the Heinlein Trust Photo courtesy of Dula<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Fascinatingly, Dula also commented on and read excerpts from a lengthy autobiographical 1947 letter by Heinlein &#8211; long buried in the Trust&#8217;s voluminous archives &#8211; that offers revelations about Heinlein&#8217;s career and vision of the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable early document in Heinlein\u2019s life,\u201d Dula said, observing that the letter was written after Heinlein had published several stories but had not yet published his first novel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe typed the title of that novel in the letter, then overstruck it and inserted <i>Rocket Ship Galileo.\u00a0<\/i>Read the letter to find out what his original title was,\u201d Dula said.<\/p>\n<div><strong>A SERIOUS, INSPIRING CEREMONY &#8211; BUT WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>While the speeches were mostly serious, offering insights about culture, history, literature and liberty, there also were welcome moments of humor.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6241\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6241\" style=\"width: 226px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6241\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/a-rebel-i-became-dave-freers-2023-best-novel-acceptance-speech-for-cloud-castles\/dave-freer-with-awards-plaque\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2550&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1920,2550\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.85&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Pixel 6 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1691954504&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6.81&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;480&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.04&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dave Freer with awards plaque\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Freer&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dave Freer with his 2023 Prometheus Awards Best Novel plaque for Cloud-Castles (Photo courtesy of Freer)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?fit=226%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?fit=660%2C877&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6241\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=226%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=226%2C300&amp;ssl=1 226w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=771%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=768%2C1020&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=1157%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1157w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?resize=1542%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1542w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Dave-Freer-with-awards-plaque.jpeg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dave Freer with his 2023 Prometheus Awards Best Novel plaque for Cloud-Castles (Photo courtesy of Freer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For instance, both Hoyt (a Portuguese-American) and Freer (an Australian who lives in Tasmania) kicked off their speeches with some humorous self-deprecation and competitive rivalry about their distinctive respective accents.<\/p>\n<p>Both Prometheus winners went on to eloquently and passionately discuss their careers as science fiction\/fantasy writers, \u00a0and explain what liberty and the Prometheus Awards mean to them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Prometheus award is so named for the Greek Titan who stole the fire from the gods and gave it to the humans. The poor sod paid for it too, by having his liver eternally eaten by an eagle,\u201d Hoyt said. \u201cThis is an interesting choice and as good a representation of freedom as I\u2019ve ever heard of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both Freer and Hoyt discussed and described\u00a0<em>Cloud-Castles<\/em> in some depth and detail, enriching our understanding and appreciation for Freer&#8217;s satirical yet serious and suspenseful coming-of-age sf-adventure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHY LIBERTY AND THE PROMETHEUS AWARDS MATTER MORE TODAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3418\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3418\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3418\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/2021-awards-ceremony\/bill-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?fit=240%2C320&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"240,320\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Bill -2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;William H. Stoddard (Photo courtesy of Stoddard)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?fit=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?fit=240%2C320&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3418\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Bill-2.jpg?w=240&amp;ssl=1 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3418\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">William H. Stoddard (Photo courtesy of Stoddard)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>LFS President William H. Stoddard, who emceed the ceremony, discussed the cycles of American history &#8211; including the darker eras of authoritarian regress &#8211; and the recent passing of many leading libertarian sf writers.<\/p>\n<p>But his sobering speech also offered perspective and hope about the value of the Libertarian Futurist Society sustaining the Prometheus Awards for more than four decades.<\/p>\n<p>Stoddard returned, later in the ceremony, as chair of the Prometheus Hall of Fame finalist-judging committee, to present the Best Classic Fiction category.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen the Prometheus Awards began, the cultural climate was one of increased support for liberty: for free minds, free markets, and the subordination of government to law. But the United States sees recurrent outbreaks of unrestrained governmental power, such as the bipartisan Progressivism of the early twentieth century, which gave us press censorship, the prohibition of alcohol and other drugs, and forced sterilizations, or the New Deal, which created the administrative state,\u201d Stoddard said.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThis new century faces another such outbreak, when liberty is once again threatened. But we are also seeing increasing resistance to that threat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&#8220;And this is a time when the<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/awards.shtml\">Prometheus\u00a0<\/a>Award is more urgently needed. The LFS\u00a0is founded on the idea that culture comes before politics; that we need visions of liberty, and authors who can provide them. In giving recognition to such authors, the Prometheus Award supports the continued survival of<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/freedom-in-the-future-tense-a-political-history-of-sf\/\">libertarian science fiction<\/a>, and, we may hope, of liberty itself.&#8221;<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nTHE NATURE OF THE STATE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>LFS co-founder Michael Grossberg, who chairs the Prometheus Best Novel finalist-judging committee, offered a historical overview of both the Best Novel category and explained why this award matters.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1863\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1863\" style=\"width: 179px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1863\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/prometheus-awards-40th-anniversary-panel-set-with-f-paul-wilson-lfs-leaders-for-virtual-reality-new-zealand-worldcon-sarah-hoyt-and-wilson-to-lead-lfs-panel-and-awards-ceremony-at-north-american-s\/michael-grossberg-2020\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?fit=503%2C843&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"503,843\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1582319304&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Michael Grossberg 2020\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Michael Grossberg (File photo)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?fit=179%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?fit=503%2C843&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1863\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?resize=179%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?resize=179%2C300&amp;ssl=1 179w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Michael-Grossberg-2020.jpeg?w=503&amp;ssl=1 503w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 179px) 100vw, 179px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1863\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Grossberg (File photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;When LFS members search for eligible works to nominate for our Awards, we don\u2019t just seek well-written works of imaginative fiction that dramatize positive libertarian themes about the ethical and practical benefits of freedom in promoting peace, prosperity, progress, innovation and greater cooperation,&#8221; Grossberg said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We also seek sf and fantasy exploring anti-authoritarian and dystopian themes, especially underscoring the great evils of tyranny, slavery, war and genocide \u2013 the worst dangers and predictable excesses of unlimited government,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The historian Max Weber, widely hailed as the father of sociology, first clearly defined the nature of government roughly a century ago. The State is an especially dangerous institution, ripe for abuse of power, because as Weber explained, it\u2019s the only human institution that successfully claims a legitimized monopoly over violence and the use of force within a defined geographical area.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This year\u2019s slate of Best Novel finalists represent a wide range of fiction by authors who understand the <em>great harm<\/em> that the institutionalized coercion of the State can do \u2013 as well as the <em>great potential<\/em> for free men and women to address and resolve the very real challenges of living on this planet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blog-Images-Round_100x100.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5874\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/remembering-rush-and-paying-tribute-to-libertarian-lyricist-neal-pearts-democratic-individualism\/blog-images-round_100x100\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blog-Images-Round_100x100.png?fit=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"100,100\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Blog-Images-Round_100x100\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;logo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blog-Images-Round_100x100.png?fit=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blog-Images-Round_100x100.png?fit=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5874 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blog-Images-Round_100x100.png?resize=100%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE:<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><u><br \/>\n<\/u><\/strong><strong>* Prometheus winners:\u00a0<\/strong>For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees \u2013 for the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards \u2013 visit the enhanced\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.lfs.org\/awards.shtml\"><strong>Prometheus Awards page\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>on the LFS website, which now includes convenient links to the full set of published appreciation-reviews of past winners.<\/p>\n<p>* Read\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/quillette.com\/2020\/06\/12\/the-libertarian-history-of-science-fiction\/\"><strong>\u201cThe Libertarian History of Science Fiction,\u201d<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0an essay in the international magazine\u00a0<em>Quillette<\/em>\u00a0that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf\/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0<strong>Watch\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>videos <\/strong>of past Prometheus Awards ceremonies, Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/lfs.org\/blog\/videos\/\"><strong>Video page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0<strong>Join us<\/strong>! To help sustain the Prometheus Awards,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.lfs.org\/join.shtml\"><strong>join\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>the Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS), a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf\/fantasy fans.<\/p>\n<p>Libertarian futurists believe that culture matters! We understand that the arts and literature can be vital, and in some ways even more powerful than politics in the long run, by sparking innovation, better ideas, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other\u2019s rights, individuality and human dignity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s the value of liberty? How does culture and politics affect science fiction? Why do the Prometheus Awards matter &#8211; perhaps more today than ever? All those intriguing questions were explored by a variety of authors, leaders and sf fans in the recent 43rd annual Prometheus Awards ceremony. Airing live Aug. 19, 2023, to an &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/see-the-video-of-2023-prometheus-awards-ceremony-speeches-by-sarah-hoyt-dave-freer-heinlein-trust-and-society-reps-and-lfs-leaders\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">See the video of the 2023 Prometheus Awards ceremony: Speeches by Sarah Hoyt, Dave Freer, Heinlein Trust and Society leaders and LFS judges<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[32,687,2080,31,1860,2206,40],"tags":[2094,2056,1841,1659,2079,2058,613,46,18,620],"class_list":["post-6315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-author-updates","category-award-acceptance-speech","category-award-presenter-speech","category-awards-news","category-robert-heinlein","category-sarah-hoyt","category-videos","tag-2023-ceremony","tag-art-dula","tag-dave-freer","tag-heinlein-society","tag-heinlein-trust","tag-john-tilden","tag-michael-grossberg","tag-prometheus-awards","tag-sarah-hoyt","tag-william-h-stoddard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe8nGl-1DR","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6315"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6370,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6315\/revisions\/6370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}