{"id":7316,"date":"2024-04-19T00:02:36","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T05:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/?p=7316"},"modified":"2024-04-20T17:36:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T22:36:45","slug":"2024-best-novel-finalists-recognize-both-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-two-writers-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/2024-best-novel-finalists-recognize-both-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-two-writers-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Best Novel finalists include both science fiction and fantasy \u2013 and honor two writers for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Grossberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Two writers have been recognized for the first time within the Prometheus Awards\u2019 45-year history as Best Novel finalists. Three other Best Novel finalist authors have been recognized more than once before in that annual category – and one is a previous Prometheus winner.<\/p>\n

Moreover, in a relatively rare occurrence for the Prometheus Awards, not all Best Novel finalists this year fall within the genre of science fiction; one happens to fit the fantasy genre.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Devon Eriksen, Karl K. Gallagher, Gordon Hanka, Howard Andrew Jones and Daniel Suarez have each written a 2023 novel that\u2019s been selected by Prometheus judges as a 2024 Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Libertarian Futurist Society, a nonprofit all-volunteer international organization of freedom-loving science-fiction\/fantasy fans, announced the five finalists Wednesday (April 17) as part of the 44th annual Prometheus Awards.<\/p>\n

Here are the finalists in brief, in alphabetical order by author:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Writer Devon Eriksen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2022 Theft of Fire<\/em><\/strong>, \u00a0by Devon Eriksen (Devon Eriksen LLC)<\/p>\n

This is Eriksen\u2019s first Prometheus nomination \u2013 and, even more impressively, \u00a0his first novel in a projected series.<\/p>\n

Check out the recent Prometheus Blog review<\/a> of Theft of Fire.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Karl K. Gallagher (2024 photo courtesy of Gallagher)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2022 Swim <\/em><\/strong>Among the People<\/em><\/strong>, \u00a0by Karl. K. Gallagher (Kelt Haven Press)<\/p>\n

Gallagher is a frequent Best Novel nominee and finalist.<\/p>\n

Swim Among the People\u00a0<\/em>is his seventh Best Novel nominee in the past seven years.<\/p>\n

Gallagher\u2019s first Prometheus nomination came in 2018 for the three novels in his interstellar Torchship trilogy\u00a0(Torchship, Torchship Pilot\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Torchship Captain),<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>which were combined by LFS judges into one nomination (since together, they tell one complete story) and became a 2018 Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n

Gallagher has been nominated repeatedly for his ambitious multi-volume Fall of the Censor series, an interstellar saga set in the distant future. Storm Between the Stars (Book One) became a 2021 Best Novel finalist; B<\/em>etween Home and Ruin\u00a0<\/em>(Book 2) and Seize What\u2019s Held Dea<\/em>r (Book 3) were 2022 Best Novel finalists; and Captain Trader Helmsman Spy\u00a0<\/em>(Book 4) was a 2023 Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n

Check out the combined\u00a0Prometheus Blog review<\/a>\u00a0of Gallagher’s two 2022 Best Novel finalists Between Home and Ruin<\/em> and Seize What’s Held Dear.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Writer Gordon Hanka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* God\u2019s Girlfriend,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>by Dr. Insensitive Jerk (AKA Gordon Hanka) (Amazon)<\/p>\n

Hanka, a retired economics professor, previously was nominated twice in the Best Novel category. His first nomination came in 2022 for Sainthood in Sixty Seconds,\u00a0<\/em>and his second was in 2023 for A Beast Cannot Feign,\u00a0<\/em>a Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n

Both novels are part of Hanka\u2019s five-volume Gaia\u2019s Wasp series, which culminates with God\u2019s Girlfriend.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Writer Howard Andrew Jones (Photo courtesy of Baen Books)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2022 Lord of a Shattered Land<\/em><\/strong>, by Howard Andrew Jones (Baen Books)<\/p>\n

This is the first Prometheus nomination for Jones, a widely acclaimed fantasy novelist.<\/p>\n

Although all types of speculative fiction (including science fiction and fantasy) have always been eligible for Prometheus Awards recognition, this is one of the very few fantasy novels to become a Best Novel finalist in the history of our awards.<\/p>\n

In addition, a somewhat cursory half-hour examination of all past Best Novel nominees \u2014\u00a0listed on the LFS website’s Past Prometheus Best Novel nominees page<\/a>\u00a0(also directly accessible from the main Prometheus Awards page) \u2014\u00a0suggests that Jones\u2019 novel may well be the first sword-and-sorcery-style fantasy to become a Prometheus finalist.<\/p>\n

Check out the recent Prometheus Blog review<\/a> of Lord of a Shattered Land.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Prometheus-winning author Daniel Suarez (Creative Commons license)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2022 Critical Mass,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Daniel Suarez (Dutton).<\/p>\n

Suarez won the\u00a0 2015 Prometheus Award for Best Novel for Influx.<\/em>\u00a0(Check out the Prometheus Appreciation essay-review<\/a> of Suarez\u2019s sci-fi-laced techno-thriller.)<\/p>\n

Critical Mass\u00a0<\/em>is the fifth Best Novel nomination Suarez has received.<\/p>\n

Check out the recent Prometheus Blog review<\/a> of Critical Mass.<\/em><\/p>\n

His first nomination was for Kill Decision,\u00a0<\/em>a 2013 Prometheus Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n

Suarez also has been nominated for Best Novel for\u00a0Change Agent\u00a0<\/em>(in 2018) and for\u00a0Delta-V\u00a0<\/em>(in 2020), which launched the Delta-V series that includes Critical Mass\u00a0<\/em>as a direct sequel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For more about the 2024 Best Novel finalists, read the official LFS news release,<\/a> which contains descriptions of each novel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Gold coins historically have emerged as one form of stable money<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

WHAT DOES THE WINNER GET?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Best Novel winner will receive an engraved plaque with a one-ounce gold coin, currently valued at roughly $2,400.<\/p>\n

The Libertarian Futurist Society’s annual online Prometheus awards ceremony, open to the public and streaming via Zoom, is tentatively planned for mid-August on a weekend-afternoon date to be announced in July, once the winners are known for both annual categories, including the Prometheus Hall of Fame for Best Classic Fiction.<\/p>\n

OTHER 2023 BEST NOVEL NOMINEES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seventeen 2023 novels were nominated by LFS members for this year’s award \u2013 a near-record, the highest number in this century and the most since the first few years of the award in the early 1980s.<\/p>\n

Also nominated:\u00a0Futureproof<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0by Stephen Albrecht (Hybrid Global Publishing); Queen Wallis,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by C.J. Carey (Sourcebooks Landmark);\u00a0 The Long View<\/em>,<\/strong>\u00a0by Mackey Chandler (Amazon); Liberty\u2019s Daughter<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood Press); Prophet Song,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Paul Lynch (Atlantic Monthly Press); Julia,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Sandra Newman (Harper Collins\u2019 Mariner Books); House of Gold<\/em><\/strong>, \u00a0by C.T. Rwizi (47North); \u00a0Victory City,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Salman Rushdie (Random House); Trail of Travail,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by R.H. Snow (Rosa de Oro); Black Hats,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Steve Wire (Plaintext Publishing); Hacking Galileo<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0by Fenton Wood (Amazon); and Misplaced Threats<\/em><\/strong>, by Alan Zimm (BookMarketeers.)<\/p>\n

WHAT MAKES THE PROMETHEUS AWARD DISTINCTIVE?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Prometheus Award, sponsored by the Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS), was established and first presented in 1979, making it one of the most enduring awards after the Nebula and Hugo awards, and one of the oldest fan-based awards currently given in sf. The Prometheus Hall of Fame category for Best Classic Fiction, launched in 1983, is presented annually with the Best Novel category.<\/p>\n

For more than four decades, the Prometheus Awards have recognized outstanding works of science fiction and fantasy that dramatize the perennial conflict between Liberty and Power, favor voluntary cooperation over institutionalized coercion, expose the abuses and excesses of coercive government, and\/or critique or satirize authoritarian systems, ideologies and assumptions.<\/p>\n

Above all, the Prometheus Awards strive to recognize speculative fiction that champions individual rights \u2014\u00a0based on the moral\/legal principle of non-aggression \u2014 as the ethical and practical foundation for peace, prosperity, progress, justice, tolerance, mutual respect, civility and civilization itself.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Three Best Novel finalists have recently been reviewed here:\u00a0Critical Mass<\/a>, Theft of Fire<\/a><\/em> and Lord of a Shattered Land.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Stay tuned to the Prometheus Blog for upcoming reviews of the other Best Novel finalists:\u00a0Swim among the People<\/em> and God’s Girlfriend.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROMETHEUS AWARDS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

* Prometheus winners:\u00a0<\/strong>For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees \u2013 including the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards \u2013 visit the enhanced\u00a0Prometheus Awards page<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>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\u2019 distinctive dual focus.<\/p>\n

* Read \u201cThe Libertarian History of Science Fiction,\u201d<\/strong><\/a>an essay in the international magazine\u00a0Quillette<\/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

*\u00a0Watch <\/strong>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\u2019s\u00a0Video page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

* Check out the Libertarian Futurist Society\u2019s Facebook page<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0for comments, updates and links to Prometheus Blog posts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

*\u00a0Join us! <\/em><\/strong>To help sustain the Prometheus Awards and support a cultural and literary strategy to appreciate and honor freedom-loving fiction, \u00a0join<\/a>the Libertarian Futurist Society, a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf\/fantasy fans.<\/p>\n

Libertarian futurists believe that culture matters! We understand that the arts and literature can be vital in envisioning a freer and better future – and in some ways can be even more powerful than politics in the long run, by better visions of the future, innovation, peace, prosperity, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other\u2019s rights, individuality and human dignity.<\/p>\n

Through recognizing the literature of liberty and the many different but complementary visions of a free future via the Prometheus Awards, the LFS hopes to help spread better visions of the future that help humanity overcome tyranny, end slavery, reduce the threat of war, repeal or constrain other abuses of coercive power and achieve universal liberty, respect for human rights and a better world (perhaps ultimately, worlds) for all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Michael Grossberg Two writers have been recognized for the first time within the Prometheus Awards\u2019 45-year history as Best Novel finalists. Three other Best Novel finalist authors have been recognized more than once before in that annual category – and one is a previous Prometheus winner. Moreover, in a relatively rare occurrence for the … Continue reading 2024 Best Novel finalists include both science fiction and fantasy \u2013 and honor two writers for the first time<\/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":[31,10],"tags":[1517,2262,488,2243,2256,1842,2244,1006,2254,1525,2255],"class_list":["post-7316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awards-news","category-news","tag-best-novel-finalist","tag-critical-mass","tag-daniel-suarez","tag-devon-eriksen","tag-gods-girlfriend","tag-gordon-hanka","tag-howard-andrew-jones","tag-karl-k-gallagher","tag-lord-of-a-shattered-land","tag-swim-among-the-people","tag-theft-of-fire"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe8nGl-1U0","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316","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=7316"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7380,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7316\/revisions\/7380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}