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Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #225 by Caroline M. Yoachim, A.T. Greenblatt, Scott H. Andrews
caitcoy's review
4.0
This short story by Caroline M. Yoachim was nominated for the 2018 Hugo award for short stories and can be read for free here.
A young girl named Zee lives with her father in Closet City, working on whatever tasks her Papa needs help with. Zee and her father are clockwork figures with a set amount of "turns" per day before must go to sleep. They live in the more boring section of the room while the local carnival train that runs around the room provides occasional entertainment and adventure. When she makes a trip to the carnival one day, Zee is given the opportunity to make use of her turns to go on a grand adventure with a boy there and finally meet her mother.
The world building by Yoachim turns what might be an average coming of age story into something sweet and unlike most other stories I've read. I liked the idea that each of the clockwork figures like Zee and her dad have an assigned amount of time per day and must carefully ration their actions to make sure they can still do what they must. The system isn't always fair and Zee has to deal with the fallout from that. Despite not having a lot of action, I found myself intrigued by the clockwork concept from beginning to end and feeling more for Zee's circumstances than I expected for a short story.
A young girl named Zee lives with her father in Closet City, working on whatever tasks her Papa needs help with. Zee and her father are clockwork figures with a set amount of "turns" per day before must go to sleep. They live in the more boring section of the room while the local carnival train that runs around the room provides occasional entertainment and adventure. When she makes a trip to the carnival one day, Zee is given the opportunity to make use of her turns to go on a grand adventure with a boy there and finally meet her mother.
The world building by Yoachim turns what might be an average coming of age story into something sweet and unlike most other stories I've read. I liked the idea that each of the clockwork figures like Zee and her dad have an assigned amount of time per day and must carefully ration their actions to make sure they can still do what they must. The system isn't always fair and Zee has to deal with the fallout from that. Despite not having a lot of action, I found myself intrigued by the clockwork concept from beginning to end and feeling more for Zee's circumstances than I expected for a short story.
titusfortner's review
4.0
A bittersweet tale of the joys and limitations of life told from the magical perspective of wind up dolls.
aphelia88's review
5.0
Wonderfully unique free short story about a town of living wind-up toys who only have so many turns in their mainsprings and limited lives. Very affecting and touching ending.
lonecayt's review
5.0
This was very sweet, and so melancholy at the end. A very interesting world, and a very good way to include people with disabilities and the related real-world concerns in a purely fantasy setting.
villyidol's review
5.0
***Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim***
Oh what a beautiful and sad story that is.
A tale of getting older. Of how our time is limited and sometimes life doesn’t play out the way we envisioned for ourselves.
Sometimes we have to give up on our hopes and dreams. For the better of our loved ones.
But isn’t it the greatest hope and dream of ‘em all? To love and be loved in return.
2018 Hugo and 2017 Nebula Award finalist Best Short Story
You can read it here.
____________________________
Best Novel
• [b: The Collapsing Empire|30078567|The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency, #1)|John Scalzi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464097677l/30078567._SY75_.jpg|50498420] by John Scalzi (Tor)
• [b: New York 2140|29570143|New York 2140|Kim Stanley Robinson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471618737l/29570143._SY75_.jpg|49898123] by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
• [b: Provenance|25353286|Provenance (Imperial Radch)|Ann Leckie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492328037l/25353286._SX50_.jpg|45094649] by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
• [b: Raven Stratagem|32927239|Raven Stratagem (The Machineries of Empire, #2)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478799108l/32927239._SY75_.jpg|51237351] by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit)
• [b: The Stone Sky|31817749|The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478547421l/31817749._SY75_.jpg|52472813] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Best Novella
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: And Then There Were (N-One)|34505565|Uncanny Magazine Issue 15 March/April 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488924699l/34505565._SY75_.jpg|59931968] by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny, March/April 2017)
• [b: Binti: Home|39725903|Home (Binti, #2)|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527047787l/39725903._SY75_.jpg|50442846] by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Black Tides of Heaven|33099588|The Black Tides of Heaven (Tensorate, #1)|J.Y. Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485291538l/33099588._SY75_.jpg|53763120] by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Down Among the Sticks and Bones|31450908|Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children, #2)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473685781l/31450908._SX50_.jpg|47411892] by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: River of Teeth|31445891|River of Teeth (River of Teeth, #1)|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484234556l/31445891._SY75_.jpg|52146842] by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: Children of Thorns, Children of Water|34851372|Children of Thorns, Children of Water (Dominion of the Fallen, #1.5)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492097640l/34851372._SY75_.jpg|56088770] by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny, July-August 2017)
• [b: Extracurricular Activities|34311313|Extracurricular Activities (The Machineries of Empire, #0.5)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487134834l/34311313._SY75_.jpg|54978656] by Yoon Ha Lee (Tor.com, February 15, 2017)
• The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, September 2017)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld, January 2017)
• [b: Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time|35051890|Uncanny Magazine Issue 16 May/June 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493742742l/35051890._SY75_.jpg|60092968] by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• [b: Wind Will Rove|36067380|Asimov's Science Fiction, September/October 2017|Sheila Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504371081l/36067380._SX50_.jpg|59932502] by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s, September/October 2017)
Best Short Story
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2017)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny, September 2017)
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny, September/October 2017)
• The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata (Tor.com, July 19, 2017)
• Sun, Moon, Dust by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017) by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex, August 2017)
Best Related Work
• [b: Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate|28251812|Crash Override How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate|Zoe Quinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491330884l/28251812._SY75_.jpg|56019319] by Zoe Quinn (PublicAffairs)
• [b: Iain M. Banks (Modern Masters of Science Fiction)|32828220|Modern Masters of Science Fiction Iain M. Banks|Paul Kincaid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487022204l/32828220._SY75_.jpg|53429417] by Paul Kincaid (University of Illinois Press)
• [b: A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison|35125803|A Lit Fuse, The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison|Nat Segaloff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501685063l/35125803._SY75_.jpg|56444054] by Nat Segaloff (NESFA Press)
• [b: Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia E. Butler|35486346|Luminescent Threads Connections to Octavia E. Butler|Alexandra Pierce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505389842l/35486346._SY75_.jpg|56884579] edited by Alexandra Pierce and Mimi Mondal (Twelfth Planet Press)
• [b: No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters|33503495|No Time to Spare Thinking About What Matters|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489159159l/33503495._SY75_.jpg|54264477] by Ursula K. Le Guin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• [b: Sleeping with Monsters: Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy|35150266|Sleeping with Monsters Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy|Liz Bourke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498595380l/35150266._SY75_.jpg|56474313] by Liz Bourke (Aqueduct Press)
Best Graphic Story
• [b: Black Bolt, Volume 1: Hard Time|34849021|Black Bolt, Vol. 1 Hard Time|Saladin Ahmed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525111221l/34849021._SY75_.jpg|56085777] written by Saladin Ahmed, illustrated by Christian Ward, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Marvel)
• Bitch Planet, Volume 2: President Bitch written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro and Taki Soma, colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Image Comics)
• [b: Monstress, Volume 2: The Blood|33540347|Monstress, Vol. 2 The Blood|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482340459l/33540347._SX50_.jpg|54307440] written by Marjorie M. Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
• [b: My Favorite Thing is Monsters|29069374|My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 (My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, #1)|Emil Ferris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580775137l/29069374._SX50_.jpg|49299009] written and illustrated by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
• Paper Girls, Volume 3 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Cliff Chiang, colored by Matthew Wilson, lettered by Jared Fletcher (Image Comics)
• Saga, Volume 7 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Best Series
• The Books of the Raksura, by [a: Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg] (Night Shade)
• The Divine Cities, by [a: Robert Jackson Bennett|2916869|Robert Jackson Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328633063p2/2916869.jpg] (Broadway)
• InCryptid, by [a: Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg] (DAW)
• The Memoirs of Lady Trent, by [a: Marie Brennan|105839|Marie Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277921611p2/105839.jpg] (Tor US / Titan UK)
• The Stormlight Archive, by [a: Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] (Tor US / Gollancz UK)
• World of the Five Gods, by [a: Lois McMaster Bujold|16094|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377313786p2/16094.jpg] (Harper Voyager / Spectrum Literary Agency)
___________________
Best Novel
• [b: Amberlough|29939270|Amberlough (The Amberlough Dossier, #1)|Lara Elena Donnelly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462547662l/29939270._SY75_.jpg|50329881] by Lara Elena Donnelly (Tor)
• [b: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter|34728925|The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club, #1)|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490794116l/34728925._SY75_.jpg|45924715] by Theodora Goss (Saga)
• [b: Spoonbenders|32827398|Spoonbenders|Daryl Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492697004l/32827398._SX50_.jpg|53428144] by Daryl Gregory (Knopf; riverrun)
• [b: The Stone Sky|31817749|The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478547421l/31817749._SY75_.jpg|52472813] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit US)
• [b: Jade City|34606064|Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)|Fonda Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513357590l/34606064._SY75_.jpg|55755047] by Fonda Lee (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
• [b: Autonomous|28209634|Autonomous|Annalee Newitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484305104l/28209634._SY75_.jpg|48237590] by Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK 2018)
Best Novella
• [b: River of Teeth|31445891|River of Teeth (River of Teeth, #1)|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484234556l/31445891._SY75_.jpg|52146842] by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Passing Strange|31372178|Passing Strange|Ellen Klages|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474584923l/31372178._SY75_.jpg|52061084] by Ellen Klages (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: And Then There Were (N-One)|34505565|Uncanny Magazine Issue 15 March/April 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488924699l/34505565._SY75_.jpg|59931968] by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny 3-4/17)
• [b: Barry’s Deal|36547519|Barry's Deal (The Amazing Conroy, #4)|Lawrence M. Schoen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509995034l/36547519._SY75_.jpg|58279170] by Lawrence M. Schoen (NobleFusion Press)
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Black Tides of Heaven|33099588|The Black Tides of Heaven (Tensorate, #1)|J.Y. Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485291538l/33099588._SY75_.jpg|53763120] by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Dirty Old Town by Richard Bowes (Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 5-6/17)
• [b: Weaponized Math|40167436|Weaponized Math|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|62309691] by Jonathan P. Brazee (The Expanding Universe, Vol. 3)
• [b: Wind Will Rove|36067380|Asimov's Science Fiction, September/October 2017|Sheila Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504371081l/36067380._SX50_.jpg|59932502] by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s 9-10/17)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld 1/17)
• A Human Stain by Kelly Robson (Tor.com 1/4/17)
• [b: Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time|35051890|Uncanny Magazine Issue 16 May/June 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493742742l/35051890._SY75_.jpg|60092968] by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny 5-6/17)
Best Short Story
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny 9-10/17)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex 8/17)
• Utopia, LOL? by Jamie Wahls (Strange Horizons 6/5/17)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny 9-10/17)
• The Last Novelist (or A Dead Lizard in the Yard) by Matthew Kressel (Tor.com 3/15/17)
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies 5/11/17)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• [b: Exo|26532931|Exo (Exo #1)|Fonda Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464719345l/26532931._SY75_.jpg|46532697] by Fonda Lee (Scholastic Press)
• [b: Weave a Circle Round|33517568|Weave a Circle Round|Kari Maaren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494982657l/33517568._SY75_.jpg|47855559] by Kari Maaren (Tor)
• [b: The Art of Starving|25978892|The Art of Starving|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494950656l/25978892._SY75_.jpg|45888872] by Sam J. Miller (HarperTeen)
• Want by Cindy Pon (Simon Pulse)
Oh what a beautiful and sad story that is.
A tale of getting older. Of how our time is limited and sometimes life doesn’t play out the way we envisioned for ourselves.
Sometimes we have to give up on our hopes and dreams. For the better of our loved ones.
But isn’t it the greatest hope and dream of ‘em all? To love and be loved in return.
2018 Hugo and 2017 Nebula Award finalist Best Short Story
You can read it here.
____________________________
2018 Hugo Awards Finalists
Best Novel
• [b: The Collapsing Empire|30078567|The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency, #1)|John Scalzi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464097677l/30078567._SY75_.jpg|50498420] by John Scalzi (Tor)
• [b: New York 2140|29570143|New York 2140|Kim Stanley Robinson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471618737l/29570143._SY75_.jpg|49898123] by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
• [b: Provenance|25353286|Provenance (Imperial Radch)|Ann Leckie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492328037l/25353286._SX50_.jpg|45094649] by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
• [b: Raven Stratagem|32927239|Raven Stratagem (The Machineries of Empire, #2)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478799108l/32927239._SY75_.jpg|51237351] by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit)
• [b: The Stone Sky|31817749|The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478547421l/31817749._SY75_.jpg|52472813] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Best Novella
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: And Then There Were (N-One)|34505565|Uncanny Magazine Issue 15 March/April 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488924699l/34505565._SY75_.jpg|59931968] by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny, March/April 2017)
• [b: Binti: Home|39725903|Home (Binti, #2)|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527047787l/39725903._SY75_.jpg|50442846] by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Black Tides of Heaven|33099588|The Black Tides of Heaven (Tensorate, #1)|J.Y. Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485291538l/33099588._SY75_.jpg|53763120] by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Down Among the Sticks and Bones|31450908|Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children, #2)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473685781l/31450908._SX50_.jpg|47411892] by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: River of Teeth|31445891|River of Teeth (River of Teeth, #1)|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484234556l/31445891._SY75_.jpg|52146842] by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: Children of Thorns, Children of Water|34851372|Children of Thorns, Children of Water (Dominion of the Fallen, #1.5)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492097640l/34851372._SY75_.jpg|56088770] by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny, July-August 2017)
• [b: Extracurricular Activities|34311313|Extracurricular Activities (The Machineries of Empire, #0.5)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487134834l/34311313._SY75_.jpg|54978656] by Yoon Ha Lee (Tor.com, February 15, 2017)
• The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer (Clarkesworld, September 2017)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld, January 2017)
• [b: Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time|35051890|Uncanny Magazine Issue 16 May/June 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493742742l/35051890._SY75_.jpg|60092968] by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• [b: Wind Will Rove|36067380|Asimov's Science Fiction, September/October 2017|Sheila Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504371081l/36067380._SX50_.jpg|59932502] by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s, September/October 2017)
Best Short Story
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2017)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny, September 2017)
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny, September/October 2017)
• The Martian Obelisk by Linda Nagata (Tor.com, July 19, 2017)
• Sun, Moon, Dust by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017) by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex, August 2017)
Best Related Work
• [b: Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate|28251812|Crash Override How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate|Zoe Quinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491330884l/28251812._SY75_.jpg|56019319] by Zoe Quinn (PublicAffairs)
• [b: Iain M. Banks (Modern Masters of Science Fiction)|32828220|Modern Masters of Science Fiction Iain M. Banks|Paul Kincaid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487022204l/32828220._SY75_.jpg|53429417] by Paul Kincaid (University of Illinois Press)
• [b: A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison|35125803|A Lit Fuse, The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison|Nat Segaloff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501685063l/35125803._SY75_.jpg|56444054] by Nat Segaloff (NESFA Press)
• [b: Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia E. Butler|35486346|Luminescent Threads Connections to Octavia E. Butler|Alexandra Pierce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505389842l/35486346._SY75_.jpg|56884579] edited by Alexandra Pierce and Mimi Mondal (Twelfth Planet Press)
• [b: No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters|33503495|No Time to Spare Thinking About What Matters|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489159159l/33503495._SY75_.jpg|54264477] by Ursula K. Le Guin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• [b: Sleeping with Monsters: Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy|35150266|Sleeping with Monsters Readings and Reactions in Science Fiction and Fantasy|Liz Bourke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498595380l/35150266._SY75_.jpg|56474313] by Liz Bourke (Aqueduct Press)
Best Graphic Story
• [b: Black Bolt, Volume 1: Hard Time|34849021|Black Bolt, Vol. 1 Hard Time|Saladin Ahmed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525111221l/34849021._SY75_.jpg|56085777] written by Saladin Ahmed, illustrated by Christian Ward, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Marvel)
• Bitch Planet, Volume 2: President Bitch written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Valentine De Landro and Taki Soma, colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick, lettered by Clayton Cowles (Image Comics)
• [b: Monstress, Volume 2: The Blood|33540347|Monstress, Vol. 2 The Blood|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482340459l/33540347._SX50_.jpg|54307440] written by Marjorie M. Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
• [b: My Favorite Thing is Monsters|29069374|My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 (My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, #1)|Emil Ferris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580775137l/29069374._SX50_.jpg|49299009] written and illustrated by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
• Paper Girls, Volume 3 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Cliff Chiang, colored by Matthew Wilson, lettered by Jared Fletcher (Image Comics)
• Saga, Volume 7 written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Best Series
• The Books of the Raksura, by [a: Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg] (Night Shade)
• The Divine Cities, by [a: Robert Jackson Bennett|2916869|Robert Jackson Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328633063p2/2916869.jpg] (Broadway)
• InCryptid, by [a: Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg] (DAW)
• The Memoirs of Lady Trent, by [a: Marie Brennan|105839|Marie Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277921611p2/105839.jpg] (Tor US / Titan UK)
• The Stormlight Archive, by [a: Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] (Tor US / Gollancz UK)
• World of the Five Gods, by [a: Lois McMaster Bujold|16094|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377313786p2/16094.jpg] (Harper Voyager / Spectrum Literary Agency)
___________________
2017 Nebula Award Nominees
Best Novel
• [b: Amberlough|29939270|Amberlough (The Amberlough Dossier, #1)|Lara Elena Donnelly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462547662l/29939270._SY75_.jpg|50329881] by Lara Elena Donnelly (Tor)
• [b: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter|34728925|The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club, #1)|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490794116l/34728925._SY75_.jpg|45924715] by Theodora Goss (Saga)
• [b: Spoonbenders|32827398|Spoonbenders|Daryl Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492697004l/32827398._SX50_.jpg|53428144] by Daryl Gregory (Knopf; riverrun)
• [b: The Stone Sky|31817749|The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478547421l/31817749._SY75_.jpg|52472813] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty (Orbit US)
• [b: Jade City|34606064|Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)|Fonda Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513357590l/34606064._SY75_.jpg|55755047] by Fonda Lee (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
• [b: Autonomous|28209634|Autonomous|Annalee Newitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484305104l/28209634._SY75_.jpg|48237590] by Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK 2018)
Best Novella
• [b: River of Teeth|31445891|River of Teeth (River of Teeth, #1)|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484234556l/31445891._SY75_.jpg|52146842] by Sarah Gailey (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Passing Strange|31372178|Passing Strange|Ellen Klages|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474584923l/31372178._SY75_.jpg|52061084] by Ellen Klages (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: And Then There Were (N-One)|34505565|Uncanny Magazine Issue 15 March/April 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488924699l/34505565._SY75_.jpg|59931968] by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny 3-4/17)
• [b: Barry’s Deal|36547519|Barry's Deal (The Amazing Conroy, #4)|Lawrence M. Schoen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509995034l/36547519._SY75_.jpg|58279170] by Lawrence M. Schoen (NobleFusion Press)
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Black Tides of Heaven|33099588|The Black Tides of Heaven (Tensorate, #1)|J.Y. Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485291538l/33099588._SY75_.jpg|53763120] by JY Yang (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• Dirty Old Town by Richard Bowes (Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 5-6/17)
• [b: Weaponized Math|40167436|Weaponized Math|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|62309691] by Jonathan P. Brazee (The Expanding Universe, Vol. 3)
• [b: Wind Will Rove|36067380|Asimov's Science Fiction, September/October 2017|Sheila Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504371081l/36067380._SX50_.jpg|59932502] by Sarah Pinsker (Asimov’s 9-10/17)
• A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Clarkesworld 1/17)
• A Human Stain by Kelly Robson (Tor.com 1/4/17)
• [b: Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time|35051890|Uncanny Magazine Issue 16 May/June 2017|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493742742l/35051890._SY75_.jpg|60092968] by K.M. Szpara (Uncanny 5-6/17)
Best Short Story
• Fandom for Robots by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny 9-10/17)
• Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex 8/17)
• Utopia, LOL? by Jamie Wahls (Strange Horizons 6/5/17)
• Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand by Fran Wilde (Uncanny 9-10/17)
• The Last Novelist (or A Dead Lizard in the Yard) by Matthew Kressel (Tor.com 3/15/17)
• Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies 5/11/17)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• [b: Exo|26532931|Exo (Exo #1)|Fonda Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464719345l/26532931._SY75_.jpg|46532697] by Fonda Lee (Scholastic Press)
• [b: Weave a Circle Round|33517568|Weave a Circle Round|Kari Maaren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494982657l/33517568._SY75_.jpg|47855559] by Kari Maaren (Tor)
• [b: The Art of Starving|25978892|The Art of Starving|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494950656l/25978892._SY75_.jpg|45888872] by Sam J. Miller (HarperTeen)
• Want by Cindy Pon (Simon Pulse)
oleksandr's review
5.0
This short story is short listed for Hugo Awards. For me this is the winner. The genre is hard to define, for me it is neither SF nor fantasy but weird. A great poignant story set in a strange universe, inhabitants of which are wind-up toys. The world-building is awesome for such a short story.
trish204's review
4.0
This review is for the short story Carnival Nine by Caroline M. Yoachim
Zee is a young doll at the beginning of this story. She lives with her Papa and her grandparents in Closet City but dreams of the adventure that is the carnival. One day, she decides not to use the turns of her key for chores but to go explore, thus ending up at Carnival Nine (the numbers come from the train cars the carnival is housed in).
There, she meets Vale and decides that a life as a carnie is more her thing. What then follows is a sad little tale of family and belonging, of a life well lived, or not really lived at all, of taking care of others versus taking care of yourself, of selfishness and selflessness. Because where do you draw the line? How much CAN anyone give before they start having nothing left for themselves?
As such, the central theme was time. The perception of it, which differs depending how old you are, the passing of it and making it count no matter how much or how little is given to you.
I really liked this creative look at a life, the turns one had each day. I didn't like! That, however, was counter-balanced by the examination of .
As you can s ee, the author tackled a lot of difficult themes in this story but she did it nicely and in a very colourful and creative way that I enjoyed very much.
You can read the story for free here: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/carnival-nine/
Zee is a young doll at the beginning of this story. She lives with her Papa and her grandparents in Closet City but dreams of the adventure that is the carnival. One day, she decides not to use the turns of her key for chores but to go explore, thus ending up at Carnival Nine (the numbers come from the train cars the carnival is housed in).
There, she meets Vale and decides that a life as a carnie is more her thing. What then follows is a sad little tale of family and belonging, of a life well lived, or not really lived at all, of taking care of others versus taking care of yourself, of selfishness and selflessness. Because where do you draw the line? How much CAN anyone give before they start having nothing left for themselves?
As such, the central theme was time. The perception of it, which differs depending how old you are, the passing of it and making it count no matter how much or how little is given to you.
I really liked this creative look at a life, the turns one had each day. I didn't like
Spoiler
how Zee beat herself up over just spending ONE day for her own enjoyment. Yes, it was bad luck that her father died on that day, but she isn't a horrible daughter or mother for having wanted just a little time for herselfSpoiler
Matts' disability and how his mother immediately decided she didn't care about it but would love him dearly anywayAs you can s ee, the author tackled a lot of difficult themes in this story but she did it nicely and in a very colourful and creative way that I enjoyed very much.
You can read the story for free here: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/carnival-nine/