Beyond Reality discussion

The Nebula Awards ceremonies are May 21, which is just 2 days away. (Where do the days go?) A couple of posters have mentioned having an informal poll to either determine our group consensus favorite or to try to guess which story will actually win. I think that's a great idea, but I don't want to confuse the group polls page by adding a poll that only serves the small group of us who participate in the short story discussions, so let's just have our informal wrap-up and "vote" here.

If you are so inclined, post:

- Which story do you think will this year's Nebula for Best Short Story? (Also: If your personal favorite story is different from the story you think will win, let us know that, too, and why.)

(I'll keep a running tally in this first post.)

OUR VOTES, SO FAR:

"Arvies" - Adam-Troy Castro
"How Interesting: A Tiny Man" - Harlan Ellison
"The Green Book" - Amal El-Mohtar
"Ponies" - Kij Johnson
"I'm Alive, I Love You, I'll See You in Reno" - Vylar Kaftan
"Ghosts of New York" - Jennifer Pelland
"Conditional Love" - Felicity Shoulders

Thanks for setting this up Candiss.

My personal favourite is Arvies by Adam-Troy Castro but I don't think it will win the Nebula Award.

I think that might go to Ponies by Kij Johnson, partly because of peoples reaction to it here and also because it's the only story here that's up for the Hugo Award as well, makes me think it's striking a chord with lots of different people.

I think you might be right about "Ponies", Richard.

My personal favorite was "Conditional Love", followed by "Arvies", but I think "Ponies" - which I did find excellent - may win. It's not that it's especially better than the others, but that it consolidates its rather dark message and undercurrents into such a tight, succinct little package, which is always kind of stunning (to me) to see an author pull off. It was a short burst like a firecracker, and the voters often seem to appreciate that sort of writing.

I never thought I'd say this, because I love, love the guy, but thankfully Ted Chiang doesn't have something in this line-up this year, as then most likely none of these fine stories would have a chance. The past several years, seeing Chiang's name pop up in the roster has been rather like seeing an Olympic champion runner's name in the roster for a sack race. (I'm not implying that other authors aren't excellent authors, but simply that Chiang tends to dominate any race he's part of, for good reasons.) He's a short-spec-fic behemoth.

I was out'n'town when this thread was posted, but I waved my flag for "Conditional Love" in the Nebula Winners thread. I don't think I would've guessed "Ponies" to win.

It's too late for me to guess as well, but Conditional Love was also my favorite.

Candiss wrote: "I never thought I'd say this, because I love, love the guy, but thankfully Ted Chiang doesn't have something in this line-up this year, as then most likely none of these fine stories would have a chance. The past several years, seeing Chiang's name pop up in the roster has been rather like seeing an Olympic champion runner's name in the roster for a sack race. (I'm not implying that other authors aren't excellent authors, but simply that Chiang tends to dominate any race he's part of, for good reasons.) He's a short-spec-fic behemoth. "

Chiang did have a novelette in the running, though, and lost.

Sarah Pi wrote: "Chiang did have a novelette in the running, though, and lost. "

I noticed that and was surprised at the loss, but as I haven't read the winner, I didn't have much to go on as to whether or not I truly should have been surprised.