The Arthur C Clarke Award presentation

[tamaranth]

I had an excellent time last night at the Arthur C Clarke Award presentation, held in the hallowed halls of London's Science Museum. As an event, this gets better every year: more guests, more sense of occasion, better wine (and decent orange juice, thank heavens; overindulgence not to be thought of in high heels and long floaty skirt), more wild applause. ... Oh, haven't I mentioned the winner yet? [*evil grin*] I am extremely happy to inform you that the Arthur C Clarke Award -- described by the Spectator as "science fiction's version of the Booker Prize" -- was won by Christopher Priest for his novel The Separation. It's only the second time (I think) that this and the British Science Fiction Association award for Best Novel have both gone to the same book.

And it's a bloody miracle, considering the appalling laxity of the publishers. You will be extremely lucky to find The Separation on sale anywhere, as Scribner are apparently already withdrawing it. Amazon are quoting 3-5 weeks but are emailing people who've ordered it to tell them it is no longer available. Luckily, Gollancz are reissuing it in the autumn. Meanwhile, order it anyway and make Scribner feel (a) guilty (b) foolish or (c) out of pocket.

As major_clanger remarked, quoting someone else, Scribner didn't so much publish the book as issue it on a need-to-know basis.

Just sorting through photos of a star-studded night. (More here later, maybe). Wonderfully, the guests all had name-badges, which meant that I spent a lot of my time staring over people's shoulders with my mouth slightly open as People From My Bookshelf walked past. (Was not convinced by Brian Aldiss, though). Occasionally I managed to photograph them ... Elizabeth Moon was unexpectedly present, and very cordial; Mike Harrison apologised for no longer wearing the Tiptree Tiara; my picture of the shortlisted authors looks remarkably like an identity parade. Should've arranged them in order of height.

The frustrating thing about the Science Museum is that in order to get to the function space at the back you have to walk past all the V-2s and re-entry capsules and big engines and so on. And they're all too damn big to photograph well. .. Suspect I may have trodden on a few toes (hopefully not literally, considering the Spiky Sandals of Doom) re photography, but really I just snap away merrily until I get a working picture. And meanwhile chat to my victims, and get to meet people whom otherwise I'd be too shy to approach. And if any magazine pays to use my photos, that's a welcome bonus!

Meanwhile, your starter for ten: swisstone and ladymoonray with their new automobile ...


EDIT: ah yes, have semi-inveigled a Name From the Bookshelf into the wicked world of LJ. Must go set her up ...

Comments

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

Amazon are quoting 3-5 weeks but are emailing people who've ordered it to tell them it is no longer available

After the 5 weeks. Buyer beware...

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

It's only the second time (I think) that this and the British Science Fiction Association award for Best Novel have both gone to the same book.

Trivial point but third (I think): The Sparrow and Take Back Plenty.
---Mark

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

As major_clanger remarked, quoting someone else, Scribner didn't so much publish the book as issue it on a need-to-know basis.

It was Andy Sawyer, discussing the Award shortlist in the bar at Eastercon. I'm not even sure we've got a copy for the SFF Collection yet...

MC

The Separation

[camies.livejournal.com]

I consider myself therefore privileged to actually have a copy of the book. Signed, too.

Chris