hard deadlines

The Center for the Study of Science Fiction announced the 2009 John W. Campbell Award for best novel today, and the winners are Cory Doctorow's Little Brother in a tie with Ian MacLeod’s Song of Time. In the short fiction category, James Alan Gardner’s “The Ray Gun: A Love Story” won this year's Sturgeon Award.

James Gunn, who directs the Center, said in a statement, "This is only the third time in the history of the Campbell award that the balloting of the jurors has resulted in a tie." All the authors will receive their awards at the annual ceremony and conference held the weekend of July 10 at the University of Kansas.

Long-time readers will know that I think Little Brother is a wicked awesome book — see my review from last year. Congratulations to Cory, Ian MacLeod, and James Alan Gardner. Yay, all!

Full disclosure: I've had the privilege of workshopping with Cory.