Arthur C. Clarke Award science fiction book of the year for 2021, shortlist (award news).
The 35th shortlist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award science fiction book of the year has arrived with us, and the lucky nominees are:
- The Infinite – Patience Agbabi (Canongate).
- The Vanished Birds – Simon Jimenez (Titan).
- Vagabonds – Hao Jingfang (Head of Zeus).
- Edge of Heaven – R.B. Kelly (NewCon Press).
- The Animals in that Country – Laura Jean McKay (Scribe).
- Chilling Effect - Valerie Valdes (Orbit).
Award Director Tom Hunter said, “As we announce our 35th Clarke Award shortlist I’m reminded of Sir Arthur’s wish that the prize continue to reflect the best of UK science fiction, and not one fixed definition of it. With SF publishing in the UK currently thriving and over 100 increasingly diverse titles again submitted to our judges this year, a single definition of science fiction in the 2020s was always going to be a challenge but with this shortlist I believe our judges not only met the challenge, they’ve raised the bar. Whether its SF for readers of all ages, works in translation, books from the heart of SF publishing, our vibrant small presses or literary imprints embracing their speculative fiction sides, our judges have created a definition of the best of science fiction literature today that is uniquely their own yet instantly recognisable.”
The winner will be announced in September 2021.
