Comments on: An award thought… [updated]

By: Gwenda

Gwenda — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:49:01 +0000

I think you just need to come to Wiscon. One of the things I love best about the Tiptree is that there’s a huge sense of fun attached to it — tiaras, singing, etc. etc. Far less ponderous than many Traditional Awards.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:53:34 +0000

I know. But, it’s kinda like bran.

By: Ellen Klages

Ellen Klages — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:46:41 +0000

Jonathan –

The Tiptree Award is NOT a feminist award. NOT.
It is an award for works that explore and expand our ideas about gender.

If you think that “gender-bending” is synonymous with “good-for-you” then maybe the Tiptree is doing its job.

Ellen

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:52:46 +0000

I’ve been pondering this a bit more, clarifying my thoughts, if you will. The Tiptree Award is a good thing. It recognises some great work, and it’s basic purpose is commendable (recognising work that addresses gender etc).

So, what’s my problem with it? Well, first I’d make clear it’s my problem, not a problem with the award. It’s how I feel about it. When I think about the Tiptree I think about something the exuded a faint air of virtuousness, that is good for you, and that you should have (like fibre in your diet). That feeling makes me take a second look at it, and that’s where the discomfort comes.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:06:02 +0000

Peter – You should check out the anthologies. Some great stuff has won, or been shortlisted for – the Award.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:05:23 +0000

Niall: Fair enough, too.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:05:03 +0000

Ellen: I know. It’s not logical. I loved LIGHT and AIR. And it’s not a feminist thing. It’s just – yeah. It sounds like it’ll be homework from school, or something.

By: Peter Nel

Peter Nel — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:51:14 +0000

Funny, but I’ve been thinking of picking up one of the Tiptree Award anthologies as a sampler. The reasoning is that sex and gender angles are likely to produce stories of human interest, and I’d like to crank up the human interest side of my SF reading a bit. At the moment we have this posthuman infection in the genre, and posthuman stories don’t do it for me. I mean, we’re all people, here.

By: Niall

Niall — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:27:32 +0000

Tiptree yes, World Fantasy yes, Hugo no, Locus not really, Nebula no, John W Campbell hell no (but Sturgeon yes), Clarke yes (obviously).

By: Ellen Datlow

Ellen Datlow — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:51:04 +0000

Well, don’t forget that M. John Harrison’s LIGHT won (not feminist at all, IMO, and certainly not a feminist tract ;-) )

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:06:42 +0000

One that’s good for me. It’s like something full of fibre that’s good for my digestion but is likely to taste of cardboard. This is, I admit, not a rational reaction, but it’s what I’ve got. It’s like the award’s saying ‘come get your feministy-type goodness here’, and I just want something good to read. As I say, I love many of the winners, but the award makes me antsy.

By: Barth Anderson

Barth Anderson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:48:32 +0000

>>And yet I can’t shake the feeling that if it wins the Tiptree, it’s likely to be a tract.

What kind of tract do you think it will be if it wins the Tiptree?