Awards are curious things, they exist for many reasons. One reason, for literary awards, is to effect the way readers behave. An award, hopefully, will make a book stand out from the pack and make a reader more likely to pick it up, consider it, buy it, and read it. But do we react to awards in that way? I was struck by my own reaction to the news that Sarah Hall’s novel, The Carhullan Army, has won the Tiptree. Before I heard the news I’d been vaguely considering picking up the book. When I heard it had won the Tiptree, I had this reaction where I went “Oh”, and lost interest. I think it may have something to do with whether you identify yourself as belonging to the tribal group that comes with the award. I identify as being part of the group that would like Hugo, Nebula, Locus, or World Fantasy Award winners. For some reason, I don’t identify with the Tiptree. I don’t think it’s a feminist thing, it’s something else.
Postscript: Checked the list of Tiptree winners. Some fabulous works that I have loved have won. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that if it wins the Tiptree, it’s likely to be a tract. Illogical, but there you go.
>>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?
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.
Well, don’t forget that M. John Harrison’s LIGHT won (not feminist at all, IMO, and certainly not a feminist tract ;-) )
Tiptree yes, World Fantasy yes, Hugo no, Locus not really, Nebula no, John W Campbell hell no (but Sturgeon yes), Clarke yes (obviously).
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.
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.
Niall: Fair enough, too.
Peter – You should check out the anthologies. Some great stuff has won, or been shortlisted for – the Award.
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.
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
I know. But, it’s kinda like bran.
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.