2009 BSFA Award shortlist

The shortlist for the 2009 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards have been announced and include Ursula Le Guin for new novel Lavinia and Adam Roberts for the acclaimed novel "Yellow Blue Tibia" which according to Kim Stanley Robinson, should have won the Booker Prize.

Adam Roberts debut novel, Salt was nominated for the Arthur C Clarke Award and then again in 2007 with Gradisil. Ursula Le Guin is no stranger to awards having managed so far 5 Hugo Awards, 5 Nebula Awards, a National Book Award the Kafka Award, a Pushcart Prize, and the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters not to mention hundreds of nominations.

Ian Mcdonald meanwhile makes an appearance, not content with a Philip K Dick nomination for his novel "Cyberabad Days" he is nominated for best short with "Vishnu at the Cat Circus", while the Artist of his novel "Desolation Road", Stephan Martiniere is nominated for best Art.

The Shortlist:

Best Novel

• The City and the City by China Mieville
• Ark by Stephen Baxter
• Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts
• Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin

Best Short Story

• The Beloved Time of Their Lives - The Beloved of My Beloved by Ian Watson & Roberto Quaglia
• Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast by Eugie Foster
• The Assistantv by Ian Whates
• Vishnu at the Cat Circus by Ian McDonald
• Johnnie and Emmie-Lou Get Married by Kim Lakin-Smith
• The Push by Dave Hutchinson

Best Artwork

• Adam Tredowski for the covers of Interzone issues 220, 224 and 225
• Nitzan Klamer for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, cover, art project published online
• Stephanie Pui-Min Law for Emerald
• Stephan Martiniere for the Cover of Desolation Road by Ian McDonald

Best Non-Fiction

• Mutant Popcorn by Nick Lowe
• Canary Fever by John Clute
• I didn't Dream of Dragons by Deepa D
• A Short History of Fantasy by Farah Mendlesohn and Edward James