Hellooo!

Its not just almost the weekend but also time to talk books again. Our judges have deliberated, cried, screamed and decided and after many painful scenes come to their conclusions. We have whittled the shortlists to the finalists below for our judges to read, review and come soon to their conclusions on the winners of our famous painted rocks. So with no further ado….drum roll please!

Best Short Fiction

Homecoming Is Just Another Word For The Sublimation of Self by Isabel J Kim (Clarkesworld)

The Amazing Exploding Women of the Twentieth Century by AC Wise (Apex)

Best Graphic Novel

The Girl From the Sea by Molly Know Ostertag

Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto and Ann Xu

Best Series

The Kingston Cycle by C L Polk

The Expanse by James SA Corey

Best YA

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore

Best Novella

These Lifeless Things by Premee Mohamed

& This Is How To Stay Alive by Shingai Njeri Kagunda

The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

Best Debut

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

This Is Our Undoing by Lorraine Wilson

Best Blurred Boundary

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

The Library of the Dead by T L Huchu

Best Science Fiction

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Best Fantasy

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

The Unbroken by C L Clark

We shall announce the winners this autumn but in the meantime these are ALL great books and worthy of your attention! To finish off lets wave to the finalists using one of the best character actors, narrators, singers and all round nice guys we have had - may they rest in peace.