2005 Prometheus Award Finalists a Century of Ayn Rand J. Neil
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Liberty and Culture Vol. 23, No. 3 Spring 2005 A Century of Ayn Rand J. Neil Schulman on Anarquía 2005 Prometheus Award Finalists Reviews of books by Elizabeth Moon, Vin Suprynowicz, Boston T. Party, Brad Linaweaver & J. Kent Hastings, and Steven Gould Prometheus Volume 23, Number 3, 2005 Defining the Prometheus Awards By William H. Stoddard The newsletter of the Libertarian Futurist Society Once again, it’s time for members of fan who’s curious about libertarianism, Editor the Libertarian Futurist Society to vote or a libertarian who’d like to read some Anders Monsen on the Prometheus Award and the Hall science fiction, that that book is a good of Fame. That makes it a good time to place to start. Our list of award winners Contributors think about an important question: What and nominees is as close as there is to a Michael Grossberg are our standards, as a society, for choos- Recommended Reading list in this field. J. Neil Schulman ing worthy winners for our awards? The We need to think both about whether William H. Stoddard Prometheus Award is supposed to go to we found a book worthwhile, and about Fran Tully the best work of libertarian science fic- whether it’s something we would recom- tion of the preceding fourteen months. mend to a friend who wanted to find out What do we mean by “science fiction,” more about our point of view. by “libertarian,” and by “best”? And that purpose has to inform both One thing to bear in mind, in seeking of our other criteria. “Libertarian” and answers to these questions, is that we “science fiction” are pointers to the give awards for a purpose. The answers type of material we want to consider; we choose to accept—the definitions they aren’t barriers to keep out good Letters and Submissions: we use for our essential ideas—should material that fails to meet some specific Anders Monsen be answers to help us to attain that definition. 501 Abiso Ave purpose. Genre words, like “science fiction,” San Antonio, TX 78209 Giving a literary award to a book exist to help market books more effi- [email protected] makes it more visible, not just to the ciently—which surely is a justifiable goal group that gives in libertar- Subscriptions & Advertisements the award, but ian eyes! By Libertarian Futurist Society to other read- [Books] concerned with putting two 650 Castro St. Suite 120-433 ers as well. The freedom…can be expressed in books in the Mountain View, CA 94041 P r o m e t h e u s same genre, [email protected] several different ways….[They] Award has been a publisher may portray a movement or Basic Membership: $25/yr. ($30 int'l) remarkably suc- or a booksell- Full Membership: $50/yr. cessful in achiev- struggle aimed at creating a er is saying Sponsors: $100/yr. ing such visibil- free society. Or [they] may that someone Benefactors: $200/yr. ity. Our award deconstruct a non-libertarian who likes one winners are an- has a higher Subscriptions: $20/yr. ($25 int'l) work, showing the hidden All memberships include one-year nounced in Locus than average subscriptions. and other pub- implications of its values. chance of lik- lications in the ing the other. Classified ads: 50 cents/word, 10 science fiction What defines percent off for multiple insertions. community. Our award ceremonies are the genre of science fiction is the exis- Display ad rates available. All checks usually scheduled events at the World tence of a community of readers for a payable to the Libertarian Futurist Science Fiction Convention. Publishers certain group of books. For example, the Society. announce that their books have won, 2003 Prometheus Award went to Terry or been nominated for, the Prometheus Pratchett’s Night Watch, which in terms Prometheus © 2005 the Libertarian Award, as a selling point, and provide of literary theory is not science fiction but Futurist Society. The LFS retains a copies of proposed nominees to LFS fantasy—but the readerships for these non-exclusive license to republish judges. The Prometheus Award has two types of material overlap so strongly accepted articles on its Web site; all credibility as a mark of good writing; that bookstores almost always shelve other rights revert to the contributor. it’s not just a private ceremony among a them together. Pragmatically, a book Letters and reviews are welcome. Bylined articles are strictly the few friends. That credibility is part of our is “science fiction” if it appears on the opinion of the writer and do not capital, and we need to preserve it. science fiction shelves and in specialty necessarily reflect the opinion of the When we pick a book as “the best,” LFS members. that’s a recommendation to potential readers. We’re telling a science fiction —Continued on page 7 Page 2 Volume 23, Number 3, 2005 Prometheus real sense of what it feels like, sounds patriotism into a raging fire of resistance. eviews like, and looks like to engage an armed I can’t wait to see what Vin will come up R enemy while equipped with bows and with next—and I hope it is soon. guns. After some of the shooting scenes, About the author: Vin Suprynowicz, you’ll actually find yourself with ringing a collector of surplus military firearms, The Black Arrow ears yawning, trying to get your ears to spent his youth in New England and By Vin Suprynowicz pop, as though a low-flying jet had just worked his way through school as a Mountain Media, 2005, $24.95 broken Mach One overhead. disc jockey, short-order cook, motel Reviewed by Fran Tully The masterful word pictures put you night clerk, and member of the relent- on the front line. You feel the cold rain, lessly unsuccessful rock & roll band, The The Black Arrow is a futuristic tale of are aroused by the sex, and smell the Four Shadowings of Doom. Vin has had hope and resistance. Set in the year 2030, dark, dank, vast Gotham underground. an extensive, award-winning career in it opens in the streets of Gotham. The This is a thriller with soul. You will go journalism and is currently a columnist reader is introduced to a world where from laughing out loud, to shaking with and editorial writer at Nevada’s largest homeland security has blossomed and sheer hatred, and then down to a lump newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal. bestowed upon us its wonderful “pro- in your throat—from the tear-jerking He is also the author of two non-fiction tection” against terrorism—not only in romance. books Send in the Waco Killers and our airports, but right off busy sidewalks If you’re part of the “gun culture,” The Ballad of Carl Drega. Both of his at impromptu “portals.” Passers-by are you’ll feel absolutely privileged to be non-fiction works were awarded Free- treated to an inspection for weapons, surrounded by serious, well-trained, dom Book of the Year by Free-Market. illegal software, drugs, and proper ID. freedom fighters that not only practice net and The Black Arrow is certain to Of course, if they don’t find any prob- good muzzle control, but also let you win it this year. lems, inspectors often treat themselves in on their thoughts before and after The targets of Vin’s books and col- to a good grope or other sexual rewards they pull the trigger. You find yourself umns include taxation, gun control, and from the defenseless citizens in this new understanding their justification for the War to Spread Pain (more generally “police state.” Ah, but on the rooftops their conflict and their willingness to dubbed the “War On Some Drugs.”) and in the shadows lurks the Black Ar- “hold the line”—despite their terrible But Homeland Security and our new row—a hero along the lines of Batman, odds of survival. national pastime, the airport grope-and- or Superman. While the book may open Some of the scenes are so heinous grab, also do not escape his literary with an almost comic book feel, we soon that you question the need to be so scalpel. learn that it is a serious, believable novel graphic; after all, no government could that stirs our souls much like the film, be that cruel. And then you recall that Spartacus. you’ve seen these stories before…you Anarquía With The Black Arrow, Vin has given remember that these are real events. By Brad Linaeaver & J. Kent Hastings us a real treasure. For example, when Vin has craftily taken the most horrific Sense of Wonder Press, 2004 was the last time that “Passionate,” injustices to our liberties and magically Hardcover $34.95; Paperback, $19.99 “Sexy,” ”Stylish,” “Thought-provok- made them appear as current news items Reviewed by Anders Monsen ing,” ”Funny,” ”Exhilarating!” ”Action- in 2030. The Black Arrow is a must-read packed!” and “Tear-jerker” were all used for romantics, libertarians, resistance to describe the same book—let alone a fighters, and anyone who is passionate The American Civil War and World book about freedom??? about life. It also provides the ultimate War II bear the scars of incessant strip- The characters are so real, likable, and solution for the elimination of “boot-on- mining from alternate historians. That unique that you believe that you know your-neck” politics. other major war of the early twentieth them. The Black Arrow starts out with The dialogue is witty and sharp. century, the Spanish Civil War, earns a righteous assassination by an archer.