Biology in Science Fiction: Free Fiction » Hugo

Beggars in Spain (Excerpt) by Nancy Kress

Peggy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:23:16 +0000

Title: Beggars in Spain (excerpt)

Author: Nancy Kress

Length: novel

First Publication: Novel published in 1993; based on a novella by the same name published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, 1991

Awards: The novel was nominated for both the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. The original novella won the Hugo Award for Best Novella, 1992 and Nebula Award for Best Novella, 1991

What the Story is About: Official synopsis:

In a world where the slightest edge can mean the difference between success and failure, Leisha Camden is beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent … and one of an ever-growing number of human beings who have been genetically modified to never require sleep.

Once considered interesting anomalies, now Leisha and the other “Sleepless” are outcasts — victims of blind hatred, political repression, and shocking mob violence meant to drive them from human society … and, ultimately, from Earth itself.

But Leisha Camden has chosen to remain behind in a world that envies and fears her “gift” — a world marked for destruction in a devastating conspiracy of freedom … and revenge.

See Wikipedia for more background.

NOTE: Click the “Browse and Buy” button on the linked page to read the first 72 pages of the novel.

Mountains of Mourning by Lois McMaster Bujold

Peggy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:05:22 +0000

Title: Mountains of Mourning

Author: Louis McMaster Bujold

Length: novella

First Publication: Analog Science Fiction & Fact, 1989

Awards: 1989 Nebula for Best Novella, 1990 Hugo for Best Novella

What the Story is About: A Vorkosigan Saga story. From Wikipedia: “Miles Vorkosigan has just graduated from the Imperial Academy, and is at home at Vorkosigan Surleau with his parents. A woman from the isolated village of Silvy Vale walks three days to Vorkosigan Surleau to report the suspected murder of her baby, who was born with a hare lip and cleft palate. Miles’ father sends him to investigate as his Voice to gain experience. Miles solves the mystery and exercises justice and mercy in appropriate measure.”

Slow Life by Michael Swanwick

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:37:24 +0000

Title: Slow Life

Author: Michael Swanwick

Length: novelette

First Publication: Analog Science Fiction & Fact, 2002

Awards: Hugo for Best Novelette 2003.

What the Story is About: Explorers on Saturn’s moon Titan discover life that’s unlike anything on earth. “Different evolutionary backgrounds lead to very different perspectives.”

Shoggoths in Bloom by Elizabeth Bear

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:27:05 +0000

Title: Shoggoths in Bloom

Author: Elizabeth Bear

Length: novelette

First Publication: Asimov’s Science Fiction 2008

Awards: Hugo for Best Novelette 2009

What the Story is About: During the years preceding WWII a naturalist investigates the large jellyfish-like shoggoths off the coast of Maine.

Listen to the audio version at StarShipSofa.

Related Biology in Science Fiction blog post: Hugo Award Winner: Bear’s Shoggoths in Bloom

Inside Job by Connie Willis

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:26:05 +0000

Title: Inside Job

Author: Connie Willis

Length: novella

First Publication: Asimov’s Science Fiction, 2005

Awards: Hugo for Best Novella 2006

What the Story is About: A debunker of psychics and his assistant run into a channeler who appears to be channeling journalist and critic H. L. Mencken, known for his satirical reporting on the Scopes “Monkey” Trial in 1926,

None So Blind by Joe Haldeman

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:23:06 +0000

Title: None So Blind

Author: Joe Haldeman

Length: short story

First Publication: Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine 1994

Awards: Hugo for Best Short Story 1995, Locus Award 1995, Nebula Nomination for Best Short Story 1994

What the Story is About: A simple operation allows the blind to use the visual cortex of their brains for other mental processing, turning them into geniuses.

Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge by Mike Resnick

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:53:04 +0000

Title: Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge

Author: Mike Resnick

Length: novella

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 1994

Awards: Hugo for Best Novella 1995, Nebula for Best Novella 1994.

What the Story is About: Alien archaeologists at Olduvai Gorge watch the rise and fall of humanity – a history that is both filled with cruelty and glory.

Related Biology in Science Fiction blog post: Mike Resnick: Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge

Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson

Peggy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:15:07 +0000

Title: Bears Discover Fire

Author: Terry Bisson

Length: short story

First Publication: Asimov’s Science Fiction, 1990

Awards: 1991 Hugo Award for Best Short Story, 1990 Nebula Award for Best Short Story, 1991 Asimov’s Reader’s Award, 1991 Locus Magazine Award, 1991 The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, World Fantasy Award Nomination for Best Short Story 1991

What the Story is About: This is not hard science fiction in the least, but it’s an excellent story in which bears have indeed discovered fire and are camping on highway medians. That’s not really what the story is about – family relationships and growing old – but it provides the framework.

Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre

Peggy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:36:41 +0000

Title: Dreamsnake

Author: Vonda N. McIntyire

Length: Novel

First Publication: 1978

Awards: 1978 Hugo for Best Novel, 1979 Nebula for Best Novel, 1979 Locus Award for Best Novel

What the Story is About: “The novel follows a healer on a journey while she seeks to replace one of her healer snakes. Nuclear war, biotechnology alternate sex patterns, and other-worldly tribalism put in appearances.” (Wikipedia)

Note: Dreamsnake is being posted in serialized form at Bookview Cafe, one chapter a week.