2014 was a fantastic year for SFF Lit, and I think my choices this year may be less controversial than in previous years.
1. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Unusual, ambiguously-gendered-and-identified character; feminine pronouns for all; great big morally ambiguous concept (people=parts of ship); epic scale; and alien cultures reflective of our own failings. Win.
2. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
See above, with extra servings of novum (estranging device that allows us to look as detached observers at aspects of our own culture).
3. Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed
Vivid re-imagination of ancient tale; realistic investigation of Islamic and Victorian cultures; feminist implications; comments on wonders and dangers of technology.
4. "Sultana's Dream" by Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
South Asian. feminist. sci-fi. utopia.
Short, but sweet.
1. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Unusual, ambiguously-gendered-and-identified character; feminine pronouns for all; great big morally ambiguous concept (people=parts of ship); epic scale; and alien cultures reflective of our own failings. Win.
2. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
See above, with extra servings of novum (estranging device that allows us to look as detached observers at aspects of our own culture).
3. Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed
Vivid re-imagination of ancient tale; realistic investigation of Islamic and Victorian cultures; feminist implications; comments on wonders and dangers of technology.
4. "Sultana's Dream" by Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein
South Asian. feminist. sci-fi. utopia.
Short, but sweet.
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