2007 Nominations
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Science fiction and fantasy take us to realms of the imagination: places and times and realities where the rules of life may be different than our own and where the impossible and improbable become real. But good science fiction and fantasy does more than that; a book about magic for its own sake isn't a very interesting book. Good science fiction and fantasy asks, "What if?" It makes us think. It holds up a mirror to our own society and lets us see ourselves in a different light.
Like our counterparts in the other categories, we'll be looking for books that combine the best writing with kid or teen appeal, but we'll also be looking at some of the unique requirements of the genre, such as world building and internal consistency. The elements in a science fiction or fantasy book don't have to be possible, but the writer must make us believe that they really could exist, perhaps do exist, if only we could find them.
--Sheila Ruth, organizer
Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- for this category in the comments below.
Nominating the same book over and over WON'T help its chances ... one book per category, one nomination per book ... thanks!
Flora Segunda by Ysabeau Wilce
Posted by: Liz B | October 01, 2007 at 05:35 AM
Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale
Posted by: Sarah Miller | October 01, 2007 at 05:36 AM
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, Scholastic.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | October 01, 2007 at 05:51 AM
Hallowmere-In the Serpent's Coils by Tiffany Trent
Posted by: Kim Baccellia | October 01, 2007 at 06:29 AM
Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr
Posted by: Liz Jones | October 01, 2007 at 06:43 AM
Un Lun Dun, China Mieville, Del Rey
Posted by: LIbby | October 01, 2007 at 07:22 AM
Hallowmere - In the Serpents' Coils by Tiffany Trent
Posted by: Angelika Ranger | October 01, 2007 at 07:54 AM
Flora Segunda: Being the Magickal Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), a House with Eleven Thousand Rooms, and a Red Dog
by Ysabeau S. Wilce
Posted by: Heather Turner | October 01, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Angelika and Heather: The books you nominated have already been nominated, so your nominations don't count. Would you like to nominate something else.
Everyone: please note that duplicate nominations do not help a book at all! It's not a vote. We consider each book nominated on its own merits. So please check the previous nominations before you nominate! Otherwise, you could be wasting your nomination. Thanks!
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | October 01, 2007 at 08:23 AM
Silver World by Cliff McNish
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 01, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Ironside by Holly Black
Posted by: Jennifer R | October 01, 2007 at 08:47 AM
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull
Posted by: Chris | October 01, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell, published by Henry Holt and Company
Posted by: Kirsten Cutler | October 01, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
Posted by: Jone | October 01, 2007 at 12:19 PM
It's books published in the U.S. in 2007, right? If that's so, then my nomination is:
The New Policeman
by Kate Thompson
(Mmmm. Delicious Irish music. Mmmm.)
Posted by: Brooke | October 01, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Nightwalker by K.V. Johansen
Published 2007 by Orca
Posted by: Chris | October 01, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas
Posted by: Peter | October 01, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Eclipse
by Stephenie Meyer
Posted by: Leah Burnson | October 01, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Brooke, it's not just books published in the U.S. Books published in English anywhere in the world are eligible (as long as we can get copies to the panelists to evaluate them). They do have to be 2007 books, though.
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | October 01, 2007 at 03:54 PM
"The Call to Shakabaz" by Amy Wachspress
Posted by: Andrea Ross | October 01, 2007 at 06:15 PM
Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey
Posted by: Molly Blaisdell | October 01, 2007 at 06:56 PM
GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair
Posted by: Kimber An | October 02, 2007 at 05:45 AM
My nominee GAMES OF COMMAND is an adult book, not Young Adult. So, if this is restricted to YA and younger, you should remove it.
Posted by: Kimber An | October 02, 2007 at 05:51 AM
Hi Kimber,
Yes, nominees should be YA or younger. We realize that there are many crossover books, but we really want to recognize the excellence in writing that exists in the children's and YA areas.
Do you want to nominate something else?
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | October 02, 2007 at 06:15 AM
Peeps by Scott Westerfield
Posted by: Lena Coakley | October 02, 2007 at 07:46 AM
Jinx by Meg Cabot
Posted by: Jen | October 02, 2007 at 08:33 AM
Oops. Sorry, that wasn't 2007. Instead I will nominate Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel.
Posted by: Lena Coakley | October 02, 2007 at 08:59 AM
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan
Posted by: Melissa | October 02, 2007 at 09:49 AM
"The Gift of the Unmage" (Worldweavers #1) by Alma Alexander
Posted by: Deck Deckert | October 02, 2007 at 12:11 PM
"The Gift of the Unmage" (Worldweavers #1) by Alma Alexander
Posted by: Deck Deckert | October 02, 2007 at 12:11 PM
The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
Posted by: The Bibliophile | October 02, 2007 at 04:49 PM
D'oh! Just realized that my choice was actually published in hardcover in 2006...How about Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.
Posted by: The Bibliophile | October 02, 2007 at 05:02 PM
Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
Posted by: sarah | October 02, 2007 at 05:20 PM
First Light by Rebecca Stead
Posted by: Laurie | October 02, 2007 at 05:54 PM
The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer
Posted by: Sarah (a. fortis) | October 02, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger by Lee Edward Fodi.
Posted by: Mark Blevis | October 02, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Gray/Guardians by Kathy Porter
Posted by: Molly | October 02, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Gray/Guardians by Kathy Porter
Posted by: Molly | October 02, 2007 at 06:38 PM
Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Posted by: Ren | October 02, 2007 at 06:44 PM
Defect by Will Weaver, though maybe this is more in the YA fiction category?
Posted by: Anne-Marie - A Readable Feast | October 02, 2007 at 07:33 PM
I'm smart. Rats Saw God belongs in YA fiction. Can I nominate "Blood Bound" by Patricia Briggs instead?
Posted by: Peter | October 02, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Not sure if King of Attolia qualifies but if it does - that's my nom
Posted by: Gina MarySol Ruiz | October 02, 2007 at 10:03 PM
"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer should be nominated
Posted by: Beppie | October 02, 2007 at 11:53 PM
Anne-Marie, I haven't read Defect, but from the description it does sound like it belongs here.
Peter, thanks for changing your nomination. Not only does Rats Saw God belong in YA, but it was also originally published in 1996, so it isn't eligible anyway.
Gina, I'm really sorry, but King of Attolia was published last year, so it isn't eligible. Would you like to nominate something else?
Beppie, Twilight wasn't published this year, so it isn't eligible, and Eclipse has already been nominated. Is there another book that you'd like to nominate?
Thanks to everyone for the nominations! Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | October 03, 2007 at 04:56 AM
Skulduggery Pleasant! I can't believe it's not on here yet :)
Posted by: Kelly | October 03, 2007 at 06:20 AM
Skulduggery Pleasant! I can't believe it's not on here yet :)
Posted by: Kelly | October 03, 2007 at 06:20 AM
SENSITIVE by Nina Wright (Flux)
Posted by: Jaye Lew Greene | October 03, 2007 at 09:29 AM
THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex
Posted by: jennifer, aka literaticat | October 03, 2007 at 09:57 AM
The Alchemyst : The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Posted by: Jennifer | October 03, 2007 at 10:34 AM
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Beautifully written, gritty, urban setting, complex and relate-able main characters, excellent villains, and some truly original world-building!
Posted by: Ally Cowee | October 03, 2007 at 10:44 AM