I WON THE TIPTREE AWARD!
Posted: April 4, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 18 Comments
The press release says: “[The Girl in the Road] is a painful, challenging, glorious novel about murder, quests, self-delusion, and a stunning science fictional big idea: What would it be like to walk—walk—-the length of a few-meter-wide wave generator stretching across the open sea from India to Africa, with only what you can carry on your back? The novel tackles with profound compassion and insight relationships between gender and culture, and gender and violence. It provides us, in the end, with a nuanced portrait of violence against women, in a variety of forms, and violence perpetrated by women. Through the eyes of two narrators linked by a single act of violence, the reader is brought to confront shifting ideas of gender, class, and human agency and dignity.”
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James Tiptree was the pseudonym of Alice B. Sheldon, a science fiction writer prolific throughout the 60s and 70s. When “he” died, the revelation that Tiptree was actually a woman was met with widespread disbelief. Especially from the male writers who’d asserted that Tiptree couldn’t possibly be a woman, as the works were too “masculine” to be written by a woman, and/or, ya know, too good.
Como decimos ahora: fuck that.
Since 1991, the James Tiptree Jr. Award has been given annually for a work that expands understanding of gender and sexuality. This year, the Motherboard of WisCon has awarded it to me for The Girl in the Road and to Jo Walton for My Real Children.
It means at least three things:
(1) I get to travel to Madison for the 2015 WisCon, which will be my first-ever convention.
(2) I will get to see many people I love, including Stan Robinson, who’s the Guest of Honor, and meet many more who I’ve only ever known online.
(3) I. GET. TO. WEAR. A. TIARA.
Catherynne Valente crowned as the Tiptree Winner in 2007. Photo by Dmitri Zagidulin.
Geoff Ryman crowned as the Tiptree Winner in 2006. Photo by Liz Henry.
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monica byrne 
Congratulations! This book deserves so much attention! I still think about it often because it hit me in a deep and meaningful way. I look forward to your next book. 🙂
Thank you so much.
Reblogged this on inertial confinement and commented:
I am reblogging this because this book hit me in a powerful way. It is more than worth checking out.
According to Locus Magazine, “Each author will receive $1,000 in prize money, original artwork created to honor the winning works, and chocolate.”
http://www.locusmag.com/News/2015/04/tiptree-awards-winner-announced-byrne-and-walton/
Indeed, I know! 🙂
I also get SUNG TO.
Previous example of “original artwork.” Wow.
Hm. Artwork link was eaten in prior post — take two: http://www.facebook.com/TiptreeAward/photos/pcb.774438972596513/774438725929871/?type=1&theater
Holy shit, that’s amazing. I bet that was for Catherynne Valente.
I love this artwork – probably cos thirty times as much cos it’s mine, for Rupetta, which won last year 🙂
It also means another amazing new dress, no? Congratulations!
Oh yes. I already have one picked out. It’s very pink and flouffy.
Congratulations! This is wonderful news for a wonderful book.
Ah, that’s YOUR award! So cool! And thank you for the kind words, Nike. Will I get to meet you at WisCon!?
It’s very cool – am sure yours will be stunning.
Sadly I won’t be there this year – but am sure you will meet thousands of amazing fans and friends.
AWARD-WINNING NOVEL
😉