2011 was a great year for the fantasy book genre. There were some highly anticipated sequels in book series but also awesome newcomers. I’m guessing you, like me, never have enough time for reading and experiencing the fantasy world and that’s why it’s a good thing to keep an eye on the fantasy book awards. Reading the books that are awarded aren’t a guarantee that you’ll love it but the chances are pretty big. If you are looking for some great reads or just are curious about which were the winner of the fantasy book awards 2011 keep on reading. The fantasy book awards 2011 that will be presented are the best novels of the World fantasy awards, the Hugo awards and Good reads choice awards. There will also be a short summary of the books for those interested.

World fantasy awards

As mentioned, one of the fantasy book awards 2011 was the the World fantasy awards. The winner for best novel was Nnedi Okorafor for his book Who fears death. This is an attempt to mix fantasy and science fiction. Even though the end result is fantastic I have to mention that the science fiction part is lacking a bit.

Okorafor’s usually writes fantasy books for young adults but this time she directs her writing at an adult audience. Who feras death is not really a traditional fantasy novel but a combination of history and tradition, advanced technology, culture and true love in a future fantasy Africa. The story centers on Onyesonwu who is of mixed-race. She is the daughter of the two fighting tribes, the Nuru and the Okeke. For a long time the Nurus’, who live a more urban life, has killed and persecuted the craftspeople of the Okeke. We get to enter the story when plans of total eradication are in the making. One of the weapons used in the cruel war is rape, something Onyesonwu knows about.

The Hugo award

Another of the fantasy book awards 2011 was The Hugo award. It was given at the 69th World science fiction convention in Reno. The winner for best novel was presented to Connie Willis for his work Blackout/All clear. The Hugo award for is each year given to the best science fiction OR fantasy work. The award for 2011 was given to a science fiction piece. I know the title of this article says “fantasy book awards 2011” but I decided to include this one anyway because it’s worth reading even if you’re not a huge science fiction fan.

Blackout and All clear are two volumes that were released on separate dates during 2010. The story is basically about time travel during the mid 21st century. It may be a well-visited subject but don’t let that stop you from reading this book. In Blackout/All clear historians time travel to do field work as observers. The historians are sent through the portal “the Net” that functions by certain rules that prevent them from visiting certain times and places. The firm belief is that no historians can change the past, they are just there as observers, but as not just war but history is starting to spin out of control that truth might be proven wrong.

Good reads choice awards

One of the biggest online fantasy awards 2011 was the Good reads choice awards. George R.R. Martin was voted winner in the category of best fantasy books. It was his book A dance with dragons that got him there. This novel is the fifth book in the praised series A song of ice and fire.

A dance with dragons is a book about the increasingly chaotic time in Seven Kingdoms. Threats and enemies are everywhere and coming from all sides. The wall of ice and stone in the north is threatened from both the inside and the out. Dearnys dragons are dangerously big and fierce and everyone wants their hands on them. The last time a war was fought with dragons it resulted in total destruction. It will ultimately lead to the greatest dance of all.

In a world where all are alike there would only be one winner in the fantasy book awards 2011, fortunately this is not the case. Instead we get a couple, very different, reading suggestions that can brighten our lives many days ahead. No matter if you’re into history, darkness or true heroes, there are some magic for all of us in the fantasy book awards 2011.