The Short List

[drosdelnoch]

After a long fought out epic campaign the David Gemmell Legend Award has come down to the final five. They’re slaughtered, butchered and above all fought heroically for their place in the final five despite some dodgy backroom tactics from alleged fans.

Shortly we’ll get to work on a new area for each author and allot them their own “Guild” which you the reading public can sign up for along with having the chance to show your support for your favourite author as well as letting people know why they should vote for your guy/girl. In short, the “Guild Members” are voting on who should become the Hero/ine of the Awards for its first year.

Now without further ado, the final five in alphabetical order:

ABERCROMBIE, Joe – Last Argument of Kings (Gollancz/Pyr)
MARILLIER, Juliet – Heir to Sevenwaters (Tor UK)
SANDERSON, Brandon - The Hero of Ages (Tor US)
SAPKOWSKI, Andrzej - Blood of Elves (Gollancz)
WEEKS, Brent - The Way of Shadows (Orbit)

Thank you to everyone who voted and we hope you’ll continue to support your “champion” for this next stage. So get those foam fingers at the ready, wave those pennon’s and above all support your favourite. After all your vote could make all the difference between your author winning or just getting pipped at the post.

[Krissy]

Brent Weeks is on the list, that needs to win, but well done to all the authors who have made the list and good luck for next time to the others that didn't.

[Steve Hardy]

Very good list! I have enjoyed reading 4 of them. Now to read the 5th.

[Rebecca]

I am in need of a good read, where shall i start with these 5 authors/books???

[ediFanoB]

Some books I expected and some not. That means an interesting list.

Drosdelnoch, I don't want to be perceptive but the name of Andrzej Sapkowski has been spelled wrong. There is a "k" missing.

[Adam Whitehead]

Sad not to see Kearney on there, as his book was the most 'Gemmell-like' by about a light-year.

For me it's Abercrombie all the way. Last Argument of Kings is the best conclusion to a fantasy trilogy, erm, ever (if you don't count Lord of the Rings as a trilogy). Sapkowski and Sanderson are also pretty good.

[Liviu]

For me it's Way of Shadows all the way; Night Angel was a great trilogy and Mr. Weeks just kept getting better and better both in this one and in the trilogy as a whole as well as bringing new stuff continuously and throwing surprise after surprise. I loved First Law and Before They Are Hanged was my top sff book of 07, but I felt that LAOK while good enough was a step back since it had very little new stuff and failed to live up to my admittedly very high expectations.

[JenMo]

Way of the Shadows was great, but the end was all too pretty and neatly done. Hero of Ages lost some of the strength of emotion the first two had, that being said, it was still intricate and masterfully woven. But Last Arguement of Kings is fierce, and stays true to itself, while it comes full circle, it isn't "neat" when all is said and done. LAOK felt more gritty and true than the others, which makes it a great book, but also puts it in the class with Gemmell.

[Matija]

I'm sorry Peter V. Brett didn't make it to the list. I enjoyed The Painted Man more than Weeks or Sapkowsky. But Abercrombie is still the best, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

[Deborah J Miller - Award Administrator]

Hi guys - glad you're all so excited and pleased with the Shortlist!
I should just add that Joe Abercrombie's 'Last Arguement' is a duel nomination from Gollancz AND Pyr, in the US...

Hope you all had a great Easter. I'm just back from Eastercon in Bradford - very tired and a bit sore from lugging around a suitcase full of books!

[Andrew Guile]

BLAST!

I haven't read any of them!!!

I have Weeks's book though so I will start with that.