Books, Website Information | Elena Nola | April 20, 2010 at 7:18 pm
The final round of BSC’s fourth annual Book Tournament (best of 2009) came down to Michael J. Sullivan’s Avempartha and Catherynne Valente’s Palimpsest. It was everything a year-end best of contest should be: democratically selected, round-by-round from 64 of the most-discussed titles of the year; weighted in favor of informed voters who can argue why their choice is the best; publicly chosen (we know the meaning of transparency around here!); and symbolized with a tight graphic from one of the competitors (thanks, Michael!).
So what was the contention? Traditional sword and sworcery vs. lyrical mysticism. Series vs. stand-alone title. A title no one knows how to say vs. a title no one knows how to spell.
The race was closely matched, with the lead changing hands back and forth several times through the week of voting and arguing. No one appeared to change their vote based on the eloquence of the other team, and both of the competitors dropped in to shake hands and rally their supporters. But, as with the Highlanders, in the end there could be only one…winner. Without any question, based on total number of votes as well as the total points allotted for the vote plus articulate reason, the best book of 2009, according to BSC readers, was…
…AVEMPARTHA!
Congratulations, Michael J. Sullivan! And congratulations as well to Catherynne Valente for falling to only one book and getting herself nominated for a Hugo!
Thanks to all of you who participated in our tournament this year–hope to see you back next year!
(As copied from http://www.bscreview.com/2010/04/2009-book-tournament-winner/)
Thanks to BSC for giving me the chance to compete. This was wonderful. And a special thank you to everyone who came out to support Riyria. I am not joking or exaggerating when I say this maybe the only contest I have ever won in my life, and oddly enough I didn’t do anything but watch. Now I know how Royce and Hadrian feel when they are hanging helpless in a dungeon awaiting elimination only to be unexpectedly saved.
You folks are truly great.