Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud has won the first Cybil for science fiction and fantasy! I was happy with our short list, but I am absolutely delighted with this choice for winner. I thought this book was a "nearly perfect balance of character, plot, situation, voice, and just about everything." I cannot say enough about how good this book is.
And you know I don't love just any book that's published.
One of the things I learned on the nominating panel is that to be a successful fantasy (by successful I mean successful as a work, not in the marketplace) the fantasy world has to be very unique and very detailed. The world of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, (Ptolemy's Gate is the final book) is all that.
And Bartimaeus--what a great character.
And Ptolemy's Gate is a complete work, all by itself. It doesn't need its predecessors.
Hey, I am just thrilled about this.
Check out the Cybils site for the winners in the other categories. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist won, too!
Wow. This is the most excited I've ever been about an awards announcement.
Yes, I think all the committees did an outstanding job. I was pleased with the winner, too. I also like how the judging committee's blurb captured that Ptolemy's Gate is a perfect conclusion to the series - and a perfect book if you read it by itself. Not many books can say that!
ReplyDeleteCertainly it's the most I've ever been excited about an awards announcement, too.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I haven't read the Bartimaeus Trilogy yet, after having trouble getting into the first one. But I ordered Ptolemy's Gate today, and I will be giving it another try.
Have a great day! Jen Robinson
I was so excited when I heard Ptolemy's Gate won. I think this book is just brilliant. Stunning. Amazing. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd, it's my 11-year-old's favorite book. She's read it several times over and listened to it four or five times as well.
Read it, Jen. It's amazing. Or, actually, it's a fab audio title as well.
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ReplyDeleteI am SO excited that Ptolemy's Gate won, too!! Ditto to Kelly--stunning and brilliant is right!
ReplyDeleteSuch a relief that a book I really loved won !
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