Collected works

摘要

Science fiction has a poor track record at foretelling the future—just as well in the light of most of this year's short list for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for the best SF novel published in Britain. These warn of near-futures we should desperately hope never happen—visions and echoes not of humanity's hopes and dreams, but rather of fears and nightmares looming over the end of this millennium. The one thing you can be sure of with the Clarke award is that it rarely goes to the safe choice. The judges, who include authors, critics, fans and the odd scientist, tend to be a bloody-minded bunch.