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          Segment 1: Warm Up (175 lines)


<Moderator> hi all. :-)
<Abbey> hi
<Moderator> Hi Abbey. :-)
<Lorrie> Maybe we should start talking about the Nebs?  :P  It's
     far too quiet in here!
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<Moderator> hey M!
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<Rev> this is a test
<Moderator> hey Rev
<Lorrie> we're alive Rev.  :P  People are chatting in #neb_lounge
     kinda
<Abbey> came through fine, Rev
<Rev> Hey Jim
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<Info> hi all
<Fox> Yo Info
<Fox> Or Jim
<Fox> Or someone
<Info> OK everybody, just to get things warmed up a bit, here are
     the nominees for Best Novel. :-)
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> *          Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award:           *
<Info> *                     Best Novel                     *
<Info> *                                                    *
<Info> * _A Game of Thrones_, George R.R. Martin            *
<Info> *          (Bantam Spectra, Aug96)                   *
<Info> * _Ancient Shores_, Jack McDevitt                    *
<Info> *          (HarperPrism, Apr96)                      *
<Info> * _Bellwether_, Connie Willis                        *
<Info> *          (Bantam Spectra, Apr96)                   *
<Info> * _City On Fire_, Walter Jon Williams                *
<Info> *          (HarperPrism, Jan97)                      *
<Info> * _King's Dragon_, Kate Elliot                       *
<Info> *          (DAW, Feb97)                              *
<Info> * _Memory_, Lois McMaster Bujold                     *
<Info> *          (Baen, Oct96)                             *
<Info> * _The Moon and the Sun_, Vonda N. McIntyre          *
<Info> *          (Pocket Books, Sep97)                     *
<Info> *                                                    *
<Info> ******************************************************
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<Fox> Up in lights.  Very pretty *8)
<Lorrie> So has anyone read any of those?
<Moderator> I try. :-)
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<Robt> LOL
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<Christoph> Lorrie, I've read all but the McDevitt and the
     Williams.
<Abbey> Half those aren't even available here in Australia except
     by special order
<Lorrie> I haven't read any of them, that's why I'm asking!  :P
<Andy_R> Likewise here in England, Abbey.
<Robt> Cristoph are you kidding?  
<bullet> Bellwether was terrific!
<Robt> Moderator is this being logged?
<Abbey> I have a copy of Memory but I haven't read it yet
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<Christoph> I make an effort to read all of the neb, Hugo, and 
     Stoker recommendations every year.
<Christoph> Oops, not recs, nominees.
<Christoph> Significant difference in numbers there.
<Robt> Cristoph me too.  You missed two great books.
<Moderator> Yes, chats in both rooms are being logged, and we
     should have it available after the chat (maybe a day or two
     to edit it down).
<Marilee> I've read almost all of the nominees.
<Christoph> BRB
<Robt> Cristoph, all the nominees are great books, it is an honor
     just to be nominated.
<Moderator> Cool, Marilee, any favorites going in?
<Robt> Williams didn't get the nod last year for City on Fire's
     prequel, do you think that might affect the voting this year?
<Marilee> Sorry, I'm just going into my chat room.  I'm the host
     for the Other*Worlds*Cafe 9pm chat tonight, and I'll be
     relaying..
<Marilee> info into our AOL chatters.  Just a sec.
<Marilee> Or in to, even. ;)
<Moderator> ok, cool. :-)
<Christoph> Robert, I actually think the Hugo crop was (unusually)
     _much_ stronger than the Neb crop of novels this year.
     Marilee do I know you from AOL about a hundred years ago? I
     would have been ChrisRowe or something like that.
<Marilee> Ha!  The man who kept my A PLANET CALLED TREASON for two
     years!
<Christoph> But returned it signed!
<Robt> Orson Scott Card used to produce some great fiction in
     those days.
<Marilee> LOL  True. :)
<Christoph> Read them the inscription Marilee.
<Marilee> I can't, I have chatters in the room, I can't leave the
     computer.
<Christoph> Let's see if I can remember it...
<Lorrie> Hehe, Marilee!  :P
<Christoph> "Marilee, Chris Rowe stood in line in the rain for
     four hours to get this book signed for you. Orson Scott
     Card."
<Marilee> Yep, something like that. :)
<MMF> That's impressive.
<Christoph> Also a lie, of course, but Card was good humored about
     the whole thing.
<Robt> Christoph, that is an interesting comment re the two
     different awards lineups, considering which two neb nominees
     you havent read :)
<Marilee> Oof!  Too many windows.
<Christoph> Wow, did I time that right or what?
<Christoph> Heh, good point Robert.
<Robt> hehe
<Robt> Moderator, check out the discussion in #lobby
<Christoph> I'll restate. Based on my readings from the various
     bodies of work of all the involved authors, I think the Hugo
     lineup is stronger than the Neb lineup (in the novel field.) 
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<Marilee> For novel, I think it's hard to pick between ANCIENT
     SHORES, BELLWETHER, and MEMORY.  I really liked all three,
     but if I *had* to choose, I guess BELLWETHER.  It was very
     sharp.
<Robt> I won't comment further: this is being logged. :)
<Christoph> Hey, I'm not saying any of the books were bad. Only
     stating an opinion as to various levels of good. ;)
<Christoph> By the way, I'd like to state that even though I do my
     net stuff under the name Christopher, my real name is Robert
     Rogoff.
<MMF> BWAHAHAHHAAHA!
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<Robt> LOL Chris Rowe, you dont know my net reputation very well
     :p
<Marilee> For novellas, I like "Abandon in Place" and "... Where
     Angels Fear To Tread" best, but I must admit..
<Marilee> to being a friend of Allen.
<Christoph> Nah. I don't know _anybody's_ net reputation very
     well. I'm feeling my way along.
<Robt> Chris: trust me-- you dont want anyone to think you're me.
     ;)
<Christoph> I want everybody to think I'm Gharlane of Eddore.
<Lorrie> Anyone want the list of novellas?
<MMF> Oh, come on, the Eddorian isn't that bad.
<Robt> Chris: you mean you aren't???
<Abbey> yes please Lorrie
<Info> ******************************************************
<Info> *          Nominees for 1997 Nebula Award:           *
<Info> *                  Best Novella                      *
<Info> *                                                    *
<Info> * "Abandon in Place", Jerry Oltion                   *
<Info> *          (F&SF, Dec96)                             *
<Info> * "Chrysalis", Robert Reed                           *
<Info> *          (Asimov's, Sep96)                         *
<Info> * "Loose Ends", Paul Levinson                        *
<Info> *          (Analog, May97)                           *
<Info> * "Primrose and Thorn", Bud Sparhawk                 *
<Info> *          (Analog, May96)                           *
<Info> * "The Funeral March of the Marionettes",            *
<Info> *          Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF, Jul97)            *
<Info> * "...Where Angels Fear to Tread", Allen Steele      *
<Info> *          (Asimov's, Oct/Nov97)                     *
<Info> *                                                    *
<Info> ******************************************************
<Christoph> Actually, I just picked up that Old Earth Books
     reproduction of the book he got that name from, Triplanetary?
     Raucous stuff! Dated, but tons of fun.
<MMF> He keeps telling me that I have to find the Lensman books
     and read them.
<bullet> Has anyone read any of the novella nominees?
<MMF> I keep saying, yeah, yeah, get in line.
<Marilee> Of Allens, Chris?  They've done his last two
     anthologies.
<Robt> I would put my money on the Adam Troy Castro novella except
     this is being logged so I won't.
<Christoph> I've read everything but the Sparhawk.
<Marilee> I liked that, Robt, but not as well as the others.