It has been with special interest, as someone who counts Le Guin as one of their favorite authors, that I've followed the recipients of the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction since its inception. First awarded in 2022, the Prize is awarded to a writer whose work "reflects the concepts and ideas that were central to Ursula’s own work, including but not limited to: hope, equity, and freedom; non-violence and alternatives to conflict; and a holistic view of humanity’s place in the natural world." For several years the Prize introduced me to fascinating new authors.
This year's winner is Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera. I am familiar with Chandrasekera but have been intrigued by the premises of his books since first hearing about The Saint of Bright Doors. That his work aligns with the concepts and ideas of Le Guin's work moves Rakesfall considerably higher in my TBR.
Winners of The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction are chosen by a panel of SFF authors. This year's panel included the authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse. The panel had this to say about Rakesfall
“As fluid and changing as water, Rakesfall funnels genre, narrative structures, characters, and our conception of time into a spiritual kaleidoscope. Rakesfall trusts us to follow, across the literary equivalent of light years, a deeply felt and moving story of grief, loss, and ultimately hope to savor in dark times. Like Le Guin, Vajra Chandrasekera writes about colonialism and power with a kind of moral clarity and strength that speaks to the heart as well as the mind. He has created a masterclass of the possibilities inherent in fiction. Rakesfall is an extraordinary achievement in science fiction, and a titanic work of art.”
Take a look at the video below iIf you'd like to watch the announcement video and Chandrasekera's full acceptance speech.
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