The Ragged Astronauts
1986 novel by Bob Shaw
978-0-575-03639-0
The Ragged Astronauts is a novel by Bob Shaw published in 1986 by Gollancz. It is the first book in the series Land and Overland. It won the BSFA Award for Best Novel.
Plot summary
The Ragged Astronauts is a novel in which people can use a hot-air balloon for interplanetary travel between twin planets that share the same atmosphere.[1] The feudal residents of Land have to migrate to the nearby planet of Overland due to overexploitation of resources on their homeworld. The story is told from the perspective of nobleman Toller Maraquine who clashes with a military Prince before and during the chaotic evacuation accelerated by rioting and a global pandemic.
Reception
Dave Langford reviewed The Ragged Astronauts for White Dwarf #81, and stated that "Pi, in this book, equals 3. Therefore the universe isn't ours, the gravitational constant is different, and physicists will kindly pipe down."[1]
Reviews
- Review by Chris Morgan (1986) in Fantasy Review, September 1986
- Review by Dan Chow (1986) in Locus, #309 October 1986
- Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #96 September 1987
- Review by Orson Scott Card (1987) in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 1987
- Review by Paul Kincaid (1987) in Foundation, #38 Winter 1986/87
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | BSFA Award for Best Novel | Won | [2] |
| 1987 | Arthur C. Clarke Award | Nominated | [3] |
| 1987 | Hugo Award for Best Novel | Nominated | [4] |
| 1987 | Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel | 25 | [5] |
References
- ^ a b Langford, Dave (September 1986). "Critical Mass". White Dwarf (81). Games Workshop: 16.
- ^ "Previous BSFA Award winners". British Science Fiction Association. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Arthur C. Clarke Award 1987". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ "1987 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Locus Awards 1987". Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
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BSFA Award for Best Novel
- Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1969)
- The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner (1970)
- Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke (1973)
- Inverted World by Christopher Priest (1974)
- Orbitsville by Bob Shaw (1975)
- Brontomek! by Michael G. Coney (1976)
- The Jonah Kit by Ian Watson (1977)
- A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick (1978)
- The Unlimited Dream Company by J. G. Ballard (1979)
- Timescape by Gregory Benford (1980)
- The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (1981)
- Helliconia Spring by Brian W. Aldiss (1982)
- Tik-Tok by John Sladek (1983)
- Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock (1984)
- Helliconia Winter by Brian W. Aldiss (1985)
- The Ragged Astronauts by Bob Shaw (1986)
- Gráinne by Keith Roberts (1987)
- Lavondyss by Robert Holdstock (1988)
- Pyramids by Terry Pratchett (1989)
- Take Back Plenty by Colin Greenland (1990)
- The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons (1991)
- Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (1992)
- Aztec Century by Christopher Evans (1993)
- Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. Banks (1994)
- The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter (1995)
- Excession by Iain M. Banks (1996)
- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (1997)
- The Extremes by Christopher Priest (1998)
- The Sky Road by Ken MacLeod (1999)
- Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle (2000)
- Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds (2001)
- The Separation by Christopher Priest (2002)
- Felaheen by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (2003)
- River of Gods by Ian McDonald (2004)
- Air by Geoff Ryman (2005)
- End of the World Blues by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (2006)
- Brasyl by Ian McDonald (2007)
- The Night Sessions by Ken MacLeod (2008)
- The City & the City by China Miéville (2009)
- The Dervish House by Ian McDonald (2010)
- The Islanders by Christopher Priest (2011)
- Jack Glass by Adam Roberts (2012)
- Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L. Powell (tie) (2013)
- Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie (2014)
- The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard (2015)
- Europe in Winter by Dave Hutchinson (2016)
- The Rift by Nina Allan (2017)
- Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell (2018)
- Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2019)
- The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (2020)
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