The Interzone Readers' Poll is running now through March 31. Any story or art published last year by Interzone is eligible. You can vote for or against the stories and art over on the Interzone forum or by emailing Martin McGrath at interzonepoll@ntlworld.com.
I've been honored to have my stories win the last two readers' polls: "When Thorns Are the Tips of Trees" in 2008 and my novella "Sublimation Angels" in 2009. While I have a number of stories eligible for this year's award, it would not be appropriate to campaign since I've twice won the poll.
My votes this year are (in alphabetical order by author):
- "Flying in the Face of God" by Nina Allen (issue 227)
- "The Shipmaker" by Aliette de Bodard (issue 231)
- "The Shoe Factory" by Matthew Cook (issue 231)
- "Orchestral Manoevures In The Dark Matter" by Jim Hawkins (issue 229)
- "A Passion for Art" by David D. Levine (issue 228)
- "Dance of the Kawkawroons" by Mercurio D. Rivera (issue 227)
- "Alternate Girl's Expatriate Life" by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz (issue 229)
- "Again and Again and Again" by Rachel Swirsky (issue 226)
- "The Insurance Agent" by Lavie Tidhar (issue 230)
For the artwork, that's a hard call. Warwick Fraser-Coombe illustrated all six covers for Interzone in 2010; when combined, the covers create this impressive image. If I had to pick one person to win the award, it would be him because of the sheer scale and beauty of what he accomplished. But there were also a number of great interior illustrations.
My votes for best art are:
- All 6 covers by Warwick Fraser-Coombe (and their combined illustration)
- Illustration for "Peacemaker, Peacemaker, Little Po Beep" by Warwick Fraser-Coombe (issue 231)
- Illustration for "Plague Birds" by Darren Winter (issue 228)
- Illustration for "The Shipmaker" by Richard Wagner (issue 231)
I've cast no negative votes for either stories or art.