Whoa! Tachyons!

As in ... I did not see this coming.

A bit over a month ago, I was delighted to discover (see A(n inter)stellar start to the day) that my latest novel, InterstellarNet: Enigma, was a finalist for the inaugural Canopus Award for interstellar-themed fiction. The award aims to recognize "works that contribute to the excitement, knowledge, and understanding of interstellar space exploration and travel."

The awards were, well, awarded Friday evening October 30. I wasn't able to attend, but I prepared a few remarks just in case. And -- mirabile dictu -- I woke up this morning to read that InterstellarNet: Enigma had won!

Here's what I sent to the emcee to read if lightning struck:

About a year ago I had the pleasure of attending a 100 Year Starship Symposium. A large -- but perhaps not surprising -- number of the participants were science-fiction fans. Several of us (and not only me) were SF authors. And so, for me, a highlight of that weekend was the 100YSS announcement of an award program dedicated to  interstellar-themed SF.

I wasn't always an author. I'm a physicist, in part, by training. I was a contractor for NASA for seven years. And so, when I did start writing, my fiction often considered how long-range space travel might really happen.

Merely to have seen InterstellarNet: Enigma named as one of the finalists for an inaugural Canopus Award, alongside the works of so many talented colleagues, was an honor. You can't imagine how delighted I am that my book has won the award. (Or, anyway, how delighted I will be. Alas, I was unable to be at the ceremony tonight. You're getting this news ahead of me.)

I'd like to thank the Canopus Award panel for this greatly appreciated recognition. I'd also like to thank a few people who, like me, aren't here tonight, but whom I hope will see these remarks once I post about this news. First is Trevor Quachri, editor at Analog, for publishing two stories that morphed into the opening of InterstellarNet: Enigma. Next is Roger MacBride Allen, publisher and editor at FoxAcre Press, for his extensive support for this (and the earlier) InterstellarNet novels. Last, but certainly not least, I thank my first and favorite reader -- my wife, Ruth -- who has shared the adventure with me through many a draft.

An award for adventures of interstellar travel? That's pretty cool. The prospect that by writing such stories I can inspire progress toward making interstellar travel real? That’s awesome.

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Here, courtesy of SFWA, is a more formal version of the announcement.