The judges for the Sunburst Award got together to select the short list. Every time we have to kick someone off the island the job gets trickier, because each book has its champion, and some books are really controversial. But we did it! We have a short list! And it is one we can all support because it is a bit divisive, but it shows the breadth of spec fic because of that, rather than compromising on safer choices. It really reflects the fact that we are all experts from wildly different backgrounds and perspectives.