Venomous Lumpsucker sucks up prestigious 2023 Clarke Award (award news).
To the shock, awe, and suppressed giggles of the literary world, Venomous Lumpsucker has claimed the 37th Arthur C. Clarke Award for the science fiction book of the year. This biting satire by Ned Beauman, one of the quirkiest novel titles of the decade, was bestowed the honour at a ceremony held at the iconic St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square.
Attendees, who varied from revered authors to the biggest sci-fi geeks, were in stitches as the announcement was made. One could only speculate whether the laughter was due to the riveting content of the book or its unforgettable name. Or perhaps, the irony that a book with such a title received one of the most esteemed awards in science fiction.
Award Director Tom Hunter chimed in, describing the book as a “bleakly funny novel where humanity’s greatest punchline may be its own inevitable end.”
Beauman, obviously elated (and a tad bemused), received the traditional trophy of a commemorative engraved bookend and prize money amounting to £2023.00. A thoughtful nod to the current year, this incrementing award value is a tribute to the late Sir Arthur C. Clarke. One can’t help but wonder what Clarke would’ve thought of a book named Venomous Lumpsucker receiving an award in his honour.
With judges coming from the echelons of the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation, and the SCI-FI-LONDON film festival, there was no stone left unturned in the hunt for this year’s winner. And after hours of deliberation, their choice was, frankly, well, just sucking brilliant.
