Yesterday's Clarke Award shortlist announcement seems to have generally been greeted with a hearty "hmm." Ian Sales was expecting a more literary shortlist, and detects a slight old-fashionedness about the nominees; Martin Wisse seems to be of similar mind. James Nicoll is composing mocking posts in the event that Bear, Rogers or Tepper win. Jared at Pornokitsch is baffled by the inclusion of The Waters Rising in particular, although Nicholas Whyte didn't think it was that bad. Justin at Staffer's Book Review gets into the genre question, and in the Guardian chair of judges Andrew M Butler claims the shortlist has "something for everyone".