Connie Willis has won SFWA's Grand Master award. Richly deserved, of course. In fact, it's overdue. Not only did she have the credentials years ago, but she has already written the sort of book one does after establishing Grand Mastership.
Blackout/All Clear has all the signs: extra-long (in fact, it's in two parts
like my ass), set in the old familiar territory, and a good-parts version* in which the author does what she does well and enjoys and leaves out what she doesn't (in this case, research on the ancient World War II period in the exotic United Kingdom). And as ever, the book is appreciated by purchasers and Hugo voters despite the complaints of critics.
* Thanks to Darrell Schweitzer for noticing what a useful critical term that is.
Thanx to
Whatever.