It hurts to lose, but not to such a deserving winner.

You may recall that my story “Who Won the Battle of Arsia Mons?” was one of five finalists for the 2017 Reader’s Poll at Clarkesworld magazine.

Today, the winner was announced: “A Series of Steaks” by Vina Jie-Min Prasad. This story is also a finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award for best novelette.

As soon as I read it, I knew I had stiff competition.

If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to read it now. It tells about a woman who makes illegal beef forgeries in China and the perils she faces, and there’s a happy ending.

Congratulations, Vina!

— Sue Burke