My vote for best SF/Fantasy novel of the year is Richard K. Morgan's The Steel Remains. He's the guy who wrote Altered Carbon, one of the best SF novels of all time. Steel Remains is his first fantasy novel.

That's an embarrassing list.
I don't care how much you loove steampunk, Boneshaker = ungood writing/pacing.
Life and the Flesh is more primer than story.

IM about 3/4 of the way through Boneshaker and I am really enjoying it.

Boneshaker surprised me as a Nebula shortlister. Not that it's bad, but it's less "writerly" than the other books. I'd expect to see it on the Hugo ballot, which is more of a popularity contest.

I approve of a lot of that list. Read and enjoyed Boneshaker, The Windup Girl, and just about everything by Mr. Mieville. I'll for sure check out the remaining books on it.

The City and the City by Mieville wasn't just one of the best science fiction books of the year, it was one of the best books of any genere or none.

Boneshaker got on the shortlist for a Nebula? Really? I thought it was okay, but lightweight and more than a bit silly. Too serious at times to be taken as a comedy. Too silly at times to be taken seriously. A fun read, but not Nebula-worthy.

I heartily endorse China Mieville, however. One of my current favorite authors.

Eh. Paul, I have nothing against a love of different genre fiction. And I loved both The City and the City and Boneshaker. But for you the focus is so much on sci-fi, steampunk, and comic books. It gets a bit tedious. This is really no slam on your interests. But, I'd love to see some general literary fiction touted to the same degree as the genre stuff.

That is indeed an all-star line-up. I noticed that you didn't specifically mention Paolo Bacigalupi (who is nominated for both his novel and a short story). Have you read any of his work? If you enjoy the others in the shortlist, you might adore his very grim view of our near future.

I just finished Boneshaker and looked up this recommendation to bitch out Constant a little. BONESHAKER IS NOT VERY GOOD. Amateur!!! :(

THIS IS THE KIND OF BOOK THAT IS SO UNINTERESTING IN A LITERARY SENSE THAT WHEN I GOT TO THE CLIMAX, I PUT IT DOWN.
I honestly didn't care how it ended and it took me several days just to read the last 20 pages.
I do not thank you for motivating me to read this book. What an annoyance. I even bought it. Do not buy this book. Priest does not deserve your money for this one. I haven't read her others; perhaps those are more worthy.
Character development was shallow. And the plot? gah! This is one of those sci fi/fantasy books that use the novel format simply as a vehicle for creating some geeky new world that geeks can geek out on. After about the third time she described what wearing the goddamm gas masks was like I wanted to throw the book across the room. All the description just seemed like a way to give geeks at conventions good instruction for costumes. And zombies. Oooh scary, ZOMBIES. Just an excuse for zombies. So those looking for an actual story with any kind of intrigue or suspense or interest can just go suck it.

This is the book:
Creepy new alternative Seattle.
You meet a series of characters.
Zombies.
The characters go do stuff, some zombies are killed.
There is never any doubt about how the story will turn out.
Bleh.