Couldn’t Help Noticing…

That 5 of the 6 best novel nominees on this year’s final Nebula ballot are women! Is this unusual? Well, let’s see. Last year it was 2 out of 6. (Begin here and follow ‘Nebula thread’ links at the top to previous years.) In ’02, 3 out of 7. Then 3 out of 6, 2 out of 6, 3 out of 6, 4 out of 7, 3 out of 6, 1 out of 6 in ’96, then 2 out of 7, 1 out of 5, 4 out of 6 in ’93, 3 out of 6 in ’92, again in ’91. That’s far enough for the moment…