Once More Unto the Breach: The Goodreads 2012 Choice Awards

Esteemed agents, faithful readers, and those of you who have cheered for our honours and awards, Miss Braun and I come to you once more as we did a year ago from this time. We are thrilled to announce that, yes, there are times where history does repeat itself.

Perhaps you have heard our intrepid journalists, Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, discuss on their respective archives the recent development for The Janus Affair. In case you have missed those æthertweets or Facetome posts, we have some ripping good news: We at the Ministry received word from the delightful ætherwebs’ network, Goodreads, that The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel — after being nominated for a 2013 Bookie Award — has been short listed for Best Science Fiction of 2012!

Miss Braun and I dared a look at those in our company and what an honour this is! Alongside our journalists are writers such as:

• John Scalzi
• Alastair Reynolds
• Terry Pratchett
• Jack Campbell
• Orson Scott Card
• David Weber

I can speak plainly for both myself and Miss Braun that we are within a delightful and talented score of adventures in this round, and most grateful for this accolade. Our gratitude, however, does not mean we want to stop here. Running alongside Hugo winners, Nebula winners, and New York Times bestsellers, our desire is simply to keep The Janus Affair in the running. To do that, we need your help.

At present the Goodreads Choice Awards has two voting sessions remaining:

• Opening Round: until November 10, 2012
  You can vote for one of the nominees in each category, or write in titles you find deserving of this honor. (Happening presently.)
• Semifinals: November 12 – November 17, 2011
  You can vote for one of the now 20 nominees in each category.
• Finals: November 19 – November 27, 2011
  The field narrows to the top 10 books in each category, and you have one last chance to vote.

Last year, we placed 8th in the Final Rankings. This year, we wish to make the Finals again. This time — higher rankings!

If you haven’t voted yet, and you have an account with Goodreads, take a moment to vote for us and other books worthy of your attention and affection! We wish represent the steampunk genre in Goodreads’ Top Ten Science Fiction for 2012. Rest assured that between now and the end of November, we have no intention of turning our ætherblog or æthertweets into mindless rhetoric concerning this award. But we will not allow this opportunity to go gently into the night. Expect to see:

• Æthertweets from Miss Braun and myself asking for your vote
• Facebook posts from both our journalists, asking for your vote
• And perhaps, a quick blogpost reminding you of deadlines and where we stand

So please vote. If you have voted already, ask colleagues in your Goodreads network to voice their support for the Ministry. Together, we shall bring the boilers to full and keep our humble steampunk adventure in the running!