Public servants, policy types find common interest in science fiction
“It’s awesome,” said Marie Bilodeau who is in the running for her novel Destiny's Blood. “I think it shows we’re a very effective critique group and serious writers.”
Bilodeau is one of seven members of a writing group – all of whom happen to have day jobs related to politics, public service or lobbying in Ottawa.
“We call ourselves the East Block Irregulars and the reason is I have an office in the East Block and we occasionally come here to meet,” said Hayden Trenholm, a policy advisor for Liberal Senator Nick Sibbeston.
Trenholm is nominated for his novel Stealing Home and a short story called "The Burden of Fire.” He calls his work “political science fiction,” a blend of political science and science fiction.
“I’m very concerned about personal liberty and how societies function and what happens when society’s don’t function, that shows up a lot in my fiction,” said Trenholm. “Having said that I’ve also written some ripping space opera stories, where you just want to tell a good story.”
Matt Moore is in web communications for Citizenship and Immigration Canada and often writes about technology “and how it changes the world, society, how we interact and what it means to be human.”
His short story, "Touch the Sky, They Say," is set in a grey world that doesn’t care about art or passion – and the metaphorical “glass ceiling” that women face in the workplace becomes real when the sky literally falls.
Moore and Trenholm are up against each other in the short story category.
Trenholm’s Stealing Home, is up against Bilodeau's novel Destiny's Blood.
Destiny's Blood is a “space fantasy adventure” about a flower shop owner while Stealing Home is the third in a series of
“near-future murder mysteries set in Calgary.”
The Aurora’s will be awarded in November. For a full list of nominees, go to www.prix-aurora-awards.ca
