Became an American Retro Novelist - Chapter 215



Only Noblemtl

215.

‘Science fiction and fantasy writers association’.

The abbreviated ‘SFWA’ is a long-standing non-profit writers’ organization established in 1965, and has carried out various activities to protect the rights of writers and to develop the genre fiction industry. Of these activities, the most well-known one was, of course, the ‘Nebula Award’, a science fiction and fantasy literary award established in 1966.

As SFWA’s activities have increased their authority, this award has gained a higher status and has become, along with the Hugo Award, a place that many American writers aspire to and aim for.

SFWA itself is a non-profit organization and does not provide prize money, but the winners are given a wonderful trophy made from operating expenses. In order to achieve this glorious result, many writers are continuing to write works that include their own worlds.

Even as I walked into the hotel after meeting Simon, I still felt unrealistic.

‘Is this really happening to me?’

In my previous life, I had only seen the results of the Nebula Award as a special feature in places like Guns and Swords Magazine.

I am here now to receive the ‘Best Feature Film Award’.

The Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California.

A luxurious lobby with red carpeting. Even the elevators were luxurious.

As I was getting on there and taking a deep breath, Alexa, who had been right next to me, whispered in my ear.

“The facilities here are really nice.”

“······I know.”

“Would it be a bit vulgar to say that you feel once again how great the award you received is?”

“What’s so vulgar about that?”

That comment was so cute that it brought me back to my senses, and I smiled softly as I spoke.

Of course, the Nebula Awards did not have the same level of fame as the Academy Awards in Hollywood. In reality, unless you were an industry insider or a fanboy, you didn’t really pay much attention to them.

So, Alexa was happier than me when I told her that she had won an award, but she probably couldn’t have guessed how big it was.

But for a writer like me, it really meant something. SFWA also rented a venue appropriate for the event, gave it a proper name, and treated the winners with respect.

An elevator that quickly ascends to the top floor of the hotel.

Simon, who was standing behind me, quietly said this to me.

“I will take the lead and escort you.”

“thank you.”

“What? Today, the author is the main character. Enjoy it. Alexa too.”

“Thank you, Simon. The tux you wore today is very nice.”

“Thank you. Alexa, your dress really suits you. Where did you get it?”

“It’s a secret, but I borrowed it from an acquaintance of my father.”

“Huh, I thought it was custom-made because the design really suits me.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Two of the most extroverted people I know were talking excitedly to each other. As someone who was always focused on the inside, I was grateful to be able to keep my mouth shut and wait for the elevator to reach the top floor.

Ding-!

After a while, the door opened with a brisk sound.

As I said before, Simon took the lead, and we got off the elevator and walked towards the convention hall entrance on the top floor of the hotel. A white woman in a suit standing in front of the elevator greeted us with a bright smile after seeing the invitation Simon had handed us.

“Ah, Mr. Shin. It’s an honor to meet you. ······I really enjoyed reading your work.”

I could feel the sincerity in those eyes.

“thank you.”

This person is also a member of SFWA and a writer, although I don’t know his face.

My heart started pounding again at the thought of receiving ‘respect’ from such an opponent.

The large door in front of me opened.

After Simon and Alexa entered the convention hall, I found a group of people chatting happily. Some were members of SFWA, others were invited by the industry. Most of them were writers like me.

When I realized that fact, I felt strange.

In most societies, the profession of writer is rare, but this place was different. There were many writers living in the 80s. The event that would take place after the awards ceremony was also highly anticipated.

but.

‘How do I talk to you?’

In fact, if Simon, who was next to me, heard this, he would tilt his head and ask, ‘Why are you worrying about that?’

But, as someone who finds it easier to communicate in writing than through speech, I couldn’t help but think that way.

At that moment, while he was hesitating and worrying, a human Labrador Retriever named Simon Carver stepped forward.

“Author, please leave it to me.”

He looked around slightly differently from the Golden Retriever and quickly approached a writer he knew and spoke to him.

In the midst of all that, Alexa poked my cheek, which was slightly stiff enough for anyone who knew about it to notice.

“are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing.”

“I’ll stay quiet and talk to the other writers comfortably. Okay?”

“······.”

“You understand? Okay?”

Wow, who’s this? Is he really 20 years old?

He said that he would be excited since he came as my partner in this situation, but he said that he would quietly stay by my side.

The overwhelming and amazing consideration······! No wonder he is loved at work.

“Thank you, Alexa.”

As I was feeling my heart grow stronger, Simon came back with several people.

“Hello! Are you Mr. Shin?! I’m a real fan!”

The bespectacled man standing at the very front greeted me with a bright smile. He had a clean-cut beard, but his characteristic curly hair was shoulder-length.

“Thank you. You are God.”

“Wow, I got to meet the author who wrote that piece in person!”

“The Losers series completely changed my brain. It was like something big went off in my head. Oh, nice to meet you. It’s Ursula Le Guin.”

“Teacher Ursula······?!”

My eyes widened.

The soft-spoken, middle-aged white woman standing before me right now is none other than Ursula K. Le Guin!

A person who has been actively producing works such as masterpieces such as ‘Earthsea Chronicles’ and has numerous fans around the world.

I dared to call her this: she is truly one of the greatest writers.

As I was also a huge fan of the works she had presented, I hastily grabbed her outstretched hand.

“I really enjoy looking at your work.”

“Oh my, I’ve heard something like that from a new writer. Hehe.”

A soft smile.

But somehow I felt a charisma and the leisure that came with it. Then, the man who had come with me burst into laughter and continued talking as if he was interfering with Ursula and me.

“Have you seen any of my work?!”

“Excuse me, but your name is······.”

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet.”

The man wiped his hands on the front of the tuxedo he was wearing and then held it out.

“George R.R. Martin. Feel free to call me George.”

“···················.”

oh my god.

Oh my god.

Oh my god, Jesus Christ.

What the heck is going on?

The author’s name is George RR Martin, and he has a slightly playful demeanor.

I shook his hand with trembling hands and, unable to hide my excitement, said:

“I’m a fan. Seriously.”

Sometimes I felt bad when I thought he was pushing the character too far, but that was the case for now.

Although it has been 10 years since the publication of the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series, the great author has been consistently writing and producing works even during this period.

I had not yet adjusted to the situation where I had met two great masters in a short period of time, but I was overwhelmed by the continuous compliments they gave me, as if my brain was melting.

“I enjoyed the piece. I thought the title ‘Losers’ was really old-fashioned, but the content was fantastic. I don’t know how you came up with that.”

“Oh, you are too kind.”

“It’s not an exaggeration. I should say that the delicate description of humanity beyond humans shines. The existence of ‘The Book’ was also very interesting. And I really liked the new writer’s color in the ending that pitied such a being.”

Teacher Ursula, who was standing next to him, also praised him.

People began to gather nearby after hearing the name ‘Shin’.

I ended up like an adventurer trapped in the waves.

Simon, not knowing whether he knew how I was feeling or not, just gave me a thumbs up and stepped back, leaving me with no one to rely on but my precious girlfriend, Alexa, standing right next to me.

All kinds of names came out.

Jamie Way, Kate Wilhelm, Richard Madsen, Harvey Ross.

A feast of all kinds of writers who will produce even more amazing works in the present and in the future.

When they praised my novel and even asked to shake my hand first, to be honest, I was too embarrassed to say anything.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this in my past life.’

The people whose works I grew up watching are now praising my work.

It was truly an indescribably moving situation.

***

Alexa Flair wasn’t really that into reading novels.

I read all of God’s novels, but that was because they were God’s novels. The writing that seemed to contain his life made me imagine the emotions he felt when he wrote his works every time I read it. Maybe Alexa wasn’t reading a novel, but God’s life.

So, actually, I didn’t quite understand it.

‘Ursula Le Guin!’

‘George RR Martin!’

‘Richard Madsen!’

All sorts of writers’ names came up, and every time, God jumped like Shazam from DC Comics who got struck by lightning.

Although I’ve become accustomed to this culture(?) enough to think of metaphors like this thanks to the knowledge I’ve gained from the comic book stores I occasionally visit, I still find novels a bit difficult.

But it was clear how great a accomplishment God had accomplished.

It wasn’t just because it was a convention hall on the top floor of a nice hotel. The champagne served afterwards was also very tasty, but that wasn’t even one of the reasons.

Alexa simply felt the emotion right there, ‘because God was so happy’.

With that, he realized that he had achieved the glorious result he had truly desired.

Although I was just quietly by his side, occasionally shaking his hand or revealing my name when he greeted a new writer, I was happy just to be able to be in the place he wanted to be the most.

It finally hit me that the invitation I had sent to him was truly special.

‘You are with me in the happiest place.’

Alexa’s hand, which was lightly resting on God’s arm to link arms, tightened slightly.

The emotions conveyed from God were exhilarating and gave her a lot of inspiration.

‘I also need to work harder from now on.’

So that he too can create a place like this and be with God.

And if there was a time when we could be alone together, I wanted to express these feelings as they are.

Because this moment was so touching for her too.

After exchanging greetings and conversations for a while, the real event began.

The 21st Nebula Awards Ceremony.

The SFWA president who was in charge of the event came out and the awards ceremony began with his brief greetings.

If this were the Academy Awards in Hollywood, they would have sung and danced along with a whole orchestra, and the whole process would have been broadcast on television, but the Nebula Awards were not like that. They simply talked about the list of nominees, called the winners, went up, received the award with applause, and gave their acceptance speeches.

Then a writer named Connie Willis came forward and said this:

“Please make your statement a little more dramatic!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

A family-like and cheerful atmosphere.

Just the solidarity of being writers allowed them to get along comfortably with each other.

The president of the association chuckled at his request and announced the award to a writer named George RR Martin, whose name Alexa had also heard earlier, while making a ‘drumroll’ sound with his mouth.

And finally, the most important step has arrived.

“Then, finally, I will announce the ‘Best Feature Film Award’.”

The candidates were listed one after another, and Alexa noticed that the god was shaking slightly, so she gently held him close to help him calm down.

The god who had been silently looking back smiled brightly, and Alexa said quietly, “Go and give a great acceptance speech, like you always do.” Almost at the same time, the announcement was made.

“This year’s Nebula Award for Best Novel goes to ‘Country of Losers’ and ‘Universe of Losers’, collectively known as the ‘Losers’ series. Congratulations.”

[Waaaaaaaaaagggghhhh-!!]

The applause and cheers pouring down on the young writer, now in his early twenties, were truly tremendous.

Everyone gave Shin an amazing response, as if they were giving him special treatment. Alexa slowly let go of his hand, and Shin slowly climbed up onto the stage to receive the trophy in front of many people.

The name was written on the black bottom, and the rectangular transparent glass above it had decorations depicting celestial bodies.

While he was checking the title of the novel he had written and his name written there with a blank face, Shin heard the president of the association clapping and speaking next to him.

“Please give your acceptance speech.”

At those words, he slowly approached the microphone.

In fact, he was half out of his mind when he heard the names of Ursula K. Le Guin and George R.R. Martin. He couldn’t help but be amazed at the fact that such great writers, such great writers, had read and remembered his novels.

In front of the giants of the era he had admired since his previous life, his mental barrier was broken down, and so the first words of his acceptance speech contained his true feelings without any exaggeration.

And that comment has been talked about among writers ever since, to the point where it’s been compared to Alexa Flair’s “no comment” incident from her cheerleading days.

The words God spoke were as follows:

“I will write the most interesting novel here.”

It was a very spirited statement from a young writer.