Author Wil McCarthy wins 2022 Prometheus Award for Rich Man’s Sky


McCarthy’s Rich Man’s Sky wins Best Novel, a first for the longtime author



RIVERDALE, NEW YORK, July 11, 2022—Lakewood, Colorado author Wil McCarthy has been named the winner of the 2022 Prometheus Award for Best Novel, for his novel Rich Man’s Sky.

Awarded by the Libertarian Futurist Society since 1982, the Prometheus Award are one of the oldest fan-based awards currently in science fiction. Libertarian Futurist Society founder Michael Grossberg offered high praise for both McCarthy and his novel, comparing Rich Man’s Sky favorably to Robert Heinlein.

“This Heinlein-esque tale of state-threatened market innovations persuasively counters stereotypes from what free-market economist Ludwig von Mises dubbed “the anti-capitalist mentality,” Grossberg said in a statement.

Upon hearing he’d won the Prometheus Award, and earned comparisons to Robert Heinlein, McCarthy joked that “Any time my name is mentioned in the same sentence with Heinlein, an angel gets its ion boosters,” while also saying how honored he was to win. Rich Man’s Sky is the eleventh novel written by McCarthy, and though twice nominated for the Nebula Award for his Queendom of Sol series, this is his first to win a genre award.

“I was in a car accident about 8 years ago, and all kinds of people stopped by to tell me about their near misses . . . looking up from my hospital bed, all I could say was, ‘We all have near misses. It's different when it hits you.’” McCarthy said. “Turns out, the same is true for writing awards, it's different when you actually win.”

Rich Man’s Sky is also the first title from Baen Books to win the Prometheus Award since 2011, and Baen publisher Toni Weisskopf also offered praise for McCarthy and his work, and expressed excitement for some of his upcoming work with the publisher.

“We think Wil McCarthy is one of the best writers of hard SF working in the field today, and we couldn’t be more pleased and proud to have published his Prometheus Award winning novel,” said Weisskopf. “Readers should know that Rich Man’s Sky is the first of a series, with the equally excellent Poor Man’s Sky coming out in a few months.”

The awards will be presented during the 42nd annual Prometheus Awards, hosted by authors Travis Corcoran and F. Paul Wilson, in an online ceremony at 2-3 p.m. EST on Saturday Aug. 13.

Baen Books is known for its New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy, including David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire alternate histories, Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International urban fantasies, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s multiple award-winning Vorkosigan Saga. Baen’s physical books are distributed by Simon & Schuster, while their Ebooks are sold via numerous venues, including their own website.



For more information, visit Baen.com, email info@baen.com, or call 1-800-ITS-BAEN.

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