The big disappointment? "The Big Time" Fritz Leiber Hugo winning Novel Review and Ranking.

Tonight I review Fritz Leiber's 1958 Hugo award winning Novel "The Big Time". I provide a plot overview, discuss my likes, my dislikes, make some recommendations and then I rank it on our ever growing SF Shed Ladder.
Over the last year i have reread over 40 Hugo and/or Nebula award winning Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, and I have been ranking them on the ever growing SF Shed Ladder.
I use the following criteria to help me rank these wonderful novels.
1. Concept (how interesting/unique is the SF or F concept)
2. Execution of the concept
3. Characters (interesting character arcs, relatable, interesting)
4. Writing (how much did i enjoy the writing)
5. How memorable are these novels (the memory test)
6. Plot (interesting twists and turns)
7. Ending (does the ending satisfy)
Playlist of all the Hugo Winning Novels
• Hugo Winners
Playlist of all the Nebula Winning Novels
• Nebula Winners
SHED LADDER RANKINGS
1 Hyperion Dan Simmons
2 Dune Frank Herbert
3 Gateway Frederik Pohl
4 Way Station Clifford Symak
5 Doomsday Book Connie Willis
6 To Your Scattered Bodies Go Philip Jose Farmer
7 A Case of Conscience James Blish
8 Tehanu Ursula Le Guin
9 The Forever War Joe Haldeman
10 The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula Le Guin
11 This Immortal Roger Zelazny
12 The Fountains of Paradise Arthur C. Clarke
13 Stranger in a Strange Land Robert Heinlein
14 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein
15 Starship Troopers Robert Heinlein
16 Ringworld Larry Niven
17 The Claw of the Conciliator Gene Wolfe
18 The Man in the High Castle Philip K. Dick
19 The Demolished Man Alfred Bester
20 Moving Mars Greg Bear
21 A Fire Upon the Deep Vernor Vinge
22 The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi
23 Redshirts John Scalzi
24 Flowers for Algenon Daniel Keyes
25 Rite of Passage Alexei Panshin
26 Among Others Jo Walton
27 The Uplift War David Brin
28 A Deepness in the Sky Vernor Vinge
29 Startide Rising David Brin
30 Man Plus Frederik Pohl
31 Babel-17 Samuel R Delany
32 Where Late the Sweet Bird Sang Kate Wilhelm
33 Double Star Robert Heinlein
34 A Memory Called Empire Arkady Martine
35 Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie
36 The Terminal Experiment Robert J. Sawyer
37 Forever Peace Joe Haldeman
38 The Quantum Rose Catherine Asaro
39 The Einstein Intersection Samuel R Delany
40 The Big Time Fritz Leiber
40 The Falling Woman Pat Murphy
41 The Fifth Season N.K Jemisin

[@LiamsLyceum]

This is a great novel but I seem to be in the minority from other contemporary opinions I’ve heard. What a showman and stylist Leiber was.

[@thesci-fished]

I actually agree with you, I just felt a little let down, I thought it could have been even better than it was. I still rate it highly, but hard to justify its place on the sci-fi shed ladder above where it finally ended. Where would you have ranked it?

[@paulcooper3611]

I have to agree with you. This is one of those books that I go back and read every decade, or so. And, yes, it has faded in my memory so I have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time.

[@thesci-fished]

You've inspired me to reread it with that actor/play lens, maybe it would have ranked a little higher with that in mind. :)

[@newsfromthegelding]

Very short novel indeed! I've only previously heard of Fritz Leiber's sword and scorcery stuff, had no idea he'd won the Hugo for this one. Interesting premise despite the flaws. Might have to get a copy! Cheers for the review Pete!

[@thesci-fished]

My pleasure mate, it's definitely worth the read.

[@paulcooper3611]

I think part of your problem with 'The Big Time' is a matter of perspective. You were expecting an adventure story from Fritz Leiber, the teller of tall tales. What you got was a story from Fritz Leiber, the actor. I came across a review that explained that the story is a one-act play. You have a limited number of characters trapped in a single stage set who interact with each other in very subtle, and often confrontational, ways. If you approach it that way, you find yourself looking in awe at what Leiber accomplished. At least, that was the way it was for me. Also, let it sit for a few years and come back to it. It tops the list for re-readability.

[@thesci-fished]

Very good point Paul, i should revisit this book again in a couple of years. I did get that 'one-act play' feel to it. My mind wondered a few times to the teleplay "12 Angry Men" i definitely see that 'play/actor' in the novel. Very nice food for thought, thank you Paul, much appreciated.

[@bookishmartin]

This is my least favorite of the Hugo and nebula winners that I've read so far It seems much more like a stage play than a novel With all the action taking place off stage And lots of expository dialogue.

[@thesci-fished]

@@bookishmartinthat's a similar comment that Paul, a few comments below made. Perhaps that was the point Fritz was driving at, and maybe if it was read that way, one may appreciate it more. 🤔