Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being

"Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being" is a 2024 science fiction short story by A. W. Prihandita. It was first published in Clarkesworld.

Synopsis

A physician's attempts to treat an alien being are thwarted by medical bureaucracy and inadequate translation.

Reception

"Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being" won the Nebula Award for Best Novelette of 2024,^[1] and is a finalist for the 2025 Ignyte Award for Best Novelette.^[2]

In Locus, A. C. Wise stated that the story "provides a lovely reflection on seeing others for who they are, letting go of preconceptions, and being truly known".^[3]

References

^ SFWA Announces the 60th Nebula Awards Winners, by Mike Glyer, at File 770; published June 7, 2025; retrieved July 28, 2025
^ 2025 Ignyte Awards Finalists, in Locus; retrieved July 28, 2025
^ Clarkesworld: Short Fiction Reviews by A.C. Wise, in Locus; published February 14, 2025; retrieved July 28, 205

External links

Text of the story, at Clarkesworld

Nebula Award for Best Novelette
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2000–2019	"Daddy's World" by Walter Jon Williams (2000) "Louise's Ghost" by Kelly Link (2001) "Hell is the Absence of God" by Ted Chiang (2002) "The Empire of Ice Cream" by Jeffrey Ford (2003) "Basement Magic" by Ellen Klages (2004) "The Faery Handbag" by Kelly Link (2005) "Two Hearts" by Peter S. Beagle (2006) "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang (2007) "Pride and Prometheus" by John Kessel (2008) "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast" by Eugie Foster (2009) "That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made" by Eric James Stone (2010) "What We Found" by Geoff Ryman (2011) "Close Encounters" by Andy Duncan (2012) "The Waiting Stars" by Aliette de Bodard (2013) "A Guide to the Fruits of Hawai'i" by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2014) "Our Lady of the Open Road" by Sarah Pinsker (2015) "The Long Fall Up" by William Ledbetter (2016) "A Human Stain" by Kelly Robson (2017) "The Only Harmless Great Thing" by Brooke Bolander (2018) "Carpe Glitter" by Cat Rambo (2019)
2020–present	"Two Truths and a Lie" by Sarah Pinsker (2020) "O2 Arena" by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (2021) "If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You" by John Chu (2022) "The Year Without Sunshine" by Naomi Kritzer (2023) "" by A. W. Prihandita (2024)