Who shall decide, when doctors disagree?

[jsburbidge]

I find it amusing that, on the relative heels of Christopher Priest's characterization of Rule 34 as resembling an Internet Puppy, Adam Roberts (who has his own history of tut-tuttery, but at least as much critical heft as Priest) characterizes it as "not only the most entertaining book on the list, but arguably, within its admittedly narrow parameters, the most fully accomplished".  Other rankings are equally different.

(Roberts' review of the Clarke shortlist is well worth reading: the first three at http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2012/04/the_2012_arthur.shtml, and the second three at http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2012/04/the_arthur_c_cl.shtml.  The works are arranged alphabetically by author's last name.)