Well, I can say Paladin of Souls by Bujold is a worthy book. This universe's god-system is really a treat for me. And the ways this book goes against cliches really makes me smile--like the part where the protagonist meets the guy who is every woman's dream guy...and soon realizes that he has a big, big problem.
I haven't read the other nominees (yet), but I have Humans on hold at the library. It's a sequel to last year's winner, Hominids, which I enjoyed aside from the straw-man anti-religious sorta-argument (there are a few characters who profess being religious but the author shows no real understanding of what faith is about--but it's not really a harsh criticism of or attack on religion; he is much harder on humanity's performance on environmental issues) and the fact that the Neanderthal's culture was too perfect; I have hope these issues will be cleared up in the sequel and the final book (which are already out), but if they're not, it will take a lot for me to recommend it regardless.
