Well, the die is cast…or rather, my nominations are. It is official, I have participated in the nomination process for the Hugo Awards for the very first time.
I am excited.
In the interest of full disclosure, here are the categories and the nominees I chose in each category. Following that I have a few notes. If you’ve voted, and/or if you have an opinion about any of my nominees, I do hope you’ll share.
Novel:
The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke (Angry Robot)
Love Minus Eighty by Will McIntosh (Orbit)
The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord (Del Rey)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (William Morrow)
Abbadon’s Gate by James S.A. Corey (Orbit)
Novella:
“The Other Gun” by Neal Asher (Asimov’s, April/May 2013)
“Equoid” by Charles Stross (Tor.com, September 2013)
Novelette:
“Over There” by Will McIntosh (Asimov’s, January 2013)
“Hotel” by Suzanne Palmer (Asimov’s, January 2013)
“The Fountain” by G. David Nordley (Asimov’s, June 2013)
“Warlord” by Tom Purdom (Asimov’s, April/May 2013)
“All the Snake Handlers I Know are Dead” by Dennis Danvers (Tor.com, July 2013)
Short Story:
“About the Mirror and its Pieces” by Carrie Cuinn (Woman and Other Constructs)
“The Urashima Effect” by E. Lily Yu (Clarkesworld, June 2013)
“Dignity” by Jay O’Connell (Asimov’s, December 2013)
“Abyssus Abyssum Invocat” by Genevieve Valentine (Lightspeed, February 2013)
“The Sounds of Old Earth” by Matthew Kressel (Lightspeed, January 2013)
Best Related Work:
John Picacio 2014 Calendar
Writing Excuses Podcast, Season 8
Tor.com
Spectrum 20: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art
Mark Schultz: Carbon
Best Graphic Story:
My comics/graphic novel reading was virtually non-existent last year, so I am recusing myself from this category.
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form):
Neverwhere: Full Cast Recording
Oblivion (motion picture: Karl Gajdusek, Michael Arndt, Joseph Kosinski)
Gravity (motion picture: Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron, George Clooney)
Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form):
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
A Calendar of Tales Audio: narrated by Neil Gaiman
Fortunately, The Milk Audio: narrated by Neil Gaiman
Best Editor (Short Form):
Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld)
Jonathan Strahan (Solaris, Night Shade)
John Joseph Adams (Lightspeed)
Sheila Williams (Asimov’s)
Ellen Datlow (Tor.com)
Best Editor (Long Form):
Lou Anders (Pyr)
William Schafer (Subterranean Press)
Professional Artist:
John Picacio
John Harris
Julie Dillon
Gregory Manchess
Dan Dos Santos
Best Semiprozine:
Lightspeed
Clarkesworld
Apex Magazine
Locus
Best Fanzine:
A Dribble of Ink (Aidan Moher)
Little Red Reviewer (Andrea Johnson)
Bookworm Blues (Sarah Chorn)
SF Signal (John DeNardo) recused
Best Fancast:
The Coode Street Podcast (Jonathan Strahan, Gary K. Wolfe)
The SF Signal Podcast (Patrick Hester)
Sword and Laser Podcast (Veronica Belmont, Tom Merritt)
SF Squeecast (Seanan McGuire, Paul Cornell, Elizabeth Bear, Lynne M. Thomas, Catherynne Valente) recused
Functional Nerds (John Anealio, Patrick Hester)
Best Fan Writer:
Paul Weimer (blog, SF Signal)
Carrie Cuinn (blog, SF Signal)
Sarah Chorn (blog, SF Signal)
Best Fan Artist:
Edward Howard
Euclase
Abigail Larson
Boco (Bram Sels)
Sue Beatrice
John W. Campbell Award (Not A Hugo):
Wesley Chu
Adam Christopher
Hugh Howey
Notes:
You will notice that I don’t have Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie on my list. It is THE shoe-in for the short list and has not been on my priority list to read. I would bet real money that it will make the short list and I will be reading all short list material before the Hugo voting so as to make an informed vote.
I didn’t plan on my short fiction selections to be so Asimov’s heavy, but it is one of the few places where I actually read novella and novelette length fiction during the year. Rather than filling up empty spaces, I only chose stories I read and thought were truly deserving of the nomination.
The Best Short Story category was a tough one. I read A LOT of great short fiction that was written in 2013. I am a fan of the medium and am happy to see it is going strong.
My Best Related Work category is quite varied, but I’m very proud of all my choices. All very good, and worthy, works.
I’m probably the only person who will nominate Oblivion for a Hugo. I am unashamed to say it is my favorite science fiction film to come out in a long time and I appreciate it more with each viewing (and there have been several).
I also didn’t plan on my nominations list making me appear to be a Neil Gaiman fanatic. But when it came around to the Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form category I truly felt that a) I wanted to think outside the t.v. episode box, and b) these were lovely performances and as worthy as any other item to be considered for nomination.
I’m very torn on the Best Editor, Short Form front. I’d like to see all my choices make the short list and I would like to see them all win.
The Best Editor, Long Form category is difficult because editors don’t self-promote and it is not as easy to know who fits the category of having edited at least four books in the eligibility year.
Best Professional Artist was a fun category to mull over. Will John Picacio make it on the ballot again this year? Will that signal a move towards a third-straight Hugo? Only time will tell. I’d truly love to see John Harris make it on the ballot, but I feel that is a long shot.
It will be interesting to see who wins Best Fanzine with SF Signal having recused themselves after winning for a second time last year, especially since I know several who have nominated them again. Same with the SF Squeecast.
I would love to see The Coode Street Podcast win the Hugo Award for Best Fancast. Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. W0lfe frequently joke about their meandering ways, and the lack of post-recording-editing means you will occasionally get funny moments…like a one-sided conversation as Jonathan takes a call during recording…but their knowledge of the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy is vast and their passion is apparent in every episode. They make me want to be a better, and faster, reader.
I did not intend for my Best Fan Writer nominees to be all fellow SF Signal contributors, it just so happens that I enjoy what they write on both their blogs and on SF Signal. I think they are all very deserving.
The Best Fan Artist process was fun. Edward Howard was an obvious choice, my appreciation for his work grows every year. The others were all people I discovered in the process of seeking out eligible candidates (with the exception of Abigail Larson, whose work was a recent, serendipitous, find thanks to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3). If you missed my post showcasing their work, go back and check it out. There is some great art there.
Thanks so much for the vote of confidence, Carl! Much appreciated. 🙂
I always enjoy your site, Aidan. Both with the content you create and that created by guests. I also think your site design is fabulous. Best wishes!
You post makes me want to give up everything but sf/fantasy for a year or two so I can nominate myself. While I don’t read enough of the genre to be a serious voter, or a voter at all, I do look to the Hugo’s each year to see what I should read. It’s usually a good list for that purpose.
That is what I did in large part last year and seem to be doing this year. I’m still sprinkling in some mystery and some general fiction, but my desires are leaning towards more SFF this year.
Very nice post, Carl, very nice indeed. I think you have a strong set of candidates, and a good chance many will make the shortlist. I know you put a lot of time and thought into this; it shows.
Thanks, Richard. I did do some agonizing over choices, but it was fun. I certainly wanted to take the process seriously and will do so when it comes time to vote from the short list.
You’re right to go with Neil Gaiman. He’s a terrific writer. And he wrote one of my favorite DOCTOR WHO episodes of all time: “The Doctor’s Wife.”
The crux is that both John Scalzi and Neil Gaiman (and I imagine others to a perhaps lesser degree) have such big fan followings that there is always a backlash when they win regarding whether it reflects the quality of what they are doing vs. it simply being a popularity vote.
It is vain of me, to be sure, but I felt the need to spell out that I’m not voting for Gaiman because I am a fan, although I am, but because I truly thought all of these were worthy.
Then again, that is what every fan would say…:)
I think that the best part of the Hugo is the fan section. I am always curious about who is nominated.
Your first year nominating. And I made your ballot.
It’s an honor.
I hope everyone making nominations is as thoughtful about them as you are Carl! 🙂
Good picks. I think Gaiman’s Ocean… Is THE shoe-in and likely winner. Abaddon’s Gate is an interesting pick. Is James sa corey the next Bujold of the Hugos?
I’m pulling for Coode Street too. Most informative podcast for readers and fun to listen to as well. I wish I could comment more intelligently on the short fiction. I just dont read enough.
Fwiw, I’l throw in Locke and Key, Saga, and Hawkeye for best comics.
I hope that when you get to Ancillary Justice, you’ll enjoy as much as I did. (Rather than as much as Andrea did. Ha!) I just didn’t read enough new stuff last year to have an opinion beyond that book, which is a little disappointing. Of course, I felt very strongly in 2012 and then was irked when the awards were made, so I guess it’s give and take.
Also, Coode Street is my favorite podcast by a large margin. I hope they win.
What a great honor to have a place on your ballot for the Hugo nominations this year, Carl. To be amongst such amazing talent is truly inspiring. Thank you so much