{"id":5961,"date":"2011-04-25T10:50:28","date_gmt":"2011-04-25T18:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aidanmoher.com\/blog\/?p=5961"},"modified":"2011-04-25T10:50:28","modified_gmt":"2011-04-25T18:50:28","slug":"an-aside-2011-hugo-award-nominees-and-my-thoughts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aidanmoher.com\/blog\/2011\/04\/news\/an-aside-2011-hugo-award-nominees-and-my-thoughts\/","title":{"rendered":"An Aside | 2011 Hugo Award Nominees (and my thoughts)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>From the Renovation website<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Best Novel<\/strong>
\nBlackout\/All Clear<\/strong><\/em> by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra)
\nCryoburn<\/strong><\/em> by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
\nThe Dervish House<\/strong><\/em> by Ian McDonald (Gollancz; Pyr)
\nFeed<\/strong><\/em> by Mira Grant (Orbit)
\nThe Hundred Thousand Kingdoms<\/strong><\/em> by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)<\/p>\n

Best Novella<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen\u2019s Window\u201d<\/strong> by Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Magazine,<\/em> Summer 2010)
\nThe Lifecycle of Software Objects<\/strong><\/em> by Ted Chiang (Subterranean)
\n\u201cThe Maiden Flight of McCauley\u2019s Bellerophon\u201d<\/strong> by Elizabeth Hand (Stories: All New Tales,<\/em> William Morrow)
\n\u201cThe Sultan of the Clouds\u201d<\/strong> by Geoffrey A. Landis (Asimov’s,<\/em> September 2010)
\n\u201cTroika\u201d<\/strong> by Alastair Reynolds (Godlike Machines,<\/em> Science Fiction Book Club)<\/p>\n

Best Novelette<\/strong>
\n\u201cEight Miles\u201d<\/strong> by Sean McMullen (Analog,<\/em> September 2010)
\n\u201cThe Emperor of Mars\u201d<\/strong> by Allen M. Steele (Asimov’s,<\/em> June 2010)
\n\u201cThe Jaguar House, in Shadow\u201d<\/strong> by Aliette de Bodard (Asimov’s,<\/em> July 2010)
\n\u201cPlus or Minus\u201d<\/strong> by James Patrick Kelly (Asimov’s,<\/em> December 2010)
\n\u201cThat Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made\u201d<\/strong> by Eric James Stone (Analog,<\/em> September 2010)<\/p>\n

Best Short Story<\/strong>
\n\u201cAmaryllis\u201d<\/strong> by Carrie Vaughn (Lightspeed,<\/em> June 2010)
\n\u201cFor Want of a Nail\u201d<\/strong> by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s,<\/em> September 2010)
\n\u201cPonies\u201d<\/strong> by Kij Johnson (Tor.com,<\/em> November 17, 2010)
\n\u201cThe Things\u201d<\/strong> by Peter Watts (Clarkesworld,<\/em> January 2010)<\/p>\n

Best Related Work<\/strong>
\nBearings: Reviews 1997-2001<\/strong><\/em>, by Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)
\nThe Business of Science Fiction: Two Insiders Discuss Writing and Publishing<\/strong><\/em>, by Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg (McFarland)
\nChicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O’Shea (Mad Norwegian)
\nRobert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century, Volume 1: (1907\u20131948): Learning Curve<\/strong><\/em>, by William H. Patterson, Jr. (Tor)
\nWriting Excuses, Season 4<\/strong><\/em>, by Brandon Sanderson, Jordan Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells<\/p>\n

Best Graphic Story<\/strong>
\nFables: Witches<\/strong><\/em>, written by Bill Willingham; illustrated by Mark Buckingham (Vertigo)
\nGirl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse<\/strong><\/em>, written by Phil and Kaja Foglio; art by Phil Foglio; colors by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
\nGrandville Mon Amour<\/strong><\/em>, by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse)
\nSchlock Mercenary: Massively Parallel<\/strong><\/em>, written and illustrated by Howard Tayler; colors by Howard Tayler and Travis Walton (Hypernode)
\nThe Unwritten, Volume 2: Inside Man<\/strong><\/em>, written by Mike Carey; illustrated by Peter Gross (Vertigo)<\/p>\n

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form<\/strong>
\nHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1<\/strong><\/em>, screenplay by Steve Kloves; directed by David Yates (Warner)
\nHow to Train Your Dragon<\/strong><\/em>, screenplay by William Davies, Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders; directed by Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders (DreamWorks)
\nInception<\/strong><\/em>, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner)
\nScott Pilgrim vs. the World<\/strong><\/em>, screenplay by Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright; directed by Edgar Wright (Universal)
\nToy Story 3<\/strong><\/em>, screenplay by Michael Arndt; story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich; directed by Lee Unkrich (Pixar\/Disney)<\/p>\n

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form<\/strong>
\nDoctor Who:<\/strong><\/em> \u201cA Christmas Carol,\u201d written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)
\nDoctor Who:<\/strong><\/em> \u201cThe Pandorica Opens\/The Big Bang,\u201d written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)
\nDoctor Who:<\/strong><\/em> \u201cVincent and the Doctor,\u201d written by Richard Curtis; directed by Jonny Campbell (BBC Wales)
\nFuck Me, Ray Bradbury<\/strong>, written by Rachel Bloom; directed by Paul Briganti
\nThe Lost Thing<\/strong>, written by Shaun Tan; directed by Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan (Passion Pictures)<\/p>\n

Best Editor, Short Form<\/strong>
\nJohn Joseph Adams
\nStanley Schmidt
\nJonathan Strahan
\nGordon Van Gelder
\nSheila Williams<\/p>\n

Best Editor, Long Form<\/strong>
\nLou Anders
\nGinjer Buchanan
\nMoshe Feder
\nLiz Gorinsky
\nNick Mamatas
\nBeth Meacham
\nJuliet Ulman<\/p>\n

Best Professional Artist<\/strong>
\nDaniel Dos Santos
\nBob Eggleton
\nStephan Martiniere
\nJohn Picacio
\nShaun Tan<\/p>\n

Best Semiprozine<\/strong>
\nClarkesworld<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Neil Clarke, Cheryl Morgan, Sean Wallace; podcast directed by Kate Baker
\nInterzone<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Andy Cox
\nLightspeed<\/strong><\/em>, edited by John Joseph Adams
\nLocus<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Liza Groen Trombi and Kirsten Gong-Wong
\nWeird Tales<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Ann VanderMeer and Stephen H. Segal<\/p>\n

Best Fanzine<\/strong>
\nBanana Wings<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
\nChallenger<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Guy H. Lillian III
\nThe Drink Tank<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Christopher J Garcia and James Bacon
\nFile 770<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Mike Glyer
\nStarShipSofa<\/strong><\/em>, edited by Tony C. Smith<\/p>\n

Best Fan Writer<\/strong>
\nJames Bacon
\nClaire Brialey
\nChristopher J Garcia
\nJames Nicoll
\nSteven H Silver<\/p>\n

Best Fan Artist<\/strong>
\nBrad W. Foster
\nRandall Munroe
\nMaurine Starkey
\nSteve Stiles
\nTaral Wayne<\/p>\n

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer<\/strong>
\nAward for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2009 or 2010, sponsored by Dell Magazines (not a Hugo Award).<\/em>
\nSaladin Ahmed
\nLauren Beukes
\nLarry Correia
\nLev Grossman
\nDan Wells
\nNote: All finalists are in their 2nd year of eligibility.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

My first thoughts? Meh.<\/p>\n

I dunno, beyond the Campbell nominees, the list just doesn’t excite me. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms<\/strong> was good<\/a>, but not Hugo-worthy. Cryoburn<\/strong> is the nth volume in a long-running series that I’ve not read. Blackout<\/strong> and All Clear<\/strong> were published as two volumes and should be counted as such. Feed<\/strong> keeps appearing on awards lists, but nothing I’ve heard about it seems even vaguely interesting (or above-average). I will admit to having keen interest in The Dervish House<\/strong>, and plan to read it later this year. The list of nominees kinda reminds me of the year Shakespeare in Love<\/strong> won the Oscar for Best Picture.<\/p>\n

The Campbell list is great. I loved The Magicians<\/strong><\/a> by Grossman. Ahmed is one of my favourite short fiction writers (and I’m dreadfully excited for the 2012 release of the first volume of his Crescent Moon<\/em> series) and Beukes is one of the most interesting young writers to hit the scene in years.<\/p>\n

The editor lists look good. Daniel Dos Santos<\/a> should win the Best Artist award. Semiprozine Award is strong and I’d be happy to see any of them win.<\/p>\n

But don’t even get me started on the Best Fanzine<\/em> and Best Fan Writer<\/em> awards. Maybe I’m exposing my ignorance here, but beyond StarShipSofa<\/a>, I haven’t heard of a damn one, nor am I familiar with any of the writers. My beef, obviously, is the lack of presence of blogs, bloggers and online writers. Where’re the Nialls (Harrison and Alexander)? Where’s Abigail Nussbaum or Adam Whitehead? No nod for SF Signal? Really?<\/p>\n

I know the root of the awards and the SF\/F fan-writing is firmly rooted in ‘zines, but it’s time for the writers and the voters to grow up and recognize that the online sphere is producing some of the best commentary on the genre and reaches a far greater audience. Hell, my blog boasts only a slightly lower number of monthly readers than Realms of Fantasy<\/strong>, Asimov’s<\/strong> and Interzone<\/strong> (Source: Warren Ellis<\/a>, numbers are from 2008 and have likely dropped even further since), all of which are considered professional<\/em> magazines, and I’m a small fry compared to many of the other blogs and fan writers on the web. I can only imagine that the reach of the ‘zines is even smaller than that. The entirety of eFanzines.com, which hosts several of these ‘zines, gets less than half the traffic<\/a> that A Dribble of Ink<\/strong> does. The name and nature of the award both need a looking at. At least Ansible wasn’t nominated again.<\/p>\n

Does anyone know when we’ll see a full list of votes cast? What are your thoughts on this list?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the Renovation website: Best Novel Blackout\/All Clear by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen) The Dervish House by Ian McDonald (Gollancz; Pyr) Feed by Mira Grant (Orbit) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit) Best Novella \u201cThe Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen\u2019s Window\u201d by Rachel Swirsky… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n