{"id":6742,"date":"2011-08-23T01:15:07","date_gmt":"2011-08-23T09:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aidanmoher.com\/blog\/?p=6742"},"modified":"2011-08-22T21:14:23","modified_gmt":"2011-08-23T05:14:23","slug":"an-aside-my-thoughts-on-the-2011-hugo-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aidanmoher.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/news\/an-aside-my-thoughts-on-the-2011-hugo-award-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"An Aside | My thoughts on the 2011 Hugo Award Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I made some waves earlier this year when I posted my thoughts on the nominations for the 2011 Hugo Awards. Bottom line, it’s an old men’s club that rewards the same people too consistently, doing the entirety of the genre an injustice. The awards are exclusionary in their ruling (just look at some of the changes being made<\/a> to force StarShip Sofa<\/a> out of the ‘Best Fanzine Award’). In any case, here are the winners, plus some thoughts on a few of the sections.<\/p>\n

Best Fan Artist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Brad W. Foster
\n<\/strong>Randall Munroe
\nMaurine Starkey
\nSteve Stiles
\nTaral Wayne<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No comment.<\/p>\n

Best Fanzine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: The Drink Tank, edited by Christopher J. Garcia and James Bacon
\n<\/strong>Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
\nChallenger, edited by Guy H. Lillian III
\nFile 770, edited by Mike Glyer
\nStarShipSofa, edited by Tony C. Smith<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don’t recognize any of these names? That’s because they’re almost all (with the exception of the aforementioned StarShip Sofa<\/em>) print or pdf ‘zines’ that you probably didn’t even know existed. Since my first complaints a few months ago, I’ve followed File 770’s blog<\/a> with regularity, but none of the other publications have held my interest. Yeah, there’s some good writing there, but this category needs to change in a way that encourages people to also include online only publications (like this blog, for instance) in the voting. ‘Fanzine’ is an outdated term. If the ‘zine scene is afraid of the online\/blog scene, perhaps we could all agree to create a new category at the Hugos that encompasses ‘Online Fan Publications’. This category needs to grow up and become more inclusionary, to celebrate all reaches of fandom regardless of whether it falls under the umbrella of ‘fanzine.’ Unfortunately, the old men’s club wouldn’t even know where to begin. The Drink Tank<\/a> hasn’t won a Hugo before this year, which at least shows some progress being made, but perhaps it’s time for some of the mainstays (File 770<\/a>, 6 wins, 28 nominations; Banana Wings<\/a>, 5 nominations; Challenger<\/a>, 14 nominations; though a case can be made for those with several nominations and no wins) to follow in the steps of John Scalzi<\/a> and Clarkesworld Magazine<\/a> (in 2012<\/a>) and consider withdrawing themselves from nomination in favour of exposing new and exciting fan publications. There’s no harm in spreading the love, is there? But, hey, what do I know? I’m just a blogger.
\n<\/p>\n

Best Fan Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Claire Brialey<\/strong>
\nJames Bacon
\nChristopher J. Garcia
\nJames Nicoll
\nSteven H. Silver<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Again, I don’t think this list is properly representative of where ‘fan writing’ has grown in the past couple of years. Add to that the fact that writers like Jo Walton and Brit Mandelo (both of whom I’d a huge fan of) are included on the ‘long list’ for the award based quite heavily on the writing they do for Tor.com (like myself) that pays its contributors. Is Tor.com a ‘semiprozine’ (which would<\/em> allow it’s writers to be nominated for the ‘Fan Writer’ award) or is it a publisher (being an imprint of Macmillan Ltd., one of world’s largest publishers, which I’d think would<\/em> disqualify that work from being considered for the ‘Fan Writer’ award). I’d love to see writers like Walton, Mandelo or Butler be recognized for the wonderful ‘fannish’ work that they do for Tor.com, but under the current rules it seems like they aren’t<\/em> eligible (according to Mandelo herself<\/a>), despite appearing in the final tally. A bit of a mess, yah?<\/p>\n

On the plus side, looking at the full results, Adam Whitehead (of The Wertzone<\/a>), Abigail Nussbaum and Niall Harrison (all writers who would appear on my ballot and who I mentioned by name in my original post<\/a>) were all represented by at least 11 votes. Progress, however small.<\/p>\n

Best Semiprozine<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Good choice. Clarkesworld<\/a> is the best-of-the-best. As mentioned earlier, a very classy move in announcing that they’ll be withdrawing voting eligibility in favour of allow further exposure to other ‘semiprozines’ worthy of the award.<\/p>\n

Best Professional Artist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Shaun Tan<\/strong>
\nDaniel Dos Santos
\nBob Eggleton
\nStephan Martiniere
\nJohn Picacio<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Shock. This was clearly Tan’s year (with an Oscar<\/em> nomination). Well deserved.<\/p>\n

Best Editor, Short Form<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Sheila Williams
\n<\/strong>John Joseph Adams
\nStanley Schmidt
\nJonathan Strahan
\nGordon Van Gelder<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I like John Joseph Adam’s work on Lightspeed<\/a> and Fantasy Magzine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best Editor, Long Form<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Lou Anders<\/strong>
\nGinjer Buchanan
\nMoshe Feder
\nLiz Gorinsky
\nNick Mamatas
\nBeth Meacham
\nJuliet Ulman<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many times nominated, first time winner. About damn time.<\/p>\n

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

No comment.<\/p>\n

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

I enjoyed Toy Story 3<\/em> and How to Train Your Dragon<\/em> more, but whatever, Inception<\/em>‘s fine.<\/p>\n

Best Graphic Story<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

No comment.<\/p>\n

Best Related Book<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O\u2019Shea (Mad Norwegian)<\/strong>
\nBearings: Reviews 1997-2001, by Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)
\nThe Business of Science Fiction: Two Insiders Discuss Writing and Publishing, by Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg (McFarland)
\nRobert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century, Volume 1: (1907\u20131948): Learning Curve, by William H. Patterson, Jr. (Tor)
\nWriting Excuses, Season 4, by Brandon Sanderson, Jordan Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’d’ve picked Writing Excuses<\/em>, but it’s not a book.<\/p>\n

Best Short Story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: \u201cFor Want of a Nail\u201d by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov\u2019s, September 2010)<\/strong>
\n\u201cAmaryllis\u201d by Carrie Vaughn (Lightspeed, June 2010)
\n\u201cPonies\u201d by Kij Johnson (Tor.com, November 17, 2010)
\n\u201cThe Things\u201d by Peter Watts (Clarkesworld, January 2010)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A fairly uninteresting field. I like Kowal, though.<\/p>\n

Best Novelette<\/strong><\/p>\n

Winner: \u201cThe Emperor of Mars\u201d by Allen M. Steele (Asimov\u2019s, June 2010)<\/strong>
\n\u201cEight Miles\u201d by Sean McMullen (Analog, September 2010)
\n\u201cThe Jaguar House, in Shadow\u201d by Aliette de Bodard (Asimov\u2019s, July 2010)
\n\u201cPlus or Minus\u201d by James Patrick Kelly (Asimov\u2019s, December 2010)
\n\u201cThat Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made\u201d by Eric James Stone (Analog, September 2010<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No comment. Haven’t read any of them.<\/p>\n

Best Novella<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Of these, I’ve read Swirsky’s (REVIEW<\/a>) and Reynold’s (REVIEW<\/a>) offerings. Both of them were interesting, but flawed. Chiang’s Chiang.<\/p>\n

Best Novel<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

The Hugo voters need to watch Sesame Street and learn how to count on their fingers again. Willis’ ‘novel’ was published in two volumes, each of which, in fairness to the competition, should have been judged separately. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms<\/em> (REVIEW<\/a>) and its sequel were both published in 2010, why not judge them as one entity? Because it’s stupid and doesn’t make sense.<\/p>\n

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2009 or 2010, sponsored by Dell Magazines (not a Hugo Award).<\/p>\n

Winner: Lev Grossman<\/strong>
\nSaladin Ahmed
\nLauren Beukes
\nLarry Correia
\nDan Wells<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I really<\/em> wanted Ahmed to win this, but I can’t argue with Grossman (or Beukes or Wells, for that matter. Haven’t read Correia). A very strong field this year.<\/p>\n

So, what did you think of the 2011 Hugo Award Winners? Were you as ‘meh’ as me? The full list of nominations and statistics has been gathered together in this PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I made some waves earlier this year when I posted my thoughts on the nominations for the 2011 Hugo Awards. Bottom line, it’s an old men’s club that rewards the same people too consistently, doing the entirety of the genre an injustice. The awards are exclusionary in their ruling (just look at some of the… 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-6742","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\n