Hugo Award Nominee Recommendations

For reasons stated here and because admittedly I find myself perversely amused by the thought of how he might react to getting a nomination, I'm recommending Jonathan McCalmont for Best Fan Writer next year. Even though I disagree strongly with some of the points he makes, he makes them better than many other people writing on the same subject. I hope that posting this now makes it harder to forget when we get to nomination time next year.

Bitterblue deals the issues of blame and responsibility under tyranny, and asks how and if there is a way to heal from old wounds. Bitterblue has been queen since she was 10, and now that she has come of age she feels a duty to right the wrongs left by the late king, as well as to explore who she is, stifled by advisors all these years. She is a non-magical protagonist in a magical world. Also: code-breaking, sex positive characters, and inventing the printing press.

Bitterblue is a sequel to Graceling, and a companion to Fire, but it can be enjoyed without having read books one and two (though there will be spoilers for both). I know many people were upset about a YA category not being added last year, so I doubly suggest giving this one a shot if you're looking to get YA on the ballot.

Hugo nominations are due on Monday, March 11, 06:59 UTC/GMT, so it's time for me to go ahead and get my ballot sent off. I've read everything I wanted to read, watched most everything I wanted to watch, so I'm ready to go. What I wanted to do in THIS post was give you a run-down of discussions we've had, as well as offer a few more items for consideration, in the event you have time to rush out and read/watch something. This post also serves to refresh my memory of what I need to consider before I turn in my ballot, so it's as much for me as it is for you!

Best Novel

I've already talked about what books I've read that were published in 2012 that may be eligible for the Hugo. That list is here on LJ and here on WP. I just want to add a few more to that list for YOUR consideration, in case you forgot about something that was published last year that you really want to nominate. Again, I'm not saying I'm going to nominate these titles, I'm just saying I think they're eligible based on their publication date.

In alphabetical order:

Coates, Deborah: Wide Open
Gladstone, Max: Three Parts Dead
Hartman, Rachel: Seraphina
Levithan, David: Every Day
Taylor, Laini: Days of Blood & Starlight
Wells, Martha: The Serpent Sea

The Gladstone review will come this coming week, but I will say, it was excellent. The cover is deceptive, making you think it's a run-of-the-mill kick-assitude urban fantasy. It's not.

Short Fiction

I haven't talked about what I've read that's eligible in the short fiction categories. For the most part, I'm making educated guesses where these stories belong. In the case of novellas, I know for sure. In the case of short stories, they might be novelettes and I don't know it, so if you DO know, please correct me. Again, this is just a listing of what I read and what I think is eligible, not necessarily what I will be nominating (again, in alphabetical order):

Best Novella

Corey, James S.A.: Gods of Risk
Grant, Mira: San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats
Kress, Nancy: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall

Best Short Story

Bardugo, Leigh: "The Witch of Duva: A Ravkan Folk Tale"
Carson, Rae: "The Shadow Cats"
Hoffman, Erin: "At the Foot of the Lighthouse (Todai Moto Kurashi)"
McCarron, Meghan: "Swift, Brutal Retaliation"

Best Graphic Story

I talked about the comics I read in 2012 rather extensively here on LJ and here on WP. Suffice to say, there are a few graphic novels that came out that collected issues of awesome stuff that I want to make sure YOU all are aware of (for consideration of course). Links go to Amazon where you can get the collection (in alphabetical order, though I'll just go ahead and say Saga is a freaking lock for me):

Hickman, Jonathan: The Manhattan Projects: Volume 1: Science Bad
Hill, Joe: The Cape
Hill, Joe: Locke & Key: Volume 5: Clockworks
Kidd, Chip: Batman: Death by Design
Simone, Gail: Batgirl: Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection
Vaughn, Brian K.: Saga: Volume 1

Best Dramatic Presentation

I've already talked this category to death for Long and Short Form. You can read my suggestions here on LJ and here on WP. Only thing I'd like to add to those lists is Seeking a Friend for the End of the World for Long Form.

Also, to plug Fringe one last time. "Letters of Transit" FOR THE SHORT FORM NOMINATION!!!!!!!!!

Best Professional Artist

Some favorites of mine with their website and a cover released last year you might recognize:

Daniel Dociu (portfolio) Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey
Dehong He (portfolio) Lance of Earth and Sky by Erin Hoffman
Stephen Martiniere (portfolio) Ashes of Candesce by Karl Schroeder
Chris McGrath (portfolio) Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
Cliff Nielsen (portfolio) The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest

Also, check out the cover art gallery for Beneath Ceaseless Skies. There's some great artists submitting to that magazine!

Best Semiprozine

There are a lot of these out there, and there's a lot of great ones. But one that keeps missing the ballot that I'd love to see get nominated is Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and now that Locus is no longer eligible for the award (or so I hear), then I really want this to happen. I admit I'm biased: the editor and I attended Odyssey the same year, and I know he's super-cool. But it's a great mag, so please, PLEASE, consider it for this category. Everything you need to make your decision is on the website, include current and past stories, a cover art gallery, and more!

Best Fanzine & Best Fan Writer

This is one I've talked about extensively about. Please feel free to read my considerations as well as the comments (great comments on both sites for these categories) here on LJ and here on WP.

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

I didn't keep as close an eye as I should've this past year for novel debuts, and of course, novel debuts don't guarantee eligibility for this award (which is why I wish there was a debut novel category, but hey), but here's who I'm pretty sure is eligible, for your consideration (please correct me if I'm wrong).


Madeline Ashby (for vN)
Max Gladstone (for Three Parts Dead)
Rachel Hartman (for Seraphina)

And that's all I've got for this category, sadly.

---

Whew! This list took longer to put together than I thought! Now it's time for me to nominate, and you haven't yet, it's time for you to do so as well!

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

2312 (Orbit US; Orbit UK, Kim Stanley Robinson): CES, CJG, CMM, MYS
Angelmaker (Heinemann; Knopf, Nick Harkaway): CMM
Blackout (Orbit, Mira Grant): BJH, CJG, DNO
Glamour in Glass (Tor, Mary Robinette Kowal): DO, DWG
The Drowning Girl (Roc, Caitlín R. Kiernan): CMM
Empty Space (Gollancz; Night Shade ’13, M. John Harrison): CMM
The Folly of the World (Orbit, Jesse Bullington): CJG
The Fractal Prince (Gollancz; Tor, Hannu Rajaniemi): CMM
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Feiwel & Friends, Cat Valente): CES, CJG, DNO, VF
Hide Me Among the Graves (Morrow; Corvus, Tim Powers): CES, CMM
The Mirage (HarperCollins, Matt Ruff): CMM
One Salt Sea (DAW Books, Seanan McGuire): BJH
Phoenix Rising (Baen, Ryk Spoor): BJH
Pirate Cinema (Tor, Cory Doctorow): FCM
Railsea (Del Rey, China Mievielle): CJG, DO, MYS
Redshirts (Tor, John Scalzi): CJG, VF
Snuff (Doubleday UK/Harper, Terry Prachett): CIP, DC, DO
Some Kind of Fairy Tale (Gollancz; Doubleday, Graham Joyce): CMM
Timeless (Orbit, Gail Carriger): CJG

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall (Nancy Kress): RS
Rapture of the Nerds (Tor, Charles Stross, Cory Doctorow): FCM, MJL, CIP
The Stars Do Not Lie (Asimov's Oct-Nov 2012, Jay Lake): DWG, JOH, DO

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

Fade to White (Clarkesworld, Cathrynne M. Valente): CJG, CMM, DNO
The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi (Edge of Infinity, Pat Cadigan): CMM, MYS
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats (Mira Grant, Mira Grant): BJH, CJG, DNO, DWG, JCV, VF
Wearaway and Flambeau (F&SF July 2012, Matthew Hughes): AJF

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

Spoons (the-fabulist.org, Michael Plemmons): JW
Immersion (Clarkesworld 6/12, Aliette de Bodard): BL, CJG, CMM, DNO, DWG
England Under the White Witch (Clarkesworld 10/12, Theodora Goss): CMM, VF
In Autotelia (Arc 1.1, M. John Harrison): CJG, CMM
A Hundred Ghosts Parade Tonight (Clarkesworld 2/12, Xia Jia (Ken Liu, translator)): CMM, DNO, MYS
Mono No Aware (The Future Is Japanese, Ken Liu): CMM
Mantis Wives (Clarkesworld, Kij Johnson): CMM, DNO

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

Buffy and the Heroine's Journey: Valerie Estelle Frankel, McFarland, BJH, BL, CIP, CJG, DNO, JCV, KPR, LDH, VF
The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature: Edward James, Farah Mendlesohn, Cambridge University Press, CMM, MYS, VF
Chicks Dig Comics: Lynne M. Thomas, Sigrid Elli, Mad Norwegian, CJG
John Picacio Calendar 2013: John Picacio, John Picacio, CJG, CMM, CS, DNO, FCM, MYS
Katniss the Catail: Valerie Estelle Frankel, McFarland, BJH, CJG, DNO, JCV, VF
Marvel Comics: The Untold Story: Sean Howe, AJF, CES, MYS
Reflections on the Art of Writing: CMM
Superman: A High Flying History of America's Greatest Hero: Larry Tye, AJF, CES, JCV
The Forrest J Ackerman Oeuvre: Christopher M. O’Brien, McFarland, CES, CJG
World SF in Translation: Jari Koponen, Avain, CMM, DNO

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

Dial H: CES, CJG, DC, MYS
Doctor Manhattan: CJG
Granville Bete Noire: CJG, CMM, DNO, KPR
Minuteman: CJG
Pachyderme: CMM
Saga: BAV, CES, CMM, JCV
Saucer Country Volume 1: Run: CES, CJG, CMM, KPR, RS
Silk Spectre: CJG, DNO, MYS
The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the War of Words: CMM, KPR

As in previous years, the Bay Area Science Fiction Association held Hugo (and Campbell) Recommendation Nights in January and February, and we are posting our accumulated recommendations in a series of entries here.

A key to the initials of the people making recommendations is in basfa's community journal. This post may change if we receive additional recommendations from club members.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: AJF, BL
Argo: AJF, CES, CIP, DC, MYS, WJL
The Avengers: BAV, BL, CES, CMM, CS, DC, DNO, DWG, JCV, JOH, KP, KPR, MYS, VF
Brave: CJG, DNO, LDH
Cloud Atlas: DC, CMM, MYS
The Dark Knight Rises: BL, CES
Dark Shadows: CJG, KP
Frankenweenie: AJF, CJG, DC, DO
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X: CJG, JEM
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: BJH, CMM, DWG, JOH, JOR, KP, LDH, MYS
The Hunger Games: BL, DO, VF
Iron Sky: CES, CJG, CMM, JEM, KAS, KP, KPR
Django Unchained: AJF, DNO, JCV
John Carter: AJF, BJH, CIP, CJG, DWG, JOH, KPR
Looper: MYS
ParaNorman: AJF, CIP, CJG
Prometheus: BJH, CJG, JCV
Shuffle: CJG
Skyfall: AJF, BL, DWG, KP, KPR, MYS