Hugo Nominations

[coalescent]

Right. The deadline is tomorrow, so it's about time for me (and every other Interaction or LACon IV member who hasn't done so) to be nominating for the Hugo Awards. I think I've decided on most of my Best Novel ballot:

The Summer Isles, Ian R. Macleod
Counting Heads, David Marusek
Living Next-Door to the God of Love, Justina Robson
Accelerando, Charles Stross

Given its limited print run, The Summer Isles presumably has little chance of actually making the ballot, but it's the best 2005 novel I've read. I haven't quite finished Counting Heads, but unless Marusek fluffs up the ending spectacularly it deserves a nomination. Living Next-Door to the God of Love and Accelerando both have flaws, but as far as I'm concerned those are outweighed by their considerable strengths. I regret that I haven't managed to get to Robert Charles Wilson's Spin, but don't think it's going to need my help to get nominated. (If it does miss out by one vote, you can all lynch me later.) The last nomination will go to ... er ... well, could be Learning the World, could be Transcendent, could be Double Vision. It'll probably depend on how I feel this evening.

In novella the three shoo-ins are Kelly Link's 'Magic for Beginners', Ian McDonald's 'The Little Goddess', and Paolo Bacigalupi's 'The Calorie Man'. The other two will likely be Yume No Hon by Catherynne M. Valente and 'The Emperor' by Lucius Shepard. Novellettes: Darryl Gregory's 'Second Person, Present Tense', Geoff Ryman's 'The Last Ten Years in the Life of the Hero Kai', possibly Vandana Singh's 'The Tetrahedron', possibly Cory Doctorow's 'I, Robot', possibly Link's 'Some Zombie Contingency Plans', possibly Chris Beckett's 'Piccadilly Circus', plus something from Strange Horizons. Short stories: 'Anyway' by M. Rickert, 'Heads Down, Thumbs Up' by Gavin J. Grant, 'Singing My Sister Down' by Margo Lanagan, and a couple of things from Strange Horizons. Given that I'm a judge for the BSFA's non-fiction award, I probably shouldn't say anything about my thoughts on related book (except to say that The Complete Calvin & Hobbes counts, right?)

And then we start to get to the categories where I have much less fixed opinions. Dramatic Presentation, for instance. I know I didn't get to the cinema much last year, but--other than Serenity--which films really deserve a nomination? Similarly for short form: if I'm going to go for a single episode of Battlestar Galactica, which one should it be? And what else was there to nominate? (Note: don't even bother mentioning Doctor Who.) Was 2005 just a bad year?

I haven't made a full survey of the Campbell Award website yet, but I'm thinking some of KJ Bishop, Karen Fishler, David Moles, Frances Hardinge, Holly Phillips, Steph Swainston, and Sonya Taafe. Who am I missing?

Artists and editors (aside from the magazine editors) I'm always underinformed about: if you want to pimp your choices to me, now's the time. I have firmer ideas about fanzine and fan writer (Claire Brialey for the latter, plus don't forget that bloggers count), but I'd still be interested to hear everyone else's thoughts. So: bring 'em on.

Comments

[abigail-n.livejournal.com]

fan writer ... don't forget that bloggers count

If I were a cooler person I'd know how to graciously say thank you, but instead you'll just have to imagine me blushing and sputtering. In order to draw attention away from that embarrassing sight, I'll second the mention of Matt Cheney, and also point out Andrew Rilstone. He's been disappointingly silent these last few months, but in the earlier half of this year he was the blogger I wanted to be when I grew up.

if I'm going to go for a single episode of Battlestar Galactica, which one should it be?

In ascending order of awesomeness, "Kobol's Last Gleaming 1 & 2", "Fragged" (Crashdown takes a bullet in the back), "Pegasus". I think "Downloaded" has next year's Hugo all sewn up.

Note: don't even bother mentioning Doctor Who

I'm going to assume that this means something other than the unthinkable, i.e. that you don't actually like DW.

Oh, and you're tragically wrong about there being five episodes of Carnivale that were better than "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances". I'll say this again: second season = rancid.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I'm going to assume that this means something other than the unthinkable, i.e. that you don't actually like DW.

Hmm. I'd forgotten you weren't here this time last year. :)

To be fair, I enjoyed 'The Christmas Invasion', but that might just be because David Tennant's Doctor kept reminding me of pikelet.

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

David Tennant's Doctor kept reminding me of pikelet.

Both true and, given that he eventually chose to dress a la Hartland, rather disturbing.

[abigail-n.livejournal.com]

Oh dear.

Tell you what: I'll pretend that I haven't read these and you'll pretend that I've never said anything uncomplimentary about Quantum Leap or the second season of Carnivale. We'll both cling desperately to our shared affection for The West Wing.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Deal. And I'll throw in not-even-asking-about-Due South, too.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

If I were a cooler person I'd know how to graciously say thank you, but instead you'll just have to imagine me blushing and sputtering.

So if I were nominating you, I shouldn't mention it, right?

[abigail-n.livejournal.com]

Probably not :-)