Hugo nominees are out

[alexxkay]

The nominees for the 2003 Hugos (and the Retro Hugos for 1953) are out. My reading last year paid off, as I actually recognize a fair chunk of the entries. I may even have read some of the ones I don't recognize, but if thy failed to make an impression on me to that extent, I certainly won't vote for them.


I've only read two of the novels, Paladin of Souls, by Lois McMaster Bujold and Singularity Sky, by Charles Stross. I may try and read the others, but I'd be happy to vote for the Stross.

I've read at least most of the novellas. "Empress of Mars" by Kage Baker is my pick, though I wouldn't be unhappy to see "The Cookie Monster", by Vernor Vinge, win either. While I'm generally a big Connie Willis fan, I don't think her story is really Hugo-worthy.

I've also read most of the novelettes, *except* the Charles Stross one. Of the ones I've read, I'd go with "Bernardo's House", by James Patrick Kelly. But I'm enough of a Charles Stross fan that I'm going to try and find and read a copy of his "Nighfall" before the vote.

Of the short stories I've read, I think Joe Haldeman's "Four Short Novels" probably gets the nod. I greatly enjoyed both Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald", and David D. Levine's "The Tale of the Golden Eagle", but, for various reasons, I don't think either of them quite deserves a Hugo.

I've only read one of the "Related Books", The Thackery T. Lambshead Guide to Eccentric & Discredited Diseases. It was certainly fun, but I wouldn't call it Hugo-worthy. I probably won't vote in this category.

Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form. I've actually only seen two of these (so far), The Return of the King, and Pirates of the Caribbean. I'd probably actually vote for Pirates, though it will surprise me if RotK doesn't win in a walk.

Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form. I've seen all of these but the Smallville episode. While I'm a big Joss Whedon fan, I don't think he produced anything Hugo-worthy in 2003. Well, maybe the commentary track to "Objects in Space", but that doesn't fit neatly into any sort of Hugo category. So I guess I'll have to go with Gollum's MTV Award acceptance speech as my vote :-)

The remaining categories are ones I know little about, and will probably not vote on.

I'll probably do some re-reading for the 1953 Retro-Hugos. The lineup is stunning -- apparently 1953 was a very good year for SF. The only obvious vote (before having re-read the various classic books) is for Dramatic Presentation. It's gonna be Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century in a walk!

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

The 1953 "best book" list is probably the strongest line-up ever. I mean, how do you choose between Childhood's End, Caves of Steel, More Than Human, Fahrenheit 451, and Mission Of Gravity...sheesh!

[siderea]

Ah, the days of yore, when giants strode the earth.

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Easy. The only one on my shelves is Farenheit 451. :)

[siderea]

Is it possible to find gollum's acceptance speach online? I'd never heard of it until now.

Q

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Yup. http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/view/6856

[jducoeur]

I've seen all of the long-form dramas except 28 Days Later. X2 isn't even in the ballpark (fun, but neither a great movie nor a great adaptation). I could see voting for either Nemo or Pirates, both of which are excellent fantasy movies. But I'll likely vote for RotK -- while it has its weaknesses, I still think it's a great film. It's telling that I expect to voluntarily see it again more times than most...

I didn't see the MTV awards, but I'm tempted to vote for it anyway, simply on the grounds that Gollum should get *something*. I'm still rankled that he didn't get nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar -- IMO, he's the one person in LotR who really deserved an Academy Award, and I would have loved to see him as the test case of a synthespian for an Oscar.

I agree that the Retro-Hugo lineup is remarkable, especially for the Novels. All of the nominees are certified classics. I think I'd give it to Childhood's End by a hair, although I waver between that and Fahrenheit 451. The short stories are also well-contested, although I have to give it to The Nine Billion Names of God, which had a profound effect on me when I was young.

And yes, Duck Dodgers is a clear winner. (Especially for us Marathoners...)

the Gollum acceptance speech - Easter Egg

[hungrytiger]

The MTV Movie Awards Gollum acceptance speech can be viewed as an Easter Egg on the LotR: Two Towers special edition DVD.

To find it:
1) Insert Disc 1 of the movie and choose "select a scene"
2) From the list of chapters, choose scenes 29-30
3) Press down to highlight scene 30 ("Of Herbs And Stewed Rabbit")
4) Press down again and a small ring will appear
5) Press ENTER and Peter Jackson will introduce Gollum's MTV awards acceptance speech (which I saw when if first aired and it nearly made me wet my pants its so funny).

And for the record, if you follow the same instructions with Disc 1 of the Fellowship of the Ring special edition (go to the end of the scene selections and press down), you'll find the piece MTV made for the previous year's award show, where they inserted Jack Black and Sarah Michelle Gellar into the Council of Elrond.

I can't wait to see what they'll put there for RotK.

Re: the Gollum acceptance speech - Easter Egg

[jducoeur]

Okay, got it -- thanks for the pointers.

Yes, I think that wins for me, just for the sheer delight of watching Gollum so *painfully* amusingly in-character. (And y'know, it's worth it just to hear someone actually put down MTV on the Music Awards.)

And the Fellowship easter egg is almost as funny, if rather more predictable...

I would like to nominate....

[siderea]

I would like to nominate "The hypothetical Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form Award to 'Gollum's MTV Award acceptance speech'" to the category of "Best Recursion".

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Btw, I encourage you to read "Paying it Forward" by Michael Burnstein, also known as my friend mabfan. :)