Hugo nominees are out
Apr. 12th, 2004 11:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexxkayThe 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!
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!