There are many great things about attending Sci-Fi Worldcons, and not just when they are organised in cities like London. One of them is the possibility to vote for the Hugo Awards – whose nominations were announced this year during the Glasgow Eastercon in the Uk – and in a few other places around the world.
– 1923 valid nominating ballots were received for 2014 Awards, and you can still watch the video of the streaming at http://www.ustream.tv/hugo-awards.-
What all the fuss is about? Well, if you are a SF writer, the Hugo Award may well represent the Nobel prize for you. Or the Holy Grail, if you are more mystically inclined. In both cases, instant notoriety in the SFF galaxy, and the fact you are going to rather easily – or easier- sell your books, which is not something to be overlooked in this materialistic world of ours. And if you go through the list of awardees of the past 50 years or so you understand immediately the reason why: all SF big names are there – Robert A. Heinlein, Ursula Le Guin, Larry Nivel, Arthur C. Clarke, Orson Scott Card, Samuel R. Delany, Frank Herbert, only to name very few. Some of them, like Arthur C. Clarke, won more than once the double crown Hugo/Nebula (this one awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, aka SFWA) for the same novel, The Fountains of Paradise in 1980.
But why Hugo anyway? This somehow original name come from Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories (http://amazingstoriesmag.com); until 1992 they were actually known as the Science Fiction Achievement Awards – but still awarded during the the annual World Science Fiction Conventions they are today, and since 1953.
This year I’m going to take part and vote too, and I’m particularly excited about it – especially for the best novel award, where the choice will be a difficult one. Just consider that both Charles Stross and Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire) are there, and in good company.
See for yourself:
- Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (Orbit US / Orbit UK)
- Neptune’s Brood by Charles Stross (Ace / Orbit UK)
- Parasite by Mira Grant (Orbit US / Orbit UK)
- Warbound, Book III of the Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia (Baen Books)
- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Tor Books / Orbit UK)
I have read the two I’ve mentioned so far, so a good rush is needed from now until August, deadline for voting. And the best novel is just one of the many categories (http://loncon3.org/2014hugos.php)
…Interested in having your say? Sign up for Loncon 3, and download your reading pack (http://www.thehugoawards.org/). Expect many sleepless nights, but lots, lots of fun…!
Happy reading to everybody.