Now that the cats are out of their proverbial bag, a few thoughts.
* First, as regards my short story nomination for “The Shadow War of The Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue,” I want to be very clear of my thought on this nod, for this work:
AH HA HA HA HA HAH HA HA HA HAH HA HA.
This is, seriously, my favorite Hugo nomination ever. When I got the e-mail that told me the story had been nominated and did I want to accept, I literally hopped up and down, cackling like a hyena, until my daughter asked me if I was having a seizure. And then I wrote back, “I am SO VERY ACCEPTING this nomination.”
Why do I love this nomination?
1. Because it’s absurd, in the best sense of the word. The idea that a story written as an April Fool’s Day joke has gotten a Hugo nod is just delightfully nuts.
2. Because I think it’s a validation of humor in genre, i.e., that people recognize that funny is worthwhile of recognition.
3. Because in point of fact I’m proud of the story as a piece of writing. It’s a piece designed to look like a prologue to a longer work but function as a stand-alone piece of writing, and designed to look like bad writing but actually be good (or at least highly readable) writing, and to be amusing while doing all of that. Think this sort of thing is easy? Thanks, I tried to make it look so.
4. Because I think its appearance on the Hugo slate just might make some Very Serious Observers of Genre shit a brick sideways, and you have to know I’m down with that.
So to everyone who nominated TSWOTND: Thank you. You are awesome, and you’ve totally made my year.
* The rest of the slate: I think it’s pretty damn solid, don’t you? The novel slate has a very nice range to it, as do the short fiction categories — there is width, depth and breadth to the nomination. Voters have some hard choices to make, and I think that’s a very positive thing for the voting.
* I’m delighted how many friends are on the ballots, often multiply: Seanan McGuire is on the slate in four places (twice as Mira Grant) which I think may tie a Hugo record, while Catherynne Valente pops up in three places. Jim C. Hines makes his first Hugo appearance as well, as does frequent Whatever commenter Brad Torgersen, who is also a Campbell nominee, as well as on the Nebula slate; a good year for him. Also first time Hugo nominee, I believe: Joe Hill. I believe we will see him thanking the band Rush very soon now. Oh, and look: Charlie Jane Anders! First-timer too. Many, many more people I like admire are also on the slate (Hi, Mary! Hi, China! Hi, Paul!) but let’s move on, shall we.
* What’s awesome for me: This year I am Toastmaster of Chicon 7, and among my various responsibilities is that I get to host the actual Hugo Award ceremony this year, which means I get to have a hand in giving away these things to these folks. I’m very excited about this. I hope you are, too, and that I’ll see you in Chicago this year for Worldcon. Look at this slate! You don’t want to miss out on this action.
The Blatherations of Others