56 Comments on “The 2014 Hugo Nominees”

1. Ancillary Justice FTW!

2. I think I am leaning toward this being a rather embarrassing year for the Hugos. I’ll do an SFF180 episode later tonight dissecting it.

3. Wheel Of Time is quite epic, in the classical sense of the word. The first book came out when I was 10, and the series definitely grew up with its readers. Brandon Sanderson should be applauded accomplishing the difficult transition with aplomb. The last book was wonderful.

4. Of the novels, I’ve only read “Ancillary Justice” which I thought was brilliant. Glad to see it nominated.

5. I’m a little surprised that Gordon Van Gelder wasn’t on the Editor-Short Form list.

6. Wheel of Time and Girl Genius FTW!!!!!

   Praise Brandon…uh, wait. Um. May Our Glorious Lord Host, the mighty Scalzi, deflect the thrust of the Great Pen Scalzibane and defeat the wicked Sanderson forever, to claim the last muffin in the green room!!!!!

   Ok.

   Frankly, I’m anticipating Words of Radiance being on next year’s list. “Lock In” should give it a run for it’s money if I know Our Host’s writing, but otherwise nothing can compete with that monolithic pile of Brandon.

   Movies: Frozen, with Pacific Rim a close second because screw it, I love campy movies. ANd they were polite enough to do it in honor of Ishiro Honda, and to leave a note to that effect at the end.

7. I’m pulling for “Ancillary Justice” as well, though as well I haven’t read any of the others. “Neptune’s Brood” is the only other one I have any interest in reading.

   I’d argue that “Gravity” isn’t Science Fiction in any real sense. (Though it is by far my favorite of the films nominated.)

8. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the novelette category. I now I puked in my mouth a little.

9. On one hand, sad that Seanan McGuire only got one nomination this year (as Mira Grant), as I thought she put out some truly magnificent works this year. “How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea” was my favorite for a win, actually. And it looks like short form is once again
   “Dr Who Award for Best Dr Who Episode”, but it is lovely to see Orphan Black on there. Pacific Rim for best long form, I hope! *crosses fingers* It’s one of the best films in recent memory, imho, and it was a shame that it got snubbed by the Oscars.

   Also I thought the Foglios had recused themselves from further nominations? Hmmmmn. Next year should be a good year for the category – Howard Tayler and Scott Kurtz will have eligible works.

10. What’s up with Wheel of Time? A fine series, but a.) it isn’t a novel, but a series of over a dozen novels, b.) none of which were published in 2013.

    Just curious…

11. Does this mean we have to read all 15 novels in the Wheel of Time series before July?

12. “Gravity” is indeed arguable; what about “Adventures in Time and Space”?

13. @hugh57, the WSFS constitution section 3.2.6 states:
    “Works appearing in a series are eligible as individual works, but the series as a whole is not eligible. However, a work appearing in a number of parts shall be eligible for the year of the final part.”

    A Memory of Light was published in January 2013.

    Personally I am interested in hearing the Hugo Committee’s justification for allowing the entire series to be nominated given the wording of 3.2.6.

14. I really enjoyed Ancillary Justice. Haven’t talked with anyone that did not like the movie Frozen. On a side note, if you are interested in the authors nominated for the Campbell award Stupefyingstories put together a free eBook that contains work from just about every author nominated for award (860,000 words – 111 authors). I did not see anything from Wesley Chu in the eBook, but works from Max Gladstone, Ramez Naam, Sofia Samatar, and Benjanun Sriduangkaew are included. It’s only going to be posted till the end of April. Search the Google for “2014 Campbellian Anthology” if you want to pickup a copy before its removed from distribution.

15. Re: Wheel of Time. Because the series has been completed and none of the individual books nominated previously, it can be nominated as a complete work. (That sentence brought to you by the department of redundancy department.)

16. More than 98% electronic submissions! The future is here.

    This is a strong year for novels– I’ve read the first three on the list and they are all very good.

17. @ULTRAGOTHA: I thought A Memory of Light came out before Jan. 13; my bad. Coming out in January 2013 would make AMoL eligible, but the entire series? Seems shaky to me.

    However, a work appearing in a number of parts shall be eligible for the year of the final part. — I believe this was intended to cover the instance of a novel that, prior to hardcover publication, was serialized in a magazine such as Asimov’s or Analog.

18. @Hugh57: I agree with your interpretation–I think it’s pretty clear–but I’m an armchair judge, never having been involved with any Hugo administration.

19. Well, if I vote this year, it will be without reading everything in every category, because I categorically (SWIDT) refuse to read anything written by RSHD and am appalled that enough did to get it on the ballot.

    But I’m one of them liberal fascists who believes in boycotting work by the truly, deeply reprehensible.

20. Very pleased with the fan categories this year. Not just for myself (Skiffy and Fanty), but for fan writer and so on. There are also some great novels, short stories, and Campbell nominees here. Glad to see some of my favorites on the list :)

21. No one is talking about the Retro Hugos? And how Robert E. Howard’s “Pigeons From Hell” is on the ballot for Best Novelette? PIGEONS FROM HELL.

    Anyway. Glad the Hugos use instant runoff voting. Also wondering how in hell The Wheel of Time is getting into the voter packet, if it is.

22. I love so may parts of this ballot, I can live with the smudges.

    On the Wheel of Time nomination, while the original intent of the serialization rule might have been shorter works, the wording covers whole book series as well. And only recently the rule was used to have a television series season nominated in long form (game of thrones). So the interpretation seems to be solid enough.
    And more importantly the vote was big enough. Which might be important if one wants keep the fans of longer series involved in the award.

23. I gotta go find a copy of Pigeons From Hell…

24. Thanks for posting, hopefully they will all make it over to London.

25. I’m sure I’m not eligible to vote … but there are a lot of titles there I’d like to read just for the titles. And others I’d like to read because of the authors.

26. I’m so happy to see Kameron Hurley get in, both as Best Fan Writer and for her excellent essay, “We Have Always Fought.” Hers is an important feminist voice.

27. Ranking Best Fan Writer this year is going to be PAINFUL. They’re all so good!

28. PIGEONS ’14: HELL COMES TO LONDON

29. The Foglios recused themselves for one year only. Last year they simply failed to make the final ballot, although people not realizing they were only meaning to be out for one year may well have been a factor.

30. When Tor.com first posted about the possibility of a Wheel of Time nomination back in January, it garnered comment #7: “As the author of that wording in Section 3.2.6, I would agree with that interpretation of the rules. I’d also add that the proviso is unnecessary in my view: there have been cases where novel incorporating a Hugo-winning shorter work has been nominated for the Hugo later (Beggars in Spain being an example).”

    The word of the original drafter of the rule carries a lot of weight in my book.

    I am quite biased where the Wheel of Time is involved, but I look forward to reading all of the nominees and seeing if they entertain me more.

31. The Foglios may be back on the list (and I admit I’m a huge fan), but the presence of Randall Munroe’s utterly unique work “Time” (aka xkcd #1190) on the list makes my decision very difficult. Despite its very odd format, I think it’s one of the best post-apocalyptic works I’ve read (watched?) in many a year.

32. I discovered “Ancillary Justice” through the Big Idea piece here, and I’m glad to see it honored; I thought it was well crafted as well as thought provoking. On the flip side, I’m disappointed that it’s competing against “Wheel of Time.” While that series has never appealed to me (I really tried! Made it through three doorstop sized tomes!) I know it has a lot of adherents and I expect that it’ll take the prize.

    As I haven’t read the others nominated (and I’m not a voter) I can only sit on the sidelines and hope.

33. I guess the Hugos can be gamed huh? A novella based on a miniatures game gets nominated? Nothing against Dan Wells of course, but it all kind of sounds like a popularity contest.. just read the synopsis for Vox Day’s novelette. Sounds painfully dull…

34. Sky gore:

    “it all kind of sounds like a popularity contest.”

    It’s a popular vote, so yes.

    People paying the money to vote and voting for what they like in accordance to rules isn’t gaming the vote, incidentally. It’s merely voting. There is plenty for people to like as well as dislike here.

    And, you know, if the novella based on a game is a good read, why shouldn’t it be nominated? And why shouldn’t it possibly win?

35. Delighted to see Abigail Nussbaum nominated for best fan writer for the first time. She is fantastic and deserves to win. And it’s definitely time I got around to reading Ancillary Justice; I’ve heard so many positive things about it from so many smart people.

    Surprised to see the Wheel of Time up there. It was one of two farmboys-becoming-kings fantasy epics that I started reading, and loved, in primary school (the other being Eddings), and I’m strongly ambivalent about both as an adult. I love the World of Dreams, the Aiel, and the Aes Sedai; I like that the Wheel of Time predates the era of “adult” epic fantasy reacting to the simultaneous rise of George RR Martin and YA fantasy by conflating grimness with seriousness. At the same time, there’s a lot there that I’d like to see the genre continue to move away from (certain commonplaces being rehashed in unimaginative ways, its gender politics). Still, I don’t think I’d be sorry to see it win.

36. “it all kind of sounds like a popularity contest.”

    It’s a popular vote, so yes.

    And this is going to sound a lot cattier than I really intend, but isn’t every award a “popularity contest” when you get right down to it?

37. I’m hoping MIra Grant (who is Seanan McGuire in SF clothes) gets that win for Parasite. Her books are amazing, and the science in this one is truly original, the characters are fascinating, and omg it’s wonderful. *Almost* worth the cringeworthy inclusion of Mr. Beale.

38. The Foglios may be back on the list (and I admit I’m a huge fan), but the presence of Randall Munroe’s utterly unique work “Time” (aka xkcd #1190) on the list makes my decision very difficult.

    Well, that’s the beauty of the preferential ballot: you can decide which one you most want to win and put it at #1, and then put the other one at #2.

39. I’m also happy to see Abigail Nussbaum nominated. I hadn’t heard of her until a few weeks back when John mentioned a few people he thought were worthy fan writing nominations. I found her web site and Natalie Luhrs both pretty interesting and nominated both.

    From what I’m hearing it sounds like I need to check out Ancillary Justice. I’m a big Charles Stross fan and really liked Neptune’s Brood though. We’ll see how that shakes out. I gotta say, I’m really not a fan of the Wheel of Time nomination. Kind of hopping it leads to a rule change or new category, “book series that ended in the last year” or something like that.

    I’ve seen all the dramatic long form movies except for Frozen and can say individually each one could go there, well, maybe Iron Man III is the weak point, but I was really pulling for Europa Project if for no other reason that it would be nice to give some love to non-blockbuster movies. But hey, I nominated Sharknado as well.

40. The Mad Animal Scientist:

    “Doctor Who Award for Best Doctor Who Episode”. Good one. As someone who prefers old Doctor Who to new it’s a little galling to me that the original series was never even nominated for a Hugo (Warriors Gate should’ve at least been considered, for crying out loud) while thinly-plotted fan-bait like “Day of the Doctor” gets a hearing. And “Queers Dig Timelords”? “The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who”? This is getting beyond silly.

41. I don’t remember the last time I hadn’t read any of the novels nominated. Looks like I have some catching up to do. Where should I start?

42. Scott: Start with Wheel of Time. It’s monolithic but WELL worth it.

43. Re: nemeses: it seems evident Mr. Beale would be delighted if I considered him a nemesis. All the more reason to generally not bother with him.

44. Wheel of time will win the hugo. It wont be close. The fan base is committed. I am dissapointed that Harriet Rigney was not nominated for best editor. I think there should be a lifetime achievement award for editors. She edited wheel of time and finished the series. Orson scott card dedicated Enders Game to her. She has edited other best selling authors.

    I am a big fan of Mira Grant, but she is up against the master and its his last chance to win.

    I know alot of people who rave about Larry Correia. Im glad to see John can have political fights with people and separate that from their work. I am a big fan of George RR Martin and a new fan of Jay Lake. I dont agree with their politics, but this will not stop me from buying their books. I even donated to Jays fundraiser.

45. Proud of john for not ripping the wheel of time nomination as whole. I know that is controversial, but its really a special case.

46. Guess:

    Re: Wheel of Time: Remember that the World is this year in London, and that the majority of attendees (of which there are 8k so far, the largest in years) will be British. If they don’t have the same attachment to the series as US voters do, it’s entirely possible it won’t win. Also remember that Charlie Stross is from the UK and might be considered a hometown favorite, and (in addition to Neptune being a very fine novel) after six previous novel nominations, he might be considered “due.” (So might Seanan, with three previous nominations.) Also remember that Ancillary Justice has been nominated for just about every award up to this point. Correia is the only nominee I would consider unlikely to win, being the first time he’s on the ballot, but you never do know.

    Point is: Don’t count these particular chickens yet. You might end up surprised.

47. So as a relative newcomer to Hugo nominating and voting, what was the impetus behind that 5% rule on the short story category? What happened, or was perceived as happening, or were people afraid would happen?

48. There are some wonderful things on the ballot this year. I’m particularly pleased to see that Doctor Who only has 1/3 of the slots for the Doctor Who Award (but, Red Wedding or Clone Club? Tough choice).

    Tor.com has posted a link to the five nominated works they published: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/04/read-torcoms-original-fiction-hugo-finalists#more

49. @john wheel of time fan base is buying memberships… To vote.

50. It’s not just the short story category; it’s a requirement for all categories. The idea is there should be at least some consensus, rather than a work getting in on the basis of there being a very spread-out set of nominations, and it happens to get one more nomination than everything else.

51. Re: Nemeses

    Uh John wrong thread I think. I brought up Johnny Snow in another thread. And yeah, that he might think of you as his nemesis but that you won’t return his affection is the whole joke. Which you now forced me to explain thereby ruining the joke. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.

52. Iron Man 3?! Ugh…

53. It has never made sense to me why there are categories where they list nominees without listing what works they are nominated for. How would I know what someone edited? I can understand it if its the Nebulas since its professional writers who are in the industry, but Hugos are for fans. This is the first year that I am voting.

    Yeah I signed up to vote for Wheel of Time, but I will read everything on the list because I like these kinds of stories. I think voting on it will be fun.

54. Kyle-I bailed on the film Frozen after the first quarter hour or so. I thought the plotting to that point was absurd and could care less about the key characters due to the plotting. I thought the senario they were dumped into not worth watching to see what happened. So, yes, there is at least one of us out here that did not like Frozen. Skipped Gravity too as all the trailers were about explosions in near Earth space. Meh.

55. Gary – re Frozen, you may enjoy “How Frozen Should Have Ended”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ThvBNZdGcQ , part of an amusing series.

56. WRT “Frozen” loved the movie, and the thought it got nominated for a HUGO just blows my mind!
    I think Disney had no idea that it was going to be the hit it has become. I know this because they are leaving piles of money on the table by not having enough merchandise available to meet the demand. And Disney is all about merchandising.