The Hugo Awards, presented annually since 1955, are the Oscars of the Science Fiction and Fantasy community. Every year awards are given in 15 categories which include awards for various fiction categories including novel, short story, novella, novelette, an award for editing, for best artist and many more. The Hugo Awards are open for participation for anyone who wants to nominate and/or vote, provided you choose to become a member of that year’s World Science Fiction Convention.
For the past several years I have entered the nomination season wishing I had been more successful in reading current works of short and long form fiction so that I could participate in the process. One of my goals last year was to do just that, which resulted in my year-long quest to read and review short fiction for SF Signal. I also put greater effort into reading novels released in 2013 and tried to keep up with podcasts that I feel are worthy of recognition by the nominations committee.
When the January 31st deadline for purchasing memberships (for nominating purposes) for this year’s World Science Fiction Convention, LonCon 3, were announced, I promptly paid for a Supporting Membership (42 bucks and change) and received my PIN and nominating instructions.
Your thoughts on this may trend towards the “who cares?” end of the spectrum and/or you may argue that these awards, or awards in general, are meaningless. Perhaps they do not reflect the kind of fiction, art and nonfiction writing in the field that you are passionate about. You may argue that these awards are merely a popularity contest and do not reflect the best the genre has to offer.
All those are valid points and to one degree or another are feelings that I have had over the years, feelings that have not suddenly disappeared. But as I look back over the 9 years that I have been blogging, it has been brought home to me that I am excited about the nomination announcements and presentation of the winners every year. My reading is and has been informed not only by those nominated, or those who win, but also by the many and varied discussions that occur during the awards season. And I have come to agree with those who advocate that if you are not satisfied with the work and/or persons being recognized, you have the right to pay a small fee to have a voice.
The average number of people voting on the short list in the major categories every year is around 1,000. One thousand! That is a small number given the many fans out there reading new works of science fiction and fantasy every year, not to mention the authors and publishers and others involved in the community who vote. That number needs to come up, and I want to be, and now am, one of those number.
It is not too late to join me. The Supporting Membership allows you to nominate for both the 2014 and 2015 Hugo Awards and to vote for the 2014 Hugo Awards if you join by January 31st. The period for nominating for the 15 categories ends on March 10th and so you can expect me to be posting Hugo-related posts in the month of February as I agonize over which 5 works/persons to nominate in each category. I especially look forward to my Hugo Artist Week during which I will have daily posts featuring those artists who will make my nominating ballot. It is going to be a hard choice as there are many deserving candidates.
Despite my excitement in being a part of the process this year, I do want to give voice to those who have made legitimate complaints about awards in general, or the Hugo Awards specifically, over the years. On some level the Hugos are very much a popularity contest. Those authors with the most loyal fan base can fairly easily sway the process, if they are willing to make a small sacrifice of cash and time to do so. The awards have been accused of being too focused on American/Western authors and have certainly, over the entire history, been more focused on male authors. These are valid criticisms, all of which I believe have been acknowledged and addressed by professional and non-professional writers, reviewers and podcasters over the past several years.
With the flaws in the system, why should we care about the Hugos, or the Nebulas, the Locus Awards, the World Fantasy Awards or any other genre awards, for that matter? For one thing I believe that those who make an effort to create art in the genre(s) that we love deserve public recognition for their efforts. While any currently working author would tell you that they would rather be acknowledged with book sales than awards, let us admit the fact that it feels good to have your work praised by those who are partaking of it. Beyond what it does for the author, I think the awards season is a boon to the genre community. The passionate discussions and arguments about the stories and the authors whose works are eligible in any given year, coupled with the discussions about previous winners and losers and the praise and condemnation of the awards themselves, breath life into the community. Readers enjoy talking/writing about the works that stir their imaginations and the words that the genre awards inspire every year are not only interesting (while also heated), they expose readers to works they may not have previously considered.
I am excited to be a part of the Hugo Awards this year. Yes, my voice is small, and come ballot time mine will simply be one vote of many. But that is important to me. It is important to me to be cognizant of the field that I have loved since childhood. It is important to me to grow in my awareness of what excites me in the genre and why that occurs. It is important to me, with my one voice, to say a public ‘thank you’ to those who have created works that have had an impact on my life over the course of the year.
In 2014 I Hugo, do you?
The award exists. It doesn’t sound like it’s going away. Why not be a part of the process?
Sounds fun to me.
I agree! I feel like I’ve had good reason not to participate before because I wanted to be more current in the field, and though I am far from being well read over the past year, I feel comfortable in what I’ve read and the quality of what I’ve read to nominate. And hopefully I’ll have read some of the books/stories that make the short list and can actually read everything nominated before the actual final voting and again make an intelligent choice that I believe in.
You know, I’ve never really thought about being part of the nominating process for any award. I definitely don’t read enough books that qualify for any awards, but I could definitely make more of an effort. Thanks for making me more conscious of this.
I don’t generally either, Tanya, and frankly even with my efforts this year I keep running into books that I could see making their way onto the ballot that I haven’t read. Still, it has been fun trying to stay current and I look forward to the process this year.
I also just bought a supporting membership (I’d like to go to London, but alas, not this year), so yes, I will Hugo as well!
I too would love to be able to attend, particularly with it being in London, but like you that will not be happening. I look forward to seeing that you nominate and vote for, Anton, if you plan to share on your site.
Thanks for the reminder! I forgot last year, and was disappointed that I didn’t get to vote, or get the nominated works e-pack.
You are welcome. I actually expected to have to pay more and was really pleasantly surprised with the cost. And yes, it will be nice to get that nominated bundle, especially to try to read those I might have missed that make it to the short list.
It sounds like a lot of fun but I didn’t keep up with 2013 releases. Maybe in the future I will do better and join you. 🙂
That would be fun, Kelly.
I think it’s terrific that you have the opportunity to contribute. If I had the same experience with the works, I would definitely want to do so as well, and I wish the same option was available for other awards. Good stuff!
I do too. We do have the Locus Awards which are entirely open to anyone and I’ll be sure to post about them when the nominating and voting time comes.
You should be a political campaign writer, you have swayed me to actually think about becoming a member. I am daunted by all the reading I would have to commit to as my time seems never to be enough to actually read. That being said, you have me thinking…excited to read your Feb. Hugo related posts.
I’m excited, and a bit nervous, about the Hugo posts coming up as I know I’ll agonize over choices, particularly with artists and short stories…there will be far more that I want to nominate than I’ll be able to nominate.
I have considered being a part of the nominating process for the Hugo awards before, but I haven’t been reading many newly published works. I’m looking forward to reading your Hugo posts. 🙂
Thanks Vasilly, I’m excited about the posts I’m planning. Should be a fun experience.
I think it’s great you’re participating this year. If I can swing the funds I will join you as well my friend. If not I will undoubtably enjoy all your Hugo posts and the ensuing debates.
At the very least we can get into some good discussions/debates about which artists should be nominated.
I got my supporting membership the other day, and started filling out my ballot. Some sections were easy. . . others. . EEEEK.
i don’t know if my vote makes any difference. But i like being part of this. I feel like i’m part of a super special secret group, the super special secret group that anyone can join! (ok, anyone with $40 bucks in their pocket!).
I’m feeling that way now as well. I took a peek at the ballot but have not made any selections to this point. I will start doing so soon, I expect. I know there are some sections where I may just have to beg off, but we’ll see.
I do look at the awards with interest, often finding the nominations themselves more fascinating than the actual winners. The Hugos do excite me more than all the other awards, except for the Locus Awards. I do favor the large list of novels from the Locus Awards, as they seem to nail the SF/F zeitgeist best of all.
Locus does do a really nice job of offering up a wide view of the year and I always find books in their annual look back at the year issue that I have heard nothing about that sound interesting.
Hey Carl. I Hugo, too.
This is my very first time nominating and voting and despite having many of the misgivings you listed above, I am just as excited. I am fairly sure one wildly popular author will make it to the shortlist just because he is who is, not because his most recent work actually merits it. But as you say, we do have a voice and it may just be a small one among many, but let’s throw our two cents in.
In all the excitement about voting (my boyfriend got me the supporting membership for my birthday), I am shocked to realise how few books published in 2013 I have actually read. So the next two and a half months will be dedicated to catching up as much as possible. I look forward to your Hugo Artist week. I do have some artists line up whose work I have always admired, but it’s really difficult to make a choice.
And thanks again for recommending Love Minus Eighty. It’s going on my ballot. 😉
Welcome to the first timers club, Dina. Happy to hear you are joining in as well this year.
Referencing your cryptic reference I will make these statements: While I enjoy John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War universe immensely, I don’t think The Human Division should make the final ballot. It may anyway, but that is just my opinion. It is based largely on the fact that I can think of 5 books to nominate from what I read new last year that I would rank above it. No knock on The Human Division, just my opinion.
Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane will also no doubt make the short list. I read it, liked it, liked it better as time went on, but do not have the personal connection with it that I have with other novels. That being said, if I look at it objectively and not based on my own experience I see it as nomination worthy. I am not sure where it will rank for me once I start making decisions but it isn’t an automatic top 5 for me, so if it is on my noms list it will be because I’ve actually thought deeply about it.
Love Minus Eighty will be on my ballot as well, so glad that you enjoyed it.
And what a great birthday present, Happy Birthday!!!
Good post, Mr. Stainless.
I have not read any books which qualify for the award, no SF published in 2013. None. I seem to always read older books, I guess. As for awards, I really wish the Hugo was voted on by writers and published critics, not anyone with that $40. I think awards given by peers are he best. However the Hugo Awards are this way, and so getting involved is good. I think a large number of people vote without having read the book/story/essay/etc. which is shameful and dishonest, but people can be like that sometimes.
Question: what do you think of the historical Hugo thing?
If I am one think Richard, it is not ‘stainless’, lol! 🙂
All awards have inherent problems. Awards given by peers are good, but they are just as flawed as those voted on by the greater public for free (Locus) or those who pay a fee to vote (Hugos). The reason being is that authors are no less prone to having their reading experiences colored by their relationship with the author, with the stories that hit their hot buttons but are not necessarily innovative and award-worthy, etc. I think any of us who have picked up a blurbed novel by one of our favorite authors only to be wildly disappointed by the book can attest to the fact that being an author doesn’t make your taste in books any more worthwhile than a non-author reader.
Sure, an author might be more likely to see into the intricate structure of a book and might (and I do mean MIGHT) be more knowledgeable about the field, but does that mean their opinion is more valid? I don’t think so.
I don’t think there is any one method to strip awards of their inherent bias, wherever that bias may be coming from. Which is why I’m glad that the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and World Fantasy are all structured very differently as it gives an interesting overall picture of what amateur critics (i.e. fans like myself), professional critics and professional writers/editors think about the work released in the past year.
I’m not sure how I feel about the historical Hugo thing. I don’t think there should be years or categories where there are no winners, for one thing. Should we be going back and recognizing older works with Hugos? Well, aren’t most of those works getting the nod already fairly well known anyway? If so, what is the point of the honor?
I’m not sure I equate innovative with award-worthy. I think very good or excellent (not necessarily innovative) is what should be considered. You know my criteria: a good story well told.
I don’t necessarily either, but I do think that when you hear authors and editors talk about these awards they are championing the idea that the books being nominated should be doing something to push the genre forward. And my point is that I feel authors/editors are just as likely to vote for “good story” books as readers are, making a peer-only award an interesting idea but not necessarily more valid than a reader opinion award.
How fun! I look forward to your reports of the experience. If you really enjoy it perhaps you will inspire me to give it a go sometime 🙂
I will do my best. 🙂
Thanks, I am really enjoying the contemplation already.
Most awards break down to popularity contests, which is both a shame, but also part of the award. If you’re on the list, someone has heard of you. You’re more popular than you were before.
As a writer of speculative fiction, being part of the Hugo process is something of a dream. I’d love to have one of my stories nominated and even though I felt silly throwing my hat into the ring, I did post my links to John Scalzi’s helpful thread asking folks to do so.
As you say, if you’re not a part of it, how can you hope to effect change. I don’t have time to read everything that is nominated and give a clear vote. But I can put myself out there, right? Hope one other person will read my fiction and be excited by it.
If you don’t write fiction, why not take part in the nominating and voting. You live and breathe speculative fiction. You’re already a part of the process. 🙂
I look forward to your thoughts on who is nominated and what you think of the stories they wrote.
True, they are popularity contests of some kind. Which aren’t always a bad thing. It is easy to see popularity as equaling bad. Of course the other argument isn’t necessarily true either, that popularity equals good.
I think it was Scalzi, who you mention, that wrote about SFF fans in his response to Adam Roberts’ article against promoting one’s own work and Scalzi made the point, which I agree with, that fans are discerning and are not just slavishly attached to authors regardless of the quality of their work. Some are, of course, but I think there are more that aren’t, at least those who are willing to shell out cash to voice their opinion.
I do think self promotion is not only good but entirely necessary if you believe in your work.
I’m going to have fun taking part and discussing the why’s regarding my nominations and, later, the place I cast my votes.
shiyeeet, i didn’t realise that joe public could get involved! i’m seriously tempted to do so now.
do they send you stuff in the post (are there cool keepsakes)?
I believe when the stories are shortlisted you get some kind of e-format bundle of those items with the hopes that voters will read all the qualifying works and make an informed decision.