Month: August 2024

The winners of the 2024 Hugo Awards, the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and the Astounding Award for Best New Writer will be announced at the Hugo Award Ceremony in Glasgow today.  Here’s how I personally ranked the finalists:

Best Novel

1. Witch King by Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
2. Translation State by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK)
3. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)
4. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager UK)
5. The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)
6. Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Tor, Tor UK)

Best Novella

1. Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom)
2. Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK)
3. Rose/House by Arkady Martine (Subterranean)
4. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Tordotcom)
5. “Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
6. “Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)

Best Novelette

1. “The Year Without Sunshine” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine, November-December 2023)
2. “Ivy, Angelica, Bay” by C. L. Polk (Tor.com 8 December 2023)
3. “On the Fox Roads” by Nghi Vo (Tor.com 31 October 2023)
4. I AM AI by Ai Jiang (Shortwave)
5. “One Man’s Treasure” by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)
6. “Introduction to 2181 Overture, Second Edition”, Gu Shi /〈2181序曲〉再版导言, 顾适 translated by Emily Jin (Clarkesworld, February 2023)

Best Short Story

1. “Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023)
2. “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)
3. “The Mausoleum’s Children” by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, May-June 2023)
4. “The Sound of Children Screaming” by Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare Magazine, October 2023)
5. 美食三品 (“Tasting the Future Delicacy Three Times”), 宝树 / Baoshu (银河边缘013：黑域密室 / Galaxy’s Edge Vol. 13: Secret Room in the Black Domain)
6. “Answerless Journey”, Han Song /没有答案的航程, 韩松, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)

Best Series

1. October Daye by Seanan McGuire (DAW)
2. Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK)
3. The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard (Gollancz; JABberwocky Literary Agency; Subterranean Press; Uncanny Magazine; et al.)
4. The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK, Orbit US)
5. The Last Binding by Freya Marske (Tordotcom, Tor UK)
6. The Laundry Files by Charles Stross (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)

Best Graphic Story or Comic

1. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott (DC Comics)
2. Saga, Vol. 11 written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
3. Bea Wolf, written by Zach Weinersmith, art by Boulet (First Second)
4. The Witches of World War 2 written by Paul Cornell, art by Valeria Burzo (TKO Studios LLC)
5. Shubeik Lubeik, Deena Mohamed (Pantheon); as Your Wish Is My Command (Granta)
6. 三体漫画：第一部 / The Three Body Problem, Part One, adapted from the novels by 刘慈欣 (Liu Cixin), written by 蔡劲 (Cai Jin),戈闻頔 (Ge Wendi), and 薄暮 (Bo Mu), art by 草祭九日东 (Caojijiuridong) (Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House)

Best Related Work

1. A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, by Maureen Kincaid Speller, edited by Nina Allan (Luna Press Publishing)
2. All These Worlds: Reviews & Essays by Niall Harrison (Briardene Books)
3. A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith (Penguin Press; Particular Books)
4. The Culture: The Drawings, by Iain M. Banks (Orbit)
5. 雨果X访谈 (Discover X), presented by 王雅婷 (Tina Wong)

Unranked

• 中国科幻口述史, 第二卷, 第三卷，(Chinese Science Fiction: An Oral History, vols 2 and 3) ed. 杨枫 / Yang Feng (8-Light Minutes Culture & Chengdu Time Press)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

1. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, screenplay by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Michael Gilio, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Paramount Pictures)
2. Barbie, screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, directed by Greta Gerwig (Warner Bros. Studios)
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson (Columbia Pictures / Marvel Entertainment / Avi Arad Productions / Lord Miller / Pascal Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation)
4. Nimona, screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (Annapurna Animations)
5. Poor Things, screenplay by Tony McNamara, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Element Pictures)
6. 流浪地球2 / The Wandering Earth II, based on the novel by 刘慈欣 Liu Cixin, screenplay by 杨治学 Yang Zhixue, 郭帆 / Frant Gwo, 龚格尔 Gong Geer, and 叶濡畅 Ye Ruchang, script consultant 王红卫 Wang Hongwei, directed by 郭帆 / Frant Gwo (中影创意（北京）电影有限公司 / CFC Pictures Ltd, 郭帆（北京）影业有限公司 / G!Film (Beijing) Studio Co. Ltd, 北京登峰国际文化传播有限公司 / Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communication Co, Ltd, 中国电影股份有限公司 / China Film Co. Ltd)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

1. The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”, written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, directed by Peter Hoar (Naughty Dog / Sony Pictures)
2. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Subspace Rhapsody”, written by Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Dermott Downs (CBS / Paramount+)
3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Those Old Scientists”, written by Kathryn Lyn and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Jonathan Frakes (CBS / Paramount+)
4. Doctor Who: “The Giggle”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Chanya Button (Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for The BBC and Disney Branded Television)
5. Doctor Who: “Wild Blue Yonder”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Tom Kingsley (Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for The BBC and Disney Branded Television)
6. Loki: “Glorious Purpose”, screenplay by Eric Martin, Michael Waldron and Katharyn Blair, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Marvel / Disney+)

Best Game or Interactive Work

Unranked

• Alan Wake 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment, published by Epic Games
• Baldur’s Gate 3, produced by Larian Studios
• Chants of Sennaar, developed by Rundisc, published by Focus Entertainment
• DREDGE, developed by Black Salt Games, published by Team17
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, produced by Nintendo
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, developed by Respawn Entertainment, published by Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm Games

Best Editor, Short Form

1. Jonathan Strahan
2. Scott H. Andrews
3. Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas
4. Neil Clarke

Unranked

• 刘维佳 (Liu Weijia)
• 杨枫 (Yang Feng)

Best Editor, Long Form

• Ruoxi Chen
• Lee Harris
• Lindsay Hall
• Kelly Lonesome
• David Thomas Moore

Unranked

• 姚海军 (Yao Haijun)

Best Professional Artist

1. Dan Dos Santos
2. Galen Dara
3. Alyssa Winans
4. Tristan Elwell
5. Micaela Alcaino
6. Rovina Cai

Best Semiprozine

1. Strange Horizons, by the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective
2. FIYAH Literary Magazine publisher and executive editor DaVaun Sanders, poetry editor B. Sharise Moore, special projects manager L. D. Lewis, art director Christian Ivey, acquiring editors Rebecca McGee, Kerine Wint, Joshua Morley, Emmalia Harrington, Genine Tyson, Tonya R. Moore, sponsor coordinator Nelson Rolon
3. Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and Valerie Valdes; assistant editors Benjamin C. Kinney, Premee Mohamed and Kevin Wabaunsee; hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart; producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht; and the entire Escape Pod team
4. khōréō, produced by Aleksandra Hill, Zhui Ning Chang, Kanika Agrawal, Isabella Kestermann, Rowan Morrison, Sachiko Ragosta, Lian Xia Rose, Jenelle DeCosta, Melissa Ren, Elaine Ho, Lilivette Domínguez, Jei D. Marcade, Jeané Ridges, Isaree Thatchaichawalit, Danai Christopoulou, M. L. Krishnan, Ysabella Maglanque, Aaron Voigt, Adil Mian, Alexandra Millatmal, E. Broderick, K. S. Walker, Katarzyna Nowacka, Katie McIvor, Kelsea Yu, Marie Croke, Osahon Ize-Iyamu, Phoebe Low, S. R. Westvik, Sara S. Messenger
5. GigaNotoSaurus, editor LaShawn M. Wanak, associate editors Mia Tsai and Edgard Wentz, along with the GNS Slushreaders Team
6. Uncanny Magazine, publishers and editors-in-chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; nonfiction editor Meg Elison; podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Best Fanzine

1. Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together, editors Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer; senior editors Joe Sherry, Adri Joy, G. Brown, Vance Kotrla.
2. Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog, editors Olav Rokne and Amanda Wakaruk
3. Black Nerd Problems, editors Omar Holmon and William Evans
4. Journey Planet, edited by Michael Carroll, Vincent Docherty, Sara Felix, Ann Gry, Sarah Gulde, Allison Hartman Adams, Arthur Liu, Jean Martin, Helena Nash, Pádraig Ó Méalóid, Yen Ooi, Chuck Serface, Alan Stewart, Regina Kanyu Wang, James Bacon and Christopher J. Garcia
5. The Full Lid, written by Alasdair Stuart and edited by Marguerite Kenner
6. Idea, editor Geri Sullivan

Best Fancast

1. The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
2. Octothorpe, by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty
3. Hugos There, presented by Seth Heasley
4. Worldbuilding for Masochists, presented by Marshall Ryan Maresca, Rowenna Miller, Cass Morris and Natania Barron
5. Publishing Rodeo, presented by Sunyi Dean and Scott Drakeford

Unranked

• 科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma), production team 布玛（Buma)，刘路（Liu Lu)，刘倡（Liu Chang)

Best Fan Writer

1. Paul Weimer
2. James Davis Nicoll
3. Jason Sanford
4. Alasdair Stuart
5. Bitter Karella
6. Örjan Westin

Best Fan Artist

1. ​​Iain J. Clark
2. Laya Rose
3. Alison Scott
4. España Sheriff
5. Dante Luiz
6. Sara Felix

Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book

1. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)
2. Unraveller by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan Children’s Books; eligible due to 2023 U.S. publication by Amulet)
3. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix (Katherine Tegen Books, Gollancz and Allen & Unwin)
4. Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark (Starscape)
5. Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood Press)
6. Promises Stronger than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen)

Astounding Award for Best New Writer

1. Sunyi Dean (2nd year of eligibility)
2. Ai Jiang (2nd year of eligibility)
3. Moniquill Blackgoose (1st year of eligibility)
4. Hannah Kaner (1st year of eligibility)
5. Em X. Liu (1st year of eligibility)
6. Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)

Who are you hoping to see take home shiny trophies?