2007 Hugo Award Nominees – or why SciFi is more than just Star Wars/Trek/BSG etc.. April 2, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in scifi.trackback
While this blog spends far too much time reflecting on ‘pop’ SciFi – there is of course a much larger (and some would argue vastly more interesting and innovative) universe of SciFi that is evolving every year.
It is the job of the Hugo awards to identify the brightest stars in that universe.
The Hugo Award was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, “The Father of Magazine Science Fiction,”. The award is is given annually by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) which this year for the first time ever is being held in Japan Aug. 30-Sep. 3 (thnx William Shunn!)
‘Pop’ SciFi like Star Wars/Star Trek/BSG/Stargate and the like are easy in that they are all now established franchises that offer a very low barrier to entry. Many of us already are familiar with the constructs of those universes so it’s easy to jump in. Admittedly it is a somewhat ‘lazy’ approach to being a true SciFi fan and one that ShowMeSciFi is going to correct..starting with the Hugo’s.
(As a side note it’s interesting though to realize that ‘pop’ SciFi dominates the Dramatic Presentation, Short Form nominees list with BSG, Stargate and Dr.Who)
This year’s list of nominees are impressive and over the next few months expect to see reviews of each work of fiction listed on this blog.
Without any futher ado..the nominees are:
Novel: Eifelheim by Michael Flynn, His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, Glasshouse by Charles Stross, Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge, Blindsight by Peter Watts
Novella: “The Walls of the Universe” by Paul Melko, “A Billion Eves” by Robert Reed, “Inclination” by William Shunn, “Lord Weary’s Empire” by Michael Swanwick, “Julian: A Christmas Story” by Robert Charles Wilson
Novelette: “Yellow Card Man” by Paolo Bacigalupi, “Dawn, and Sunset, and the Colours of the Earth” by Michael F. Flynn, “The Djinn’s Wife” by Ian McDonald, “All the Things You Are” by Mike Resnick, “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” by Geoff Ryman
Short Story: “How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman, “Kin” by Bruce McAllister, “Impossible Dreams” by Timothy Pratt, “Eight Episodes” by Robert Reed, “The House Beyond Your Sky” by Benjamin Rosenbaum
Related Book: About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews by Samuel R. Delany, Heinlein’s Children: The Juveniles by Joseph T. Major, James Tiptree, Jr. : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips, Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio by John Picacio, Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches edited by Mike Resnick and Joe Siclari
Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Children of Men, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Prestige, A Scanner Darkly, V for Vendetta
Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Battlestar Galactica, “Downloaded”; Doctor Who, “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”; Doctor Who, “Girl in the Fireplace”; Doctor Who, “School Reunion”; Stargate SG-1, “200”
Show Me SciFi 
[…] Original post by showmescifi […]
Looking forward to your review of the works.
Worldcon runs from August 30 to September 3, not from August 3. Though I’d love to attend a monthlong Worldcon!
The Hugo Administration Subcommittee discovered in a post-release audit of the nominating ballots an error in the Best Dramatic Presentation category and has released a revised ballot. See their announcement for details, but the result is that Pan’s Labyrinth is nominated, while Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is off the ballot.
New un-acknowledged autobiography of Hugo Gernsback ready for printing. Check it out on booksurge.com. Available in soft and hard cover within the next 30 days.
Got questions? I’ve got answers.
Here is a link to a new book – (un-attributed autobiography) of Hugo Gernsback. Long lost manuscript edited by Larry Steckler, was found in the company files when they stopped publishing in January 2003.
[…] 30-Sep. 3 – Hugo Awards at the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) at the World Science Fiction Convention […]
thanks so much!
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