Second pass through the Hugo nominations

After another week, with nine days to go, my personal ballot has filled out just a little more.

For novel:

Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman
The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman

Maybes for novel:

Uprooted
Ancillary Mercy
Bone Gap
Carry On
Bryony and Roses

I can only pick two more, of course, which is tough. I think I will leave Uprooted and Ancillary Mercy to other people. I really think Uprooted will get nominated for sure, and Leckie already won for Ancillary Justice, so I’m kind of looking at the others. Right now I’m inclined toward Bone Gap because (a) I really loved it; (b) it’s got this beautiful literary quality; and (c) a protagonist with an invisible disability is unusual, really cool, and very well-handled. So, even though I don’t get the horse and I’m not sure about Roza’s grandmother, I’m still leaning that way. Then I really don’t know. I’m still hoping to read a couple more, so we’ll see. I’ve just started The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and I really like it so far.

For Novella:

Penric’s Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Dark Earth Below by Martha Wells, from Stories of the Raksura vol. 2

I have room for three more, obviously. I’ve got a handful I’d like to read if there’s time, which given the date, maybe not.

Best Novelette:

Damage by David D Levine
Night at the Opera by Martha Wells
A Learning Experience by me

Best Short Story:

Things You Can Buy for a Penney by Will Kaufman
Cat Pictures Please by Naomi Kritzer
Wooden Feathers by Ursula Vernon
Today I Am Paul by Martin Shoemaker
…And I Show You How Deep the Rabbit Hole Goes by Scott Alexander

And of these, my favorite is “Wooden Feathers,” while the one that might drop off the list if I read something I like better is the rabbit hole one, though it’s definitely clever.

Best Graphic Story:

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Sandman: Overture Deluxe Edition by Neil Gaiman

Best Professional Editor (Long Form):

Toni Weisskopf. What happened to her last year was just shameful.

John W. Campbell Award:

Andy Weir, for The Martian. I don’t know for sure if he’s eligible, but I’ll nominate him and let the committee sort out that question.

The 1940 Retro Hugo

“Requiem” by Heinlein, as a short story
“Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges for short story, which again may not be eligible because it first came out in Spanish.

“The Roads Must Roll” by Heinlein, as a novelette

“Magic, Inc” and “If This Goes On-” by Heinlein, as novellas

Captain America #1 and Batman #1 as graphic stories

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