If you’re one of those bookish geeks, and if your bookishness tastes a bit science-fictional, then you’re probably familiar with the Hugo Awards. If not, here’s the deal: since 1955, the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”) members have been voting on and awarding the Hugo, sci-fi’s most prestigious award. It’s like the Academy Awards but for a particular brand of geeks. We love them.
The winners of this year’s awards were announced over the weekend at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno:
BEST NOVEL
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra)
BEST NOVELLA
The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang (Subterranean)
BEST NOVELETTE
“The Emperor of Mars” by Allen M. Steele (Asimov’s, June 2010)
BEST SHORT STORY
“For Want of a Nail” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s, September 2010)
BEST RELATED WORK
Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O’Shea (Mad Norwegian)
BEST GRAPHIC STORY
Girl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse, written by Phil and Kaja Foglio; art by Phil Foglio; colors by
Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, LONG FORM
Inception, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner)
BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, SHORT FORM
Doctor Who: “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang,” written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)
BEST EDITOR, SHORT FORM
Sheila Williams
BEST EDITOR, LONG FORM
Lou Anders
BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST
Shaun Tan
BEST SEMIPROZINE
Clarkesworld, edited by Neil Clarke, Cheryl Morgan, Sean Wallace; podcast directed by Kate Baker
BEST FANZINE
The Drink Tank, edited by Christopher J Garcia and James Bacon
BEST FAN WRITER
Claire Brialey
BEST FAN ARTIST
Brad W. Foster
JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARD FOR BEST NEW WRITER
Award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2009 or 2010, sponsored by Dell Magazines (not a Hugo Award).
Lev Grossman
For the record, I’m very fond of Mary Robinette Kowal’s “For Want of a Nail” and I’m happy she won. I’m also a fan of Lev Grossman, so that was happy-making. Were there any surprises or disappointments for you guys in this year’s awards?