2018 Hugo Nomination Recommendations
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ladybusinessAnother year, another Hugo nomination season! Once again, nominations for the Hugo Awards are open, to anyone who is currently a member of this year's upcoming Worldcon in San Jose, CA, last year's Worldcon in Helsinki, or next year's Worldcon in Dublin. Nominations are open until March 15th, so that's plenty of time to read all those things you've been meaning to get to before nominations close… right?
Never fear, the editors of Lady Business are here to provide our suggestions as you decide what to prioritize on your TBR. Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of everything that might be worthy of a Hugo nomination, and nor is it meant to be. It's just a selection of some of the works we loved in 2017, and a few reasons why we loved them, along with a selection of the books, stories, and shows we're still hoping to check out ourselves. Each editor's opinions are their own, although we suspect you'd find a fair amount of agreement if we had sat down to discuss our picks.
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz — Of all the books I read last year, none other dealt in the gray areas of people and future economies as Autonomous. A patent pirate pirates a batch of drugs that goes wrong and people start dying, two agents—one a man and another a military robot—are on the hunt. The great thing about this book is that all the characters do things in service of themselves and other people, but it's hard to go "this is the villain" and "this is the hero". It's a fascinating exploration of the future, too, and how poverty could change and adapt to a more automated global economy. Also: very awkward robot sex. [Renay]
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia — A tender, bittersweet SFF romance about imperfect people trying to remake their lives. I loved everyone in this novel by the end even though they often make terrible choices (especially Valerie). Also, this book contains the most striking depiction of a young woman rebuilding herself after a disappointment, and I think that scene is almost worth the price of the whole book. [Jodie]
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi — I love this book so much. I love the plotting and I desperately love the characters. I can't even choose a favorite, because every time I do I think of reasons why I love the other characters more. So I just love all of them equally. This is definitely a space adventure that's not military based, like Scalzi's Old Man's War books. This is something new and fun and hilarious and in such a garbage year I was so grateful this book was available for me to read. [Renay]
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid — Exit West is marketed as lit-fic, but I'd like to make a little plea for genre fans to check out this novel. Nadia and Saeed escape their increasingly troubled homeland by journeying through a set of magical doors which transport them, and others, to new countries. Mohsin Hamid's novel is an SFF re-imagining of the recent refugee migration from Syria and other countries, and a deep look into the life of one couple joined by a journey neither anticipated. It's a smart, and often lyrical, portal fantasy which can be read as a science fictional metaphor or straight SFF. [Jodie]
The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard — This is one of the most original pieces of fantasy to come out of 2017. There are angels in Paris, dragons in the Seine, and conflict everywhere. The House of Binding Thorns takes a risk by cutting the reader off from many of the characters they met in The House of Shattered Wings. And while I missed being deep in the politics of House Silverspires, I was so interested in the new cast of characters that I quickly got into their various stories. If you liked The House of Shattered Wings I urge you to return to Aliette de Bodard's world before nominations close. [Jodie]
Jade City by Fonda Lee — Family, politics, and family politics in a modern-day secondary fantasy setting made for one of the most engaging and enjoyable books I read in 2017. [KJ]
Jade City by Fonda Lee — I heartily second Jade City which, much like Peaky Blinders, made me care way too much about a family whose success is rooted in a mixture of extreme violence and extreme loyalty to the place that made you. I love the Kauls, especially Hilo (he's so awful though), Shae, and Anden. [Jodie]
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin — has any series ever made me feel this way and managed to totally nail the landing in such a heartbreaking but satisfying way? Maybe. But it's a big maybe and I can't think of any contenders right now. I loved this book so much; it was bittersweet, quietly terrifying, and a horrifying tour through the grooves in society that allow for oppression to thrive. I have so many emotions about this book specifically and the series in general. [Renay]
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng — Sometimes a book comes along which is so weird that you're hooked even if things do get a little messy along the way. Under the Pendulum Sun is a really odd little slice of Gothic mystery and style, centred around a brother and sister who have journeyed to the unsettling world of the fae in order to spread the Christian word. That goes about as well as you'd expect. Much like The House of Binding Thorns I found Under the Pendulum Sun an original, invigorating work of fantasy. I think the idea of work 'doing something different' is part of what I'm looking for in potential nominations this year. [Jodie]
White Tears by Hari Kunzru — Although not published as genre fiction, this is definitely 100% a B A N A N A S ghost story with magical realism elements, and ghost stories are fantasy, and therefore this is going on my nomination ballot and in this post on the off chance that it encourages someone else to pick it up and given it a try. It's a story about privilege and music and cultural appropriation and history and it's wonderful (and terrifying). HA HA HA. [Renay]
White Tears by Hari Kunzru — I second this rec! This is definitely spec fic, it is definitely terrifying, and it is definitely SO GOOD. It's a challenging book in a lot of ways, so much so that I wrote a post about that aspect of it. This is one of those books that's hard to describe because a huge part of the appeal is the experience and not really knowing what you're in for, but there's fascinating stuff here about white liberal racism and music history and the magical realism elements are just WILD. Give it a try! (RENAY WHY DID YOU CLOSE WITH THE TERRIFYING LAUGHTER) [Ira]
All Systems Red by Martha Wells — I finally got around to reading All Systems Red just before this post went live and I really enjoyed it (particularly that ending). For me, the book's big draw is Murderbot's snarky personality, and their drive to define themself. [Jodie]
The Black Tides of Heaven by J. Y. Yang — Another book where I really enjoyed the originality of the world, which reminded me a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is a story about gender, family, and revolution so there's lots of stirring stuff and big ideas. If you enjoyed seeing Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy examine ideas about gender then The Black Tides of Heaven will definitely interest you. There's also plenty of chances for readers to connect with the protagonist, Akeha, and I found him a fascinating character caught between duty, love, and change. [Jodie]
Girl Reporter by Tansy Raynor Roberts — I could read a million more stories set in this universe, where superheroes are chosen by lot and given their powers by a mysterious machine. Right now, we have to content ourselves with just three, and this is the best so far. Reading the tale of Friday Valentina and her quest to get the scoop and save her mom was a super way to spend a day. And there's a great cast of diverse characters, too. [KJ]
"Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live" by Sacha Lamb — This is an adorable story about two trans boys learning to fit together and Avi learning how to fit in the world as himself. The magic in the story is subtle and once I had it explained to me I went back and read the story again and was charmed all over. It's so heartwarming. [Renay]
"Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live" by Sacha Lamb — I second this rec! I drew the cover for this story so I got to read it before almost anyone else, and it was a delight and a privilege. There's so much about identity here, not just in terms of being trans, but also about being Jewish; there's also great thoughts on families, both found and bio. It's super sweet. [Ira]
"Making Us Monsters" by Sam J. Miller & Lara Elena Donnelly — This story is about Siegfried Sassoon receiving Wilfred Owen's letters from beyond the grave so you know it's going to be tragic going in. If you can handle that then "Making Us Monsters" provides a powerful read about the difficult romance between these two men, gay history, and the way WWI shaped soldiers. [Jodie]
"Down and Out in R'lyeh" by Catherynne M. Valente — Valente's clever foray into rewriting Lovecraft is done in a distinctive slang style that is reminiscent of Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange. This story's style choice is so smart, and so well maintained. It really deserves some recognition when awards season rolls around. [Jodie]
"Fandom for Robots" — A robot becomes curious about an anime series and turns into a complete fanchild, and develops an adorable relationship with one particular fan. I lvoe stories that examine what happens when supposedly unemotional people/being catch the feels. This story got a lot of attention, and rightly so; moreover the story itself has a fandom, with adorable fanfic! [Ira]
"The Husband Stitch" by Carmen Maria Machado — This is one of my favourite short stories from 2017 despite being very much not my usual thing in some ways. The Husband Stitch is a heady mix of fairy tales, and feminism, and it drew me along through its various digressions until I was left fascinated by its narrator and horrified by its central relationship. There's a solid Angela Carter vibe about this story, and it reminds me a little bit of Helen Oyeyemi's weird short fiction too. I can't wait to read Carmen Maria Machado's whole debut collection. [Jodie]
"Taiya" by Vanessa Fogg — A quiet, intelligent SFF examination of depression, and the difficulties of moving to a new place without a pre-defined purpose. Like Exit West, it straddles the line between fantasy and metaphor without ever denying its genre roots. [Jodie]
Court of Fives by Kate Elliott — This trilogy (plus two novellas) may be my favorite Kate Elliott work (and being in competition with Spiritwalker, that says something). Such a beautiful story of family and revolution, with a fun side of sports. [KJ]
The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan — It makes me a little sad that this series hasn't gotten more awards attention. Written in the style of a Victorian adventure, this tale of a lady naturalist obsessed with the study of dragons got better in every single volume, and the end took a few stunning twists that I loved. Also the illustrations are amazing. The series ended with its fifth volume this year, and I really hope it gets a nod. [KJ]
Archive of Our Own — MARGINALIZED FANS built this amazing tool and it has changed how fandom moves and operates and it's wonderful, complicated, and beautiful. It, and all the teams that built it and help keep it up year to year deserve this, the end. Don't @ me. [Renay]
Tropes vs Women in Video Games by Anita Sarkeesian — This monumental video series finally wrapped up in 2017, with a video about women of color as exotic fantasy, and a nod here would be a fantastic way to honor Sarkeesian, both for her stellar work in cataloging the highs and lows of the depiction of women in games, and for her efforts to bring attention to the problems of online harassment in the gaming community. [KJ]
Tropes vs Women in Video Games by Anita Sarkeesian — Seconding KJ's rec. This series has been a fascinating, discouraging, uplifting, engaged, thoughtful, and educational ride. Anita Sarkeesian made an absolutely phenomenal effort here. [Ira]
DC Bombshells, Vol. 3: Uprising by Marguerite Bennett, Mirka Andolfo & Laura Braga — A fantastic, feminist volume crammed full of all types of women, and tons of different stories which, in the end, come together well. [Jodie]
Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda — The artwork in Monstress is lush and stunning. The story is fascinatingly twisty and involving in this volume. And there are tiger pirates. What else do I need to say? [Jodie]
"17776" by Jon Bois — When this piece took the Internet by storm last summer, I most often heard it called a story about the future of American football. That's not an inaccurate description, but it's also about so much more: it's about humanity, and AI, and innovation, and what really happens to a culture when it becomes a sort of utopia. Not at all what I expected, and in a really engaging way. Funny, too, and poignant. (Is this the right category? For a mixture of text, pictures, and video, I tend to think it is. But I'm happy to debate the topic.) [KJ]
Coco directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina — Pixar's latest effort is not only a visual treat, but is a stellar example of playing formula masterfully. This movie about music and family has some wonderful performances and delightful songs, but what I keep coming back to is the beating heart of the movie that is laid bare in it ending. I'm not a movie crier, and I've cried every time I've watched this film to the end. Now that's some effective storytelling. [Ira]
Critical Role: Vox Machina — I know, I know, it's a big ask. This epic story, told via a Dungeons & Dragons campaign that spanned several years and more than a hundred episodes (each of which would qualify for Long Form on its own), includes hundreds of hours of content and is difficult to sample. But it's also some of the best long-form storytelling I have ever seen, told via a stunning blend of plotting and improv. If you're up for it, it's a marvelous experience. (And it's now available in podcast form as well as on YouTube and Twitch, which might be easier for some people to manage than watching hundreds of hours of video.) [KJ]
Get Out by Jordan Peele — I'm a fan of horror to begin with (see also my White Tears rec), and this was a supremely effective horror film that, like the best horror stories, gets at deep cultural and sociopolitical anxieties. It's scary, it's relevant, and it deserves every award, including this Hugo. [Ira]
Get Out by Jordan Peele — It's impossible to talk in-depth about this film without spoilers, but I can say that this was one of my favorite psychological horror movies...ever. It worked on me 150%. Jordan Peele is a master. This deserves sixteen Oscars it won't get and I'm bitter about it because everything about it is on point, terrifying, and all too relevant to our current cultural moment. This film really shows the power of speculative fiction. [Renay]
Horizon Zero Dawn — Well, games have never really made a dent in the Hugos, but I am putting this one on my ballot regardless, because this is one of the best SF stories of 2017. I want everyone to play it (there's a story mode, if that helps the people who look at having to use a bow and arrow and run for the hills). It's so brilliant. It's basically a game about how arrogant bros destroy the world, with a side of everyone being hella thirsty for Aloy. I went in with the barest knowledge of the game and highly recommend letting the story unfold within the game instead of looking up too many details. Also warning: do NOT get emotionally attached to the robot horses, because you will Have Serious Regrets. I want a sequel to this in a bad way. [Renay]
The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro — This is a fantastical modern fairytale (a genre del Toro excels in) that is breathtakingly beautiful in its imagery and construction and execution. A known language lover, I love sign language especially, so that was a delight to see, and also means that most of the spoken dialogue went to a black woman (Octavia Spencer) and an older gay character (Richard Jenkins). Sally Hawkins was simply inimitable as Elisa Esposito and deserves every single Oscar. This movie about communication and empathy is so timely and relevant, and it was a late 2017 treasure. [Ira]
Wonder Woman directed by Patty Jenkins — A HUGE SURPRISE, I KNOW. Wonder Woman was one of my most hotly anticipated films of 2017, and it did not disappoint. Gal Gadot is flawless as Diana, I loved the story, and all the supporting cast were fantastic. It was just the hopeful shot in the arm I needed last year, and I saw it three times in cinemas. I'll try not to wear out the DVD before the end of 2018. [Jodie]
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "What If" directed by Oz Scott — It was hard to pick a single best episode from the Framework storyline of Season 4, which in my opinion is the show's strongest work to date, but I'll go with this one, in which Daisy and Simmons wake up in the simulation and begin their plot to break their teammates out. [KJ]
Dr Who - "Thin Ice" directed by Bill Anderson — Sarah Dollard wrote "Thin Ice", and it is easily one of the best episodes featuring Capaldi and Mackie. It's set in Georgian London, deals with the whitewashing of history, features an ice fair, gives Pearl Mackie a great wardrobe (and ethical dilemma), and has a really neat alien life force. I have never wanted to see a Dr Who episode make the Hugo ballot so much in my life, and you should all run and watch this one right now!. I also loved Knock, Knock, and Pyramid at the End of the World from Series 10 so there's a good chance one of those will take the final spot on my ballot. [Jodie]
Star Trek: Discovery — "The Vulcan Hello" and "Context is For Kings" directed by David Semmel & Avika Goldsman respectively I really wish the whole of Star Trek: Discovery's first series had come out in 2017 as it's too hard to choose just one episode to nominate. It's SO good in many ways. In the end, I'm going with a double nomination for the very first episode of the new series, which showed us what this new version of Star Trek was going to be all about, and for the third episode which contains stunning visuals, and interesting moral arguments. [Jodie]
The Good Place, "Michael's Gambit" by Michael Schur / "Dance Dance Resolution" by Drew Goddard — My two favorites episodes of The Good Place, which in my opinion is the best speculative fiction on television right now. Both episodes do a thing that I love: in their own separate, and very different ways, they force you to question the entire premise of the universe, and upend any possible expectation you might have for where the story might be going next. As of now, I can't decide which episode will go on my ballot; I might have to vote for both. [KJ]
The Good Place - "Michael's Gambit" directed by Michael Schur — It's also really difficult to pick just one episode of The Good Place but I think the finale is unquestionably going to be the one people remember, even if it's just for Ted Danson's smile. [Jodie]
The Good Place - "Michael's Gambit" directed by Michael Schur — I debated including this, because KJ and Jodie covered all the main points, but I just was to reiterate that if you have space on your ballot, this should feature. If you haven't seen The Good Place, DO NOT LOOK ANYTHING UP, go directly to Netflix or your preferred television retailer, and scoop up the first season (13 episodes, approx. 25 minutes apiece). Then you will understand even as you're screeching/cheering. If any television is award-worthy this year, this amazingly crafted season of television is it. [Renay]
The Good Place, "Michael's Gambit" by Michael Schur / "Dance Dance Resolution" by Drew Goddard — Don't @ me I know I'm the fourth person to list this but it's THAT GOOD. I was skeptical about The Good Place because it's a (spec fic) sitcom and I thought I didn't like sitcoms? Except. Now I do?? What happen??? Well, I know what happened: This show subverted everything I thought I knew about sitcoms. Watch this show absolutely without spoilers (and ONLY THEN go read my post about one of the characters). [Ira]
The Book Smugglers by Ana Grilo & Thea James — Have you been following their short fiction adventures?! They've been putting out so much with a two person team and some of their stories are great (hence one of their stories being on my short fiction ballot). I love the way they focus on diverse authors and stories, and put really unique, interesting pieces into the field. They definitely have their own perspective on the ways short fiction can be different and subversive, which is tough to do in a very crowded market. [Renay]
nerds of a feather, flock together by The G, Joe, & Vance — In the age where a lot of criticism and commentary is flowing toward publisher blogs and commercial markets, it's nice to have an old favorite still kicking around doing good work. The team at nerds of a feather is larger than most group projects I read so there's a wide range of opinions about an array of SFF topics and fans talking to other fans about things they've read and watched in a very specific fannish context. [Renay]
SF Bluestocking by Bridget McKinney — Bridget reads widely across many subgenres that I'm into, and also reads and watches things I wouldn't try on my own, especially novellas and short fiction that I don't have time to sample. I also really appreciate her focus on collecting links of events and lists across the SFF community, because I'm often too busy to keep up with the haps on a day to day basis. Her commentary and critique is always thought-provoking and her perspective helps me think of things in fresh ways. [Renay]
The Rec Center by Elizabeth & Gav — If you ever need an infusion of thoughtful fannish joy, look no further than The Rec Center, which comes out each Friday and contains links to fannish articles and essays and tons of cool fanfic, lots of it aimed at SFF canons. It's one of my favorite Friday evening reads and was a balm throughout 2017. [Renay]
Foz Meadows — Foz is one of the most consistently insightful writers on fandom topics that I know. I always look forward to her reviews and commentary, whatever the topic. Great Twitter follow, too. [KJ]
Megan AM — Megan writes at from couch to moon, and has a lot of excellent thoughts about genre fiction. We disagree 96% of the time, but, go figure, it ends up making me consider points about literature in ways I know I wouldn't have come to on my own. I always appreciate that she has complicated takes on a wide array of genre fiction and introduces me to books I might otherwise never hear of or try. She did some great work for the 2017 Shadow Clarke Award, too. [Renay]
Irma "Aimo" Ahmed — I'm mostly familiar with Aimo's work from Dragon Age fandom, but she has a broad range of interests. Her cartoony style is often adorable and always heartfelt. [KJ]
Stephanie Law — Her work first came to my attention when she was the artist Guest of Honor at the one and only Baycon I've ever attended, and I've followed her avidly ever since. Gorgeous watercolors with a mythical feel. [KJ]
Jeanette Ng — Jeanette Ng deserves a Campbell nomination for the sheer originality of Under the Pendulum Sun, and just being brave enough to publish something so weird her first time out. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she'll write next. [Jodie]
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco —My YA reading wasn't as robust as I wanted it to be in 2017 (to prepare for this very award, in fact!), but I did manage to get to one of the books I was coveting, about a girl who learns about her magical powers by raising her brother from the dead. It's a proper YA epic fantasy, with world building, introduction to and examination of culture, and an eerie framing device that leaves you on the edge, wondering how Tea's promising future ended up where it does. [Renay]
Buried Heart by Kate Elliott — See everything I said about Best Series, dialed up to eleven. This book not only sticks the landing, it opens up the story and takes it into an entirely new direction, with much excellent commentary on war and oppression and freeing yourself from colonialism. [KJ]
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake — Hilariously, despite being very enthusiastic about the Hugos adding a YA award, 2017 is the year I read very little YA SFF. I did however enjoy this second installment of Kendare Blake's One Dark Throne series. It focuses on a year-long, magical and political fight to the death, set on a dystopian island, ruled by ambitious, often monstrous, women. I love it. [Jodie]
Want by Cindy Pon — Another solid YA award contender is Cindy Pon's Want, which is the best vision of a rich vs. poor dystopia I've read in ages. [Jodie]
Jodie: So. many. things. I am so behind this year *weeps*. When it comes to the Best Novel category I'm prioritising The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin, The Wanderers by Meg Howry, The Changeling by Victor Lavalle, and The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley. I'd also like to read Provenance by Ann Leckie but I feel like that's going to make the ballot anyway.
In terms of YA, I'd like to get to Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore and A Skinful of Shadows by Francis Hardinge. And for Best Novella I want to try and read Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire, Girl Reporter by Tansy R. R. Roberts, The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson, Bearly a Lady by Cassandra Khaw, and The Fisher of Bones by Sarah Gailey. My approach to shorter fiction is to read one new eligible story every week until nominations close. That already looks like way too much to be realistic.
KJ: I doubt I will get many more books in, but for the moment my priority list is City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett (the last novel in a trilogy that's eligible for Best Series this year) and Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore for YA. I basically read no comics last year, so I have a number of series to catch up on (Saga, Monstress, Bitch Planet, The Wicked + the Divine...). I also want to sample more from the new season of Black Mirror ("U.S.S. Callister" may well make my ballot, but I want to see what else is on offer) and catch up on Orphan Black. But from here on out, I'll mostly be focusing on short fiction: the Nebula finalists when those come out, and recommendations fromforestofglory and others.
Renay: There's too much! I want to put it all in my face. I have to be realistic about my time, though, considering I keep putting books on hold at the library and always feel guilty if I don't get to them. Novel-wise, I'd love to read An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon and Jade City by Fonda Lee. With short fiction, for sure The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang, "Fandom for Robots" by Vina Jie-Min Prasa, and "Microbiota and the Masses: A Love Story" by S.B. Divya. I'm sure I'll be tempted by even more short fiction as I peruse rec lists, too.
I haven't even thought about the categories beyond fiction yet...hahahaha once again my plan for "be prepared for the Hugos" was foiled by my own procrastination. Ha!
Did you know we won a Hugo Award last year? We did! It was incredibly exciting! We still poke each other to make sure it Truly Happened (it did). Because the Hugo Award community is so small, momentum after winning can keep something in the category year after year if it's eligible. But we also believe in making space for other fans who are contributing to the SFF conversation, which is why we're recusing for 2017. There are lots of great people doing great work out there, and we want to use our Hugo Award winning platform (omg, it's real?! YES, STILL REAL) to advocate for them! You can check out our Hugo recs sheet to find eligible fanzines, or add the ones you love if they're not there.
Never fear, the editors of Lady Business are here to provide our suggestions as you decide what to prioritize on your TBR. Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of everything that might be worthy of a Hugo nomination, and nor is it meant to be. It's just a selection of some of the works we loved in 2017, and a few reasons why we loved them, along with a selection of the books, stories, and shows we're still hoping to check out ourselves. Each editor's opinions are their own, although we suspect you'd find a fair amount of agreement if we had sat down to discuss our picks.
Best Novel
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz — Of all the books I read last year, none other dealt in the gray areas of people and future economies as Autonomous. A patent pirate pirates a batch of drugs that goes wrong and people start dying, two agents—one a man and another a military robot—are on the hunt. The great thing about this book is that all the characters do things in service of themselves and other people, but it's hard to go "this is the villain" and "this is the hero". It's a fascinating exploration of the future, too, and how poverty could change and adapt to a more automated global economy. Also: very awkward robot sex. [Renay]
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia — A tender, bittersweet SFF romance about imperfect people trying to remake their lives. I loved everyone in this novel by the end even though they often make terrible choices (especially Valerie). Also, this book contains the most striking depiction of a young woman rebuilding herself after a disappointment, and I think that scene is almost worth the price of the whole book. [Jodie]
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi — I love this book so much. I love the plotting and I desperately love the characters. I can't even choose a favorite, because every time I do I think of reasons why I love the other characters more. So I just love all of them equally. This is definitely a space adventure that's not military based, like Scalzi's Old Man's War books. This is something new and fun and hilarious and in such a garbage year I was so grateful this book was available for me to read. [Renay]
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid — Exit West is marketed as lit-fic, but I'd like to make a little plea for genre fans to check out this novel. Nadia and Saeed escape their increasingly troubled homeland by journeying through a set of magical doors which transport them, and others, to new countries. Mohsin Hamid's novel is an SFF re-imagining of the recent refugee migration from Syria and other countries, and a deep look into the life of one couple joined by a journey neither anticipated. It's a smart, and often lyrical, portal fantasy which can be read as a science fictional metaphor or straight SFF. [Jodie]
The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard — This is one of the most original pieces of fantasy to come out of 2017. There are angels in Paris, dragons in the Seine, and conflict everywhere. The House of Binding Thorns takes a risk by cutting the reader off from many of the characters they met in The House of Shattered Wings. And while I missed being deep in the politics of House Silverspires, I was so interested in the new cast of characters that I quickly got into their various stories. If you liked The House of Shattered Wings I urge you to return to Aliette de Bodard's world before nominations close. [Jodie]
Jade City by Fonda Lee — Family, politics, and family politics in a modern-day secondary fantasy setting made for one of the most engaging and enjoyable books I read in 2017. [KJ]
Jade City by Fonda Lee — I heartily second Jade City which, much like Peaky Blinders, made me care way too much about a family whose success is rooted in a mixture of extreme violence and extreme loyalty to the place that made you. I love the Kauls, especially Hilo (he's so awful though), Shae, and Anden. [Jodie]
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin — has any series ever made me feel this way and managed to totally nail the landing in such a heartbreaking but satisfying way? Maybe. But it's a big maybe and I can't think of any contenders right now. I loved this book so much; it was bittersweet, quietly terrifying, and a horrifying tour through the grooves in society that allow for oppression to thrive. I have so many emotions about this book specifically and the series in general. [Renay]
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng — Sometimes a book comes along which is so weird that you're hooked even if things do get a little messy along the way. Under the Pendulum Sun is a really odd little slice of Gothic mystery and style, centred around a brother and sister who have journeyed to the unsettling world of the fae in order to spread the Christian word. That goes about as well as you'd expect. Much like The House of Binding Thorns I found Under the Pendulum Sun an original, invigorating work of fantasy. I think the idea of work 'doing something different' is part of what I'm looking for in potential nominations this year. [Jodie]
White Tears by Hari Kunzru — Although not published as genre fiction, this is definitely 100% a B A N A N A S ghost story with magical realism elements, and ghost stories are fantasy, and therefore this is going on my nomination ballot and in this post on the off chance that it encourages someone else to pick it up and given it a try. It's a story about privilege and music and cultural appropriation and history and it's wonderful (and terrifying). HA HA HA. [Renay]
White Tears by Hari Kunzru — I second this rec! This is definitely spec fic, it is definitely terrifying, and it is definitely SO GOOD. It's a challenging book in a lot of ways, so much so that I wrote a post about that aspect of it. This is one of those books that's hard to describe because a huge part of the appeal is the experience and not really knowing what you're in for, but there's fascinating stuff here about white liberal racism and music history and the magical realism elements are just WILD. Give it a try! (RENAY WHY DID YOU CLOSE WITH THE TERRIFYING LAUGHTER) [Ira]
Best Novella
All Systems Red by Martha Wells — I finally got around to reading All Systems Red just before this post went live and I really enjoyed it (particularly that ending). For me, the book's big draw is Murderbot's snarky personality, and their drive to define themself. [Jodie]
The Black Tides of Heaven by J. Y. Yang — Another book where I really enjoyed the originality of the world, which reminded me a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is a story about gender, family, and revolution so there's lots of stirring stuff and big ideas. If you enjoyed seeing Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy examine ideas about gender then The Black Tides of Heaven will definitely interest you. There's also plenty of chances for readers to connect with the protagonist, Akeha, and I found him a fascinating character caught between duty, love, and change. [Jodie]
Girl Reporter by Tansy Raynor Roberts — I could read a million more stories set in this universe, where superheroes are chosen by lot and given their powers by a mysterious machine. Right now, we have to content ourselves with just three, and this is the best so far. Reading the tale of Friday Valentina and her quest to get the scoop and save her mom was a super way to spend a day. And there's a great cast of diverse characters, too. [KJ]
Best Novelette
"Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live" by Sacha Lamb — This is an adorable story about two trans boys learning to fit together and Avi learning how to fit in the world as himself. The magic in the story is subtle and once I had it explained to me I went back and read the story again and was charmed all over. It's so heartwarming. [Renay]
"Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live" by Sacha Lamb — I second this rec! I drew the cover for this story so I got to read it before almost anyone else, and it was a delight and a privilege. There's so much about identity here, not just in terms of being trans, but also about being Jewish; there's also great thoughts on families, both found and bio. It's super sweet. [Ira]
"Making Us Monsters" by Sam J. Miller & Lara Elena Donnelly — This story is about Siegfried Sassoon receiving Wilfred Owen's letters from beyond the grave so you know it's going to be tragic going in. If you can handle that then "Making Us Monsters" provides a powerful read about the difficult romance between these two men, gay history, and the way WWI shaped soldiers. [Jodie]
Best Short Story
"Down and Out in R'lyeh" by Catherynne M. Valente — Valente's clever foray into rewriting Lovecraft is done in a distinctive slang style that is reminiscent of Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange. This story's style choice is so smart, and so well maintained. It really deserves some recognition when awards season rolls around. [Jodie]
"Fandom for Robots" — A robot becomes curious about an anime series and turns into a complete fanchild, and develops an adorable relationship with one particular fan. I lvoe stories that examine what happens when supposedly unemotional people/being catch the feels. This story got a lot of attention, and rightly so; moreover the story itself has a fandom, with adorable fanfic! [Ira]
"The Husband Stitch" by Carmen Maria Machado — This is one of my favourite short stories from 2017 despite being very much not my usual thing in some ways. The Husband Stitch is a heady mix of fairy tales, and feminism, and it drew me along through its various digressions until I was left fascinated by its narrator and horrified by its central relationship. There's a solid Angela Carter vibe about this story, and it reminds me a little bit of Helen Oyeyemi's weird short fiction too. I can't wait to read Carmen Maria Machado's whole debut collection. [Jodie]
"Taiya" by Vanessa Fogg — A quiet, intelligent SFF examination of depression, and the difficulties of moving to a new place without a pre-defined purpose. Like Exit West, it straddles the line between fantasy and metaphor without ever denying its genre roots. [Jodie]
Best Series
Court of Fives by Kate Elliott — This trilogy (plus two novellas) may be my favorite Kate Elliott work (and being in competition with Spiritwalker, that says something). Such a beautiful story of family and revolution, with a fun side of sports. [KJ]
The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan — It makes me a little sad that this series hasn't gotten more awards attention. Written in the style of a Victorian adventure, this tale of a lady naturalist obsessed with the study of dragons got better in every single volume, and the end took a few stunning twists that I loved. Also the illustrations are amazing. The series ended with its fifth volume this year, and I really hope it gets a nod. [KJ]
Best Related Work
Archive of Our Own — MARGINALIZED FANS built this amazing tool and it has changed how fandom moves and operates and it's wonderful, complicated, and beautiful. It, and all the teams that built it and help keep it up year to year deserve this, the end. Don't @ me. [Renay]
Tropes vs Women in Video Games by Anita Sarkeesian — This monumental video series finally wrapped up in 2017, with a video about women of color as exotic fantasy, and a nod here would be a fantastic way to honor Sarkeesian, both for her stellar work in cataloging the highs and lows of the depiction of women in games, and for her efforts to bring attention to the problems of online harassment in the gaming community. [KJ]
Tropes vs Women in Video Games by Anita Sarkeesian — Seconding KJ's rec. This series has been a fascinating, discouraging, uplifting, engaged, thoughtful, and educational ride. Anita Sarkeesian made an absolutely phenomenal effort here. [Ira]
Best Graphic Story
DC Bombshells, Vol. 3: Uprising by Marguerite Bennett, Mirka Andolfo & Laura Braga — A fantastic, feminist volume crammed full of all types of women, and tons of different stories which, in the end, come together well. [Jodie]
Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda — The artwork in Monstress is lush and stunning. The story is fascinatingly twisty and involving in this volume. And there are tiger pirates. What else do I need to say? [Jodie]
"17776" by Jon Bois — When this piece took the Internet by storm last summer, I most often heard it called a story about the future of American football. That's not an inaccurate description, but it's also about so much more: it's about humanity, and AI, and innovation, and what really happens to a culture when it becomes a sort of utopia. Not at all what I expected, and in a really engaging way. Funny, too, and poignant. (Is this the right category? For a mixture of text, pictures, and video, I tend to think it is. But I'm happy to debate the topic.) [KJ]
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
Coco directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina — Pixar's latest effort is not only a visual treat, but is a stellar example of playing formula masterfully. This movie about music and family has some wonderful performances and delightful songs, but what I keep coming back to is the beating heart of the movie that is laid bare in it ending. I'm not a movie crier, and I've cried every time I've watched this film to the end. Now that's some effective storytelling. [Ira]
Critical Role: Vox Machina — I know, I know, it's a big ask. This epic story, told via a Dungeons & Dragons campaign that spanned several years and more than a hundred episodes (each of which would qualify for Long Form on its own), includes hundreds of hours of content and is difficult to sample. But it's also some of the best long-form storytelling I have ever seen, told via a stunning blend of plotting and improv. If you're up for it, it's a marvelous experience. (And it's now available in podcast form as well as on YouTube and Twitch, which might be easier for some people to manage than watching hundreds of hours of video.) [KJ]
Get Out by Jordan Peele — I'm a fan of horror to begin with (see also my White Tears rec), and this was a supremely effective horror film that, like the best horror stories, gets at deep cultural and sociopolitical anxieties. It's scary, it's relevant, and it deserves every award, including this Hugo. [Ira]
Get Out by Jordan Peele — It's impossible to talk in-depth about this film without spoilers, but I can say that this was one of my favorite psychological horror movies...ever. It worked on me 150%. Jordan Peele is a master. This deserves sixteen Oscars it won't get and I'm bitter about it because everything about it is on point, terrifying, and all too relevant to our current cultural moment. This film really shows the power of speculative fiction. [Renay]
Horizon Zero Dawn — Well, games have never really made a dent in the Hugos, but I am putting this one on my ballot regardless, because this is one of the best SF stories of 2017. I want everyone to play it (there's a story mode, if that helps the people who look at having to use a bow and arrow and run for the hills). It's so brilliant. It's basically a game about how arrogant bros destroy the world, with a side of everyone being hella thirsty for Aloy. I went in with the barest knowledge of the game and highly recommend letting the story unfold within the game instead of looking up too many details. Also warning: do NOT get emotionally attached to the robot horses, because you will Have Serious Regrets. I want a sequel to this in a bad way. [Renay]
The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro — This is a fantastical modern fairytale (a genre del Toro excels in) that is breathtakingly beautiful in its imagery and construction and execution. A known language lover, I love sign language especially, so that was a delight to see, and also means that most of the spoken dialogue went to a black woman (Octavia Spencer) and an older gay character (Richard Jenkins). Sally Hawkins was simply inimitable as Elisa Esposito and deserves every single Oscar. This movie about communication and empathy is so timely and relevant, and it was a late 2017 treasure. [Ira]
Wonder Woman directed by Patty Jenkins — A HUGE SURPRISE, I KNOW. Wonder Woman was one of my most hotly anticipated films of 2017, and it did not disappoint. Gal Gadot is flawless as Diana, I loved the story, and all the supporting cast were fantastic. It was just the hopeful shot in the arm I needed last year, and I saw it three times in cinemas. I'll try not to wear out the DVD before the end of 2018. [Jodie]
Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "What If" directed by Oz Scott — It was hard to pick a single best episode from the Framework storyline of Season 4, which in my opinion is the show's strongest work to date, but I'll go with this one, in which Daisy and Simmons wake up in the simulation and begin their plot to break their teammates out. [KJ]
Dr Who - "Thin Ice" directed by Bill Anderson — Sarah Dollard wrote "Thin Ice", and it is easily one of the best episodes featuring Capaldi and Mackie. It's set in Georgian London, deals with the whitewashing of history, features an ice fair, gives Pearl Mackie a great wardrobe (and ethical dilemma), and has a really neat alien life force. I have never wanted to see a Dr Who episode make the Hugo ballot so much in my life, and you should all run and watch this one right now!. I also loved Knock, Knock, and Pyramid at the End of the World from Series 10 so there's a good chance one of those will take the final spot on my ballot. [Jodie]
Star Trek: Discovery — "The Vulcan Hello" and "Context is For Kings" directed by David Semmel & Avika Goldsman respectively I really wish the whole of Star Trek: Discovery's first series had come out in 2017 as it's too hard to choose just one episode to nominate. It's SO good in many ways. In the end, I'm going with a double nomination for the very first episode of the new series, which showed us what this new version of Star Trek was going to be all about, and for the third episode which contains stunning visuals, and interesting moral arguments. [Jodie]
The Good Place, "Michael's Gambit" by Michael Schur / "Dance Dance Resolution" by Drew Goddard — My two favorites episodes of The Good Place, which in my opinion is the best speculative fiction on television right now. Both episodes do a thing that I love: in their own separate, and very different ways, they force you to question the entire premise of the universe, and upend any possible expectation you might have for where the story might be going next. As of now, I can't decide which episode will go on my ballot; I might have to vote for both. [KJ]
The Good Place - "Michael's Gambit" directed by Michael Schur — It's also really difficult to pick just one episode of The Good Place but I think the finale is unquestionably going to be the one people remember, even if it's just for Ted Danson's smile. [Jodie]
The Good Place - "Michael's Gambit" directed by Michael Schur — I debated including this, because KJ and Jodie covered all the main points, but I just was to reiterate that if you have space on your ballot, this should feature. If you haven't seen The Good Place, DO NOT LOOK ANYTHING UP, go directly to Netflix or your preferred television retailer, and scoop up the first season (13 episodes, approx. 25 minutes apiece). Then you will understand even as you're screeching/cheering. If any television is award-worthy this year, this amazingly crafted season of television is it. [Renay]
The Good Place, "Michael's Gambit" by Michael Schur / "Dance Dance Resolution" by Drew Goddard — Don't @ me I know I'm the fourth person to list this but it's THAT GOOD. I was skeptical about The Good Place because it's a (spec fic) sitcom and I thought I didn't like sitcoms? Except. Now I do?? What happen??? Well, I know what happened: This show subverted everything I thought I knew about sitcoms. Watch this show absolutely without spoilers (and ONLY THEN go read my post about one of the characters). [Ira]
Best Semiprozine
The Book Smugglers by Ana Grilo & Thea James — Have you been following their short fiction adventures?! They've been putting out so much with a two person team and some of their stories are great (hence one of their stories being on my short fiction ballot). I love the way they focus on diverse authors and stories, and put really unique, interesting pieces into the field. They definitely have their own perspective on the ways short fiction can be different and subversive, which is tough to do in a very crowded market. [Renay]
Best Fanzine
nerds of a feather, flock together by The G, Joe, & Vance — In the age where a lot of criticism and commentary is flowing toward publisher blogs and commercial markets, it's nice to have an old favorite still kicking around doing good work. The team at nerds of a feather is larger than most group projects I read so there's a wide range of opinions about an array of SFF topics and fans talking to other fans about things they've read and watched in a very specific fannish context. [Renay]
SF Bluestocking by Bridget McKinney — Bridget reads widely across many subgenres that I'm into, and also reads and watches things I wouldn't try on my own, especially novellas and short fiction that I don't have time to sample. I also really appreciate her focus on collecting links of events and lists across the SFF community, because I'm often too busy to keep up with the haps on a day to day basis. Her commentary and critique is always thought-provoking and her perspective helps me think of things in fresh ways. [Renay]
The Rec Center by Elizabeth & Gav — If you ever need an infusion of thoughtful fannish joy, look no further than The Rec Center, which comes out each Friday and contains links to fannish articles and essays and tons of cool fanfic, lots of it aimed at SFF canons. It's one of my favorite Friday evening reads and was a balm throughout 2017. [Renay]
Best Fan Writer
Foz Meadows — Foz is one of the most consistently insightful writers on fandom topics that I know. I always look forward to her reviews and commentary, whatever the topic. Great Twitter follow, too. [KJ]
Megan AM — Megan writes at from couch to moon, and has a lot of excellent thoughts about genre fiction. We disagree 96% of the time, but, go figure, it ends up making me consider points about literature in ways I know I wouldn't have come to on my own. I always appreciate that she has complicated takes on a wide array of genre fiction and introduces me to books I might otherwise never hear of or try. She did some great work for the 2017 Shadow Clarke Award, too. [Renay]
Best Fan Artist
Irma "Aimo" Ahmed — I'm mostly familiar with Aimo's work from Dragon Age fandom, but she has a broad range of interests. Her cartoony style is often adorable and always heartfelt. [KJ]
Stephanie Law — Her work first came to my attention when she was the artist Guest of Honor at the one and only Baycon I've ever attended, and I've followed her avidly ever since. Gorgeous watercolors with a mythical feel. [KJ]
Campbell Award (Best New Writer)
Jeanette Ng — Jeanette Ng deserves a Campbell nomination for the sheer originality of Under the Pendulum Sun, and just being brave enough to publish something so weird her first time out. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she'll write next. [Jodie]
YA Novel (new category this year!)
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco —My YA reading wasn't as robust as I wanted it to be in 2017 (to prepare for this very award, in fact!), but I did manage to get to one of the books I was coveting, about a girl who learns about her magical powers by raising her brother from the dead. It's a proper YA epic fantasy, with world building, introduction to and examination of culture, and an eerie framing device that leaves you on the edge, wondering how Tea's promising future ended up where it does. [Renay]
Buried Heart by Kate Elliott — See everything I said about Best Series, dialed up to eleven. This book not only sticks the landing, it opens up the story and takes it into an entirely new direction, with much excellent commentary on war and oppression and freeing yourself from colonialism. [KJ]
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake — Hilariously, despite being very enthusiastic about the Hugos adding a YA award, 2017 is the year I read very little YA SFF. I did however enjoy this second installment of Kendare Blake's One Dark Throne series. It focuses on a year-long, magical and political fight to the death, set on a dystopian island, ruled by ambitious, often monstrous, women. I love it. [Jodie]
Want by Cindy Pon — Another solid YA award contender is Cindy Pon's Want, which is the best vision of a rich vs. poor dystopia I've read in ages. [Jodie]
The TBR (Planning to read/check out before the nomination period ends)
Jodie: So. many. things. I am so behind this year *weeps*. When it comes to the Best Novel category I'm prioritising The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin, The Wanderers by Meg Howry, The Changeling by Victor Lavalle, and The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley. I'd also like to read Provenance by Ann Leckie but I feel like that's going to make the ballot anyway.
In terms of YA, I'd like to get to Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore and A Skinful of Shadows by Francis Hardinge. And for Best Novella I want to try and read Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire, Girl Reporter by Tansy R. R. Roberts, The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson, Bearly a Lady by Cassandra Khaw, and The Fisher of Bones by Sarah Gailey. My approach to shorter fiction is to read one new eligible story every week until nominations close. That already looks like way too much to be realistic.
KJ: I doubt I will get many more books in, but for the moment my priority list is City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett (the last novel in a trilogy that's eligible for Best Series this year) and Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore for YA. I basically read no comics last year, so I have a number of series to catch up on (Saga, Monstress, Bitch Planet, The Wicked + the Divine...). I also want to sample more from the new season of Black Mirror ("U.S.S. Callister" may well make my ballot, but I want to see what else is on offer) and catch up on Orphan Black. But from here on out, I'll mostly be focusing on short fiction: the Nebula finalists when those come out, and recommendations from
forestofglory and others.Renay: There's too much! I want to put it all in my face. I have to be realistic about my time, though, considering I keep putting books on hold at the library and always feel guilty if I don't get to them. Novel-wise, I'd love to read An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon and Jade City by Fonda Lee. With short fiction, for sure The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang, "Fandom for Robots" by Vina Jie-Min Prasa, and "Microbiota and the Masses: A Love Story" by S.B. Divya. I'm sure I'll be tempted by even more short fiction as I peruse rec lists, too.
I haven't even thought about the categories beyond fiction yet...hahahaha once again my plan for "be prepared for the Hugos" was foiled by my own procrastination. Ha!
The Recusal
Did you know we won a Hugo Award last year? We did! It was incredibly exciting! We still poke each other to make sure it Truly Happened (it did). Because the Hugo Award community is so small, momentum after winning can keep something in the category year after year if it's eligible. But we also believe in making space for other fans who are contributing to the SFF conversation, which is why we're recusing for 2017. There are lots of great people doing great work out there, and we want to use our Hugo Award winning platform (omg, it's real?! YES, STILL REAL) to advocate for them! You can check out our Hugo recs sheet to find eligible fanzines, or add the ones you love if they're not there.
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Date: 2018-02-06 12:42 pm (UTC)Re: 17776
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Date: 2018-02-12 11:09 am (UTC)And on a semi-related note, I'd love to see some Hugo love for Sarah Rees Brennan's In Other Lands. I think it was one of the most underrated YA books of 2017 and I'm always pushing it on people.