My 2008 Hugo Nominations

The Hugo Awards are the highest honors in science fiction, announced annually at the World Science Fiction Convention, or WorldCon. I was a member of the 2007 WorldCon (but did not attend, as it was in Japan, and circumstances aligned solidly against it), and so am entitled to make nominations for the 2008 Hugos. Once the final ballot is compiled, members of the 2008 WorldCon -- Denvention 3, to be held in Denver in August -- are eligible to vote. I'm probably going to attend, but haven't yet decided for certain.

Despite being a member of several past WorldCons, I've never before submitted a Hugo nomination ballot, mainly because I wasn't all that interested -- I like SF but I'm more a dabbler or dilettante than hardcore about it. But this year, I have been badgered to submit, as I slightly know one candidate. Okay, that's fair, try to help a friend get on the final ballot, maybe even win. The Hugos are, after all, devastatingly cool.

So here's what I have on my nomination ballot, noting that I made no submissions whatsoever in several categories: Best Novelette, Best Short Story, Best Editor - Short Form, Best Editor - Long Form, Best Fanzine, Best Fan Writer, and Best Fan Artist. I have no ideas, so I simply am passing.

What I did submit:
Best Novel
Terry Pratchett -- Making Money
J.R.R. Tolkien -- The Children Of Húrin
J.K. Rowling -- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

I love Pratchett's work, and while MM isn't his best Discworld novel, it is still a pretty good one. I included Tolkien because, heck, when will I ever get another chance to nominate Tolkien? And Rowling, well, she surely won't need my vote to get on the final ballot, but sometimes it's fun to go along with the crowd.

Best Novella
Melanie Fletcher -- "Sabre Dance"

Shameless nepotism here.

Best Related Book
Phil & Kaja Foglio -- Girl Genius Vol. 6: Agatha Heterodyne And The Golden Trilobite

As with Pratchett, I absolutely love the Foglios' work, and the Girl Genius series -- which continues three times weekly on their website -- is a massive, engaging, essentially brilliant work. Whenever it is finished -- or at least, whenever this still-somewhat-introductory storyline reaches a conclusion or significant breakpoint -- it will stand as, no kidding, a masterpiece of the genre and in the field. Girl Genius is THAT good. As a work in the comic style, words and pictures, I didn't think it fit anywhere else on the ballot.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Enchanted
Transformers
Ghost Rider

Generically this is the "movies" category but it is open to any presented works of 90 minutes or longer. I enjoyed Surfer a great deal, it was much better than the first FF film and did a respectable job of bringing the original Silver Surfer story to the silver screen. The new, allegedly final edit of Blade Runner was excellent, and just having the chance to nominate it is reason enough to nominate it. Transformers and Ghost Rider were both good fun that treated the material with suitable respect; they told good stories without being dumb or tongue-in-cheek.

Enchanted is probably the best treatment of the archetypal Disney princess tale ever done. It is witty, funny, captivating, is told well, good direction, spot-on acting by the leads, excellent songs. It is -- dare I say it? -- enchanting. I list it here proudly, as it is a genuine treat of a film that anyone can enjoy.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
Avatar: The Last Airbender -- "The Day Of Black Sun (Parts 1 & 2)"
Avatar: The Last Airbender -- "The Avatar And The Firelord"
Futurama: Bender's Big Score
TMNT
Shrek The Halls

The short form category is for productions of 90 minutes or less, so most television shows will fit in here, but anything is eligible if short enough. I know I'm skirting a bit by including the new Futurama and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles works, but they do come in under the time limit. Despite being canceled in 2003, the Futurama crew came back into action without missing a step, and it was a delight to have them back. The Turtles film was a bit silly but had some brilliant action sequences, and some of the best dramatic character interaction of the year. Avatar is a wonderful show -- my kids, 6 and 3, love it as much as I do, and follow the stories easily despite being well-detailed at times. Unfortunately, Nickelodeon is treating it dismally of late; perhaps getting some deserved recognition for this fine series will encourage the head office to shape up a bit. I picked what I thought were the two (well, three) best episodes that debuted in 2007. And the Shrek Christmas special was excellent, especially after the disappointment of the third feature film; it meshed the irascible ogre with the holiday spirit very well, and I think it's going to be a perennial in the Christmas special pantheon.

Best Professional Artist
Phil Foglio -- Girl Genius

I've already gushed at length. He's won it before, and deserves it again. (To be fair, Foglio won the Best Fan Artist Hugo in 1977 and 1978. I'm sure he's got room on the shelf for a third Hugo.)

Best Semiprozine
Helix SF

Just tossin' in a little bit more nepotism here.

John W. Campbell Award (not a Hugo Award, as the committee always reminds us)

William LedBetter

The sponsored award for best new SF writer. Always remember, it is NOT a Hugo, they just bundle it with the Hugos.

So, that's what I thought was noteworthy in the 2007 world of science fiction. I'm certain I missed a ton. Let's see what makes it to the final ballot.