Hugo Recommendations: Best Short Story
This is how I am voting in the Best Short Story category. Of course, I offer this information regarding my individual ballot for no particular reason at all, and the fact that I have done so should not be confused in any way, shape, or form with a slate or a bloc vote, much less a direct order by the Supreme Dark Lord of the Evil Legion of Evil to his 386 Vile Faceless Minions or anyone else.
Best Novella
Best Fan Writer
Best Related Work
- “Turncoat”, Steve Rzasa (Riding the Red Horse, Castalia House)
- “The Parliament of Beasts and Birds”, John C. Wright (The Book of Feasts & Seasons, Castalia House)
- “On A Spiritual Plain”, Lou Antonelli (Sci Phi Journal #2, 11-2014)
- “A Single Samurai”, Steven Diamond (The Baen Big Book of Monsters, Baen Books)
Best Novella
Best Fan Writer
Best Related Work
Labels: Hugo Award
47 Comments:
Amazing! That's the same order I have.
What are you, some sort of mind reader?
I know right
That is it the final straw, Tor is gonna fight now. Rumor has it they are telling Scalzi that his next SciFi "NYT bestseller" will have to include a character with both male and female sexual characteristics attached so it can literally go fuck itself and further this character's name will be "Minion."
Why isn't TURNCOAT in the Hugo Packet?
Or PARLIAMENT?
Showing that I am independent I will be voting for "If you where a Sam's club pallet of Doritos My love" by GRRM & "I you where a glock I was buying for my wife"
OT: The greatest bass player of all time just died:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/chris-squire-dead-tributes-pour-5965750
Why isn't TURNCOAT in the Hugo Packet?
It is. Look in RIDING THE RED HORSE.
Or PARLIAMENT?
It is. Look in the HUGO-NOMINATED WORKS OF JOHN C. WRIGHT
Yeah, thanks. I actually just found them right before I refreshed this page. Sorry. But I cannot be the ONLY dim bulb in the Ilk so maybe I helped someone.
@BGS
You clearly need an editor for your posts albeit you are somewhat on topic at least.
And I would never stoop so low as to do business with the evil Sam's corporations.
Crap, I forgot to do phase 2. Hang on...
A reminder for all those interested the first four issues of Sci Phi Journal are half price through the end of the month both at Amazon and Castalia (however CH's checkout doesn't appear to reflect this)
I wonder what I'll be voting for on the Best Editor categories....
Decisions decisions.
Turncoat is not quality writing and I know you know quality writing Vox. Why was it nominated?
Because it is a really good story. Literary style is not the sole basis for rating a story. The plot, characters, and concepts are all excellent. I prefer a strong story that is written in workmanlike fashion to a weak story, or worse, a non-story, that is beautifully written. Asimov's style was horrible, but he made up for it in the other areas.
The fact that people complain that the title "gives away the twist" simply demonstrates how childish they are. It's like complaining that "David Copperfield" is about a guy named David instead of only revealing his name at the end.
I didn't think Turncoat's writing was bad. Not on the level of, say, Jack Vance.
Related note, if Riding the Red Horse vol. 2 is an anthology of new stories, how do you collect them? Do you advertise for submissions, or call up MilSF authors and ask for whatever they have lying around?
Do you advertise for submissions, or call up MilSF authors and ask for whatever they have lying around?
Call up the writers we want and ask them to write a new story. Nearly everyone is happy to take part.
@David 093
I've already filled in my ballot for editor. Not to drop too many hints but their names start with T and V, dependent on the category.
G.R.R.M. And I would never stoop so low as to do business with the evil Sam's corporations.
I can see why you hate Sam's Club they try to stop rapists in their parking lots. http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vacaville.asp
I am suspicious that you are not the real GRRM, tell me what caused you to ban BigGay_Steve from your site?
I really enjoyed both Turncoat and Parliament. Great stories. I'll try to read the other two in the coming weeks.
I read Turncoat online (LOVED it, including the title) but now found Riding the Red Horse in the packet. YAY, more reading!
Farquat, you apparently name yourself after the lamest disney villain there is and then ask for originality? Have you looked up the definition of Farquat? It seems apropos.
Where has anyone ever said the Hugo nominations were 100% political? That is about 1% of it, and its not the most talked about topic. You're lying.
Furthermore, you question whether anyone has actually read Asimov and Dickens? There are retarded zoo monkeys who have at least seen A Muppet Christmas Carol. Reading Dickens is not an accomplishment for anyone with an IQ over Maine room temperature. What kind of insult is that? You're high and might for someone who claims to have watched Disney movies.
Dreamworks... to get to you before he does.
Evidence you don't watch lame movies.
I actually saw Shrek with about 5 girls, two straight guys and a closeted gay dude when it came out in theaters. I can't say it was the worst six dollars I ever spent, but fortunately I never had to repeat the experience. Let that be a lesson about democracy... Pearl Harbor got outvoted.
"Not on the level of, say, Jack Vance."
Wait, are you saying Vance's writing was bad? He's one of the best stylists in SF.
"For someone who claims to have read Asimov and Dickens, I'd love to see you defend the characterization in Turncoat?"
Disqualify, disqualify, disqualify.
But pussies out with the question mark.
His Insufficiency (above) might also want to note that his namesake character's name is spelled Farquaad, and someone with pretensions to literary superiority might be able to do better than a derivative, too-clever-by-half children's film.
Lord Farquat is a troll, having commented here under at least three different aliases lately.
Ignore and do not respond.
The original Shrek story that DreamWorks [predictably] shat on is by one of my favorite children's authors [and illustrators], William Steig. His best books are Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Roland the Minstrel Pig, and The Amazing Bone.
Much loved by children 3 and up. Even the 12 year old still gathers round when we read Steig.
@automatthew
I'll admit to having liked Shreck when it first came out, but even then I knew it would not wear well over time. Faaaar too many contemporary and pop-culture references.
That and sorry, but Rufus doing Hallelujah instead of Leonard Cohen? No contest. Should've gone with Cohen.
At least they actually used Tom Waits for the second soundtrack. Too bad the movie sucked.
If you are Greek and you didn't get your money out of the bank you are out of luck.
"Rufus doing Hallelujah instead of Leonard Cohen? No contest. Should've gone with Cohen."
Cohen's terrible. Jeff Buckley did it best.
"Shrek" was decent, and it robbed the far superior "Monsters, Inc." of the Oscar that year.
"Shrek 2" was hilarious, but it went up against "The Incredibles" which is both one of the best animated movies ever and the single best superhero movie ever made. It's so good that it manages to get out of both the animated AND superhero ghetto and be appreciated as a brilliant movie in its own right. "Shrek 2" rightly never had a chance.
"Monsters Inc." was far, far more creative, better written, and better animated than the original "Shrek". I have no idea how it lost.
Damn. Thanks automatthew. Much better than the Rufus version, love the quiet, almost intimate guitar on that. Not overdone either.
Given that Leonard Cohen's voice is for crap ( He, Knopfler, and Waits would never win an "American Idol" or "Voice" style show...) he still wrote incredible songs that - delivered with his voice - still got to you.
It's actually impressive to me how many singers with "better" voices fail at delivering his songs. Concrete Blonde failed - and I even heard their version first. Buckley succeeded.
I also like the Kate Gibson version of Dance Me to the End of Love from "Strange Days" better than the original.
@Malcom
I believed Monsters the better movie even then (something of the cynical cleverness in Shreck threw me off) - and it probably lost because Shreck was oh so clever and relevant.
The fact that people complain that the title "gives away the twist" simply demonstrates how childish they are. It's like complaining that "David Copperfield" is about a guy named David instead of only revealing his name at the end.
If "David Copperfield" was a common term meaning "evil ruffian" and the book was actually a short story about how the main character turned rogue, and ended with the protagonist taking the name David Copperfield as his villain persona, then yes, it would be a terrible title.
Because - and spoiler warning here - that's what we're seeing with "Turncoat". It's not just a title of the main character, the whole story leads up to him turning turncoat during the climax, and then the story ends. This is very different.
And, because I feel like the need to make this clear again, I really liked "Turncoat". Really! I like it so much I invited Mr. Rzasa to work with me on another project. I just don't like that title.
Malcolm, how many turncoats were in the story? Just the one?
Forgive the OT post, but I am simply aghast at how you (Vox) have been somehow conflated with a white supremacist Svengali by the Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/28/harold-covington-northwest-front-dylann-roof-manifesto-charleston-shooting
Russell,
I don't know if this was meant to be a "gotcha" question, but I'm going to assume it isn't. Recommendation: Read the story for yourself to figure it out.
SPOILER: If I recall correctly, just Benedict.
The UK has quite famous libel laws. It would, I confess, be enjoyable to see a huge judgement against the Guardian.
For example, since Vox is a minority he cannot be racist. Yet he is casually accused by the Guardian of being racist. That's just what leapt out; I'm sure there's more.
Because - and spoiler warning here - that's what we're seeing with "Turncoat". It's not just a title of the main character, the whole story leads up to him turning turncoat during the climax, and then the story ends. This is very different.
Come on. Did you also complain that "Taken" was about someone being taken? Or that "Saving Private Ryan" ended with Private Ryan being saved?
If I recall correctly, just Benedict.
Really? There weren't any other traitors in the story, no one who betrayed their entire species? It's ironic that you're criticizing the title for being too obvious, then promptly demonstrating that it was too subtle for you at the same time. Which betrayal is more significant?
Lord Farquat
Is also Obvious, Taquito, and Khan.
Malcolm,
Not a gotcha question. I did read the story. See VD's response above mine.
That Guardian articke I thinkbis demonstrably open to a suit VD.
As I live in London, let me know if I can help and/or put you in touch with any barristers, etc.
Really? There weren't any other traitors in the story, no one who betrayed their entire species? It's ironic that you're criticizing the title for being too obvious, then promptly demonstrating that it was too subtle for you at the same time. Which betrayal is more significant?
Bah, point conceded. In my defense it was late at night.
Chris Squire - Run With the Fox :_(
Above link doesn't seem to work...
https://youtu.be/HjvWcDlyh3c
Both were good stories and I enjoyed the heck out of both The Parliament was my favorite however.
Since I cannot afford a membership my opinion is moot.
Why isn't Totaled included on the list?
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