Hugos 2018: My Ballot So Far

Best Novel

1) The Stone Sky, N.K. Jemisin
2) Raven Stratagem, Yoon Ha Lee
3) Provenance, Ann Leckie
4) The Collapsing Empire, John Scalzi
5) New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson
6) Six Wakes, Mur Lafferty

(Notes: The fantastic conclusion to the Broken Earth trilogy has been my No. 1 since I turned the last page. Since it just won the Nebula, I think Jemisin has a pretty good chance of making the sweep. I think her main competition will come from Six Wakes, a closed-room [or rather spaceship] murder mystery with clones that was not my cup of tea at all, but which a lot of people seemed to like.)

Best Novella

1) "All Systems Red," Martha Wells
2) "Down Among the Sticks and Bones," Seanan McGuire
3) "And Then There Were (N-One)," Sarah Pinsker
4) "The Black Tides of Heaven," JY Yang
5) "River of Teeth," Sarah Gailey
6) "Binti: Home," Nnedi Okorafor

(Notes: This category is very tight. I think Murderbot will come out on top--it just won the Nebula, and the character/voice is unforgettable--but if not, any one of the others could knock it off.)

Best Novelette

1) "The Secret Life of Bots," Suzanne Palmer
2) "Extracurricular Activities," Yoon Ha Lee
3) "Wind Will Rove," Sarah Pinsker
4) "A Series of Steaks," Vina Jie-Min Prasad
5) "Children of Thorns," Aliette de Bodard
6) "Small Changes Over Long Periods," K.M. Szpara

(Notes: This is another crapshoot. I personally loved "Bots," but if Vina Jie-Min Prasad wins the Campbell, as I suspect she will, that might bleed over into this category.)

Best Short Story

1) "The Martian Obelisk," Linda Nagata
2) "Welcome To Your Authentic Indian Experience™," Rebecca Roanhorse
3) "Sun, Moon, Dust," Ursula Vernon
4) "Fandom for Robots," Vina Jie-Min Prasad
5) "Carnival Nine," Caroline M. Yoachim
6) "Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand," Fran Wilde

(Notes: This was the hardest decision, for me. I could have flipped a coin on any given day and placed any of the top 3 at No. 1. "The Martian Obelisk" finally squeaked through because I thought the ending was just perfect. But I would be happy if any of the top 3 won.)

Best Series

1) The Divine Cities, Robert Jackson Bennett
2) The Books of the Raksura, Martha Wells
3) InCryptid, Seanan McGuire
4) The Memoirs of Lady Trent, Marie Brennan
5) World of the Five Gods, Lois McMaster Bujold

(Notes: You'll notice Brandon Sanderson is missing. I've been putting him off and putting him off, and I think that's because I have a congenital aversion to ten-pound bricks masquerading as books. There's also the time factor to consider. In any case, I think the Divine Cities is the one to beat. Let's also remember that Lois McMaster Bujold already snagged this award last year, for the Vorkosigan Saga. Let's spread the love a bit, please.)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

1) Blade Runner 2049
2) Wonder Woman
3) The Shape of Water
4) Get Out
5) Thor: Ragnarok
6) Star Wars: The Last Jedi

(Notes: I do not expect Blade Runner 2049 to win, as much as I loved its deliberate pacing and gorgeous look. I think it will come down to either The Shape of Water or Get Out. Although there would be something to be said for giving The Last Jedi the trophy and thumbing our collective noses at the entitled little brats trolling Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran. Also remember that if Carrie Fisher was here [*sigh*], she would undoubtedly chime in with a loud "Fuck you.")

We're rounding the turn to the home stretch now. Onward.