psocoptera

See the list here without my commentary! Maybe the most interesting piece of news is that voting is going to go until November 19th; that's a much longer reading timeline than we usually have, and I would love to see someone do the heavy stats work afterward to look at whether there'll be voting changes (in number of votes cast in smaller categories, or in number of downballot votes, for instance - people who might have ranked their top three and not read every nominee now ranking all six).

My thoughts on the nominees behind the cut.

Best Novel
1093 votes for 441 nominees, finalist range 309-132

Black Sun, Rebecca Roanhorse (Gallery / Saga Press)
The City We Became, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Harrow The Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com)
Network Effect, Martha Wells (Tor.com)
Piranesi, Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
The Relentless Moon, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor Books)

I have read two of these, so I don't have a lot of opinions here yet, except that I suspect that one of the ones I haven't read yet will win.

Best Novella
778 votes for 157 nominees, finalist range 219-124

Come Tumbling Down, Seanan McGuire (Tor.com)
The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Nghi Vo (Tor.com)
Finna, Nino Cipri (Tor.com)
Ring Shout, P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com)
Riot Baby, Tochi Onyebuchi (Tor.com)
Upright Women Wanted, Sarah Gailey (Tor.com)

I'm surprised that I've only read two of these also, given how many great novellas I read this year. Also, wow, that's a sweep for Tor.com. Of course I don't know how most of the contenders stack up but I think Ring Shout is the frontrunner they'll have to beat.

Best Novelette
465 votes for 197 nominees, finalist range 108-33

“Burn, or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super”, A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny Magazine, May/June 2020)
“Helicopter Story”, Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
“The Inaccessibility of Heaven”, Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, July/August 2020)
“Monster”, Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
“The Pill”, Meg Elison (from Big Girl, (PM Press))
Two Truths and a Lie, Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)

I think I *have* read all of these! Which I wasn't expecting, given that I did less reading this year. I nominated the Fall story, although I'm slightly confused by its renaming, although, aha, a friend has explained that there was a limited-run ebook version published under that title. Anyways, even the ones of these I didn't rec were pretty good. I don't have an immediate guess about a winner. I'm probably voting for the Fall and then the Elison.

Best Short Story
586 votes for 634 nominees, finalist range 65-35

“Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse”, Rae Carson (Uncanny Magazine, January/February 2020)
“A Guide for Working Breeds”, Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, ed. Jonathan Strahan (Solaris))
Little Free Library, Naomi Kritzer (Tor.com)
“The Mermaid Astronaut”, Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
“Metal Like Blood in the Dark”, T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
“Open House on Haunted Hill”, John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots – 2020, ed. David Steffen)

And I have also read all of these! Apparently my more-efficient reading was pretty well targeted. I nominated the Carson and the Lee and recced all but the Prasad, iIrc. I think maybe the Carson has a good shot (or else the Wiswell...), although my first place vote probably goes to the Lee.

Best Series
727 votes for 180 nominees, finalist range 300-87

The Daevabad Trilogy, S.A. Chakraborty (Harper Voyager)
The Interdependency, John Scalzi (Tor Books)
The Lady Astronaut Universe, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor Books/Audible/Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction)
The Murderbot Diaries, Martha Wells (Tor.com)
October Daye, Seanan McGuire (DAW)
The Poppy War, R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager)

Huh, wow, I have... read at least one book in all of these already?? And I've read three of them in their entirety, and I guess I was going to have to read Relentless Moon for the Novels (and presumably Fated Sky as a prereq), and I never will read more October Daye, so there's really only the rest of the Scalzi series as additional reading for this category? Which I did in fact want to read eventually at some point, so, hey, this is not at all bad from a reading load perspective. (Also calling this for Wells, unless the Kowal series can take it.) (I nominated Daevabad and Poppy War and didn't even think about Wells' series as eligible. Hmmm.)

Best Related Work
456 votes for 277 nominees, finalist range 74-31

Beowulf: A New Translation, Maria Dahvana Headley (FSG)
CoNZealand Fringe, Claire Rousseau, C, Cassie Hart, Adri Joy, Marguerite Kenner, Cheryl Morgan, Alasdair Stuart.
FIYAHCON, L.D. Lewis–Director, Brent Lambert–Senior Programming Coordinator, Iori Kusano–FIYAHCON Fringe Co-Director, Vida Cruz–FIYAHCON Fringe Co-Director, and the Incredible FIYAHCON team
“George R.R. Martin Can Fuck Off Into the Sun, Or: The 2020 Hugo Awards Ceremony (Rageblog Edition)”, Natalie Luhrs (Pretty Terrible, August 2020)
A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, Lynell George (Angel City Press)
The Last Bronycon: a fandom autopsy, Jenny Nicholson (YouTube)

I really, really do not want Martin involved in the awards ceremony again (ever again) (SERIOUSLY), but a little part of me does, just to make him read off "George R.R. Martin Can Fuck Off Into the Sun" on the list of nominees. (I predict that whoever does read these is going to practice doing that one with a straight face several times...)

Best Graphic Story or Comic
303 votes for 254 nominees, finalist range 43-24

DIE, Volume 2: Split the Party, written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles (Image Comics)
Ghost-Spider vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over, Author: Seanan McGuire, Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosie Kämpe (Marvel)
Invisible Kingdom, vol 2: Edge of Everything, Author: G. Willow Wilson, Artist: Christian Ward (Dark Horse Comics)
Monstress, vol. 5: Warchild, Author: Marjorie Liu, Artist: Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
Once & Future vol. 1: The King Is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire (BOOM! Studios)
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings (Harry N. Abrams)

Hey, hey, remember when I said it was going to be Monstress 5, Die 2, and Parable? Ok, I was wrong about Jemisin's thing for DC, but instead we got McGuire's thing for Marvel, which feels similar but probably worse, and I was wrong about getting Ryan North's Slaughterhouse Five adaptation (which I will now have to read on my own, fine), because I guess we needed yet another Gillen project. Whatever; I hope O Human Star made the longlist at least.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
574 votes for 192 nominees, finalist range 164-56

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), written by Christina Hodson, directed by Cathy Yan (Warner Bros.)
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, written by Will Ferrell, Andrew Steele, directed by David Dobkin (European Broadcasting Union/Netflix)
The Old Guard, written by Greg Rucka, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Netflix / Skydance Media)
Palm Springs, written by Andy Siara, directed by Max Barbakow (Limelight / Sun Entertainment Culture / The Lonely Island / Culmination Productions / Neon / Hulu / Amazon Prime)
Soul, screenplay by Pete Docter, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers, directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers, produced by Dana Murray (Pixar Animation Studios/ Walt Disney Pictures)
Tenet, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner Bros./Syncopy)

I have seen two of these and did not really think Soul was good enough to make this ballot, although I can't think of what else even might have. (Well, I nominated Wolfwalkers, but how many people even heard of that.) I'm at least somewhat interested in the rest, except maybe a Will Ferrell project about Eurovision? That is sff??

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
454 votes for 321 nominees, finalist range 130-30

Doctor Who: Fugitive of the Judoon, written by Vinay Patel and Chris Chibnall, directed by Nida Manzoor (BBC)
The Expanse: Gaugamela, written by Dan Nowak, directed by Nick Gomez (Alcon Entertainment / Alcon Television Group / Amazon Studios / Hivemind / Just So)
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Heart (parts 1 and 2), written by Josie Campbell and Noelle Stevenson, directed by Jen Bennett and Kiki Manrique (DreamWorks Animation Television / Netflix)
The Mandalorian: Chapter 13: The Jedi, written and directed by Dave Filoni (Golem Creations / Lucasfilm / Disney+)
The Mandalorian: Chapter 16: The Rescue, written by Jon Favreau, directed by Peyton Reed (Golem Creations / Lucasfilm / Disney+)
The Good Place: Whenever You’re Ready, written and directed by Michael Schur (Fremulon / 3 Arts Entertainment / Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group)

An animated show finally made the dramatic short ballot! And it was She-Ra? Okay, sure. I mean, I nominated it, but it's no Steven Universe "Change Your Mind". Also, gah, I suppose it is conceivable that with all these months before voting closes, I could actually consider watching The Mandalorian, hmm.

Best Editor, Short Form
370 votes for 162 nominees, finalist range 79-38

Neil Clarke
Ellen Datlow
C.C. Finlay
Mur Lafferty and S.B. Divya
Jonathan Strahan
Sheila Williams

Sure.

Best Editor, Long Form
310 votes for 82 nominees, finalist range 83-52

Nivia Evans
Sheila E. Gilbert
Sarah Guan
Brit Hvide
Diana M. Pho
Navah Wolfe

Yup.

Best Professional Artist
331 votes for 179 nominees, finalist range 91-37

Tommy Arnold
Rovina Cai
Galen Dara
Maurizio Manzieri
John Picacio
Alyssa Winans

I know who five of these people are and nominated most of them and then there's Manzieri. Oh, who does covers for de Bodard, so I guess I know his stuff too. Fine ballot, let's not just vote for Picacio.

Best Semiprozine
331 votes for 77 nominees, finalist range 174-39

Beneath Ceaseless Skies, ed. Scott H. Andrews
Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and S.B. Divya, assistant editor Benjamin C. Kinney, hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart, audio producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht and the entire Escape Pod team.
FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, publisher Troy L. Wiggins, executive editor DaVaun Sanders, managing editor Eboni Dunbar, poetry editor Brandon O’Brien, reviews and social media Brent Lambert, art director L. D. Lewis, and the FIYAH Team.
PodCastle, editors, C.L. Clark and Jen R. Albert, assistant editor and host, Setsu Uzumé, producer Peter Adrian Behravesh, and the entire PodCastle team.
Uncanny Magazine, editors in chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, managing editor: Chimedum Ohaegbu, non-fiction editor: Elsa Sjunneson, podcast producers: Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky
Strange Horizons, Vanessa Aguirre, Joseph Aitken, Rachel Ayers, M H Ayinde, Tierney Bailey, Scott Beggs, Drew Matthew Beyer, Gautam Bhatia, S. K. Campbell, Zhui Ning Chang, Rita Chen, Tania Chen, Joyce Chng, Liz Christman, Linda H. Codega, Kristian Wilson Colyard, Yelena Crane, Bruhad Dave, Sarah Davidson, Tahlia Day, Arinn Dembo, Nathaniel Eakman, Belen Edwards, George Tom Elavathingal, Rebecca Evans, Ciro Faienza, Courtney Floyd, Lila Garrott, Colette Grecco, Guananí Gómez-Van Cortright, Julia Gunnison, Dan Hartland, Sydney Hilton, Angela Hinck, Stephen Ira, Amanda Jean, Ai Jiang, Sean Joyce-Farley, Erika Kanda, Anna Krepinsky, Kat Kourbeti, Clayton Kroh, Maureen Kincaid Speller, Catherine Krahe, Natasha Leullier, A.Z. Louise, Dante Luiz, Gui Machiavelli, Cameron Mack, Samantha Manaktola, Marisa Manuel, Jean McConnell, Heather McDougal, Maria Morabe, Amelia Moriarty, Emory Noakes, Sarah Noakes, Aidan Oatway, AJ Odasso, Joel Oliver-Cormier, Kristina Palmer, Karintha Parker, Anjali Patel, Vanessa Rose Phin, Nicasio Reed, Belicia Rhea, Endria Richardson, Natalie Ritter, Abbey Schlanz, Clark Seanor, Elijah Rain Smith, Hebe Stanton, Melody Steiner, Romie Stott, Yejin Suh, Kwan-Ann Tan, Luke Tolvaj, Ben Tyrrell, Renee Van Siclen, Kathryn Weaver, Liza Wemakor, Aigner Loren Wilson, E.M. Wright, Vicki Xu, Fred G. Yost, staff members who prefer not to be named, and guest editor Libia Brenda with guest first reader Raquel González-Franco Alva for the Mexicanx special issue

Cool.

Best Fanzine
271 votes for 94 nominees, finalist range 79-38

The Full Lid, written by Alasdair Stuart, edited by Marguerite Kenner
Journey Planet, edited by Michael Carroll, John Coxon, Sara Felix, Ann Gry, Sarah Gulde, Alissa McKersie, Errick Nunnally, Pádraig Ó Méalóid, Chuck Serface, Steven H. Silver, Paul Trimble, Erin Underwood, James Bacon, and Chris Garcia.
Lady Business, editors. Ira, Jodie, KJ, Renay, and Susan.
nerds of a feather, flock together, ed. Adri Joy, Joe Sherry, The G, and Vance Kotrla
Quick Sip Reviews, editor, Charles Payseur
Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog, ed. Amanda Wakaruk and Olav Rokne

Sure.

Best Fancast
376 votes for 230 nominees, finalist range 72-28

Be The Serpent, presented by Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske and Jennifer Mace
Claire Rousseau’s YouTube channel, produced by Claire Rousseau
The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe, Jonathan Strahan, producer
Kalanadi, produced and presented by Rachel
The Skiffy and Fanty show, produced by Shaun Duke and Jen Zink, presented by Shaun Duke, Jen Zink, Alex Acks, Paul Weimer, and David Annandale.
Worldbuilding for Masochists, presented by Rowenna Miller, Marshall Ryan Maresca and Cass Morris

-

Best Fan Writer
365 votes for 185 nominees, finalist range 89-42

Cora Buhlert
Charles Payseur
Jason Sanford
Elsa Sjunneson
Alasdair Stuart
Paul Weimer

Ok.

Best Fan Artist
221 votes for 158 nominees, finalist range 54-10

Iain J. Clark
Cyan Daly
Sara Felix
Grace P. Fong
Maya Hahto
Laya Rose

221 votes! 10 to get on this ballot! Further evidence that this is not a well-understood or well-crafted category as it stands!

Best Video Game
DisCon III used their authority under the WSFS constitution to create a one-time Special Hugo Award Category for Best Video Game. See this announcement for further details.
341 votes for 145 nominees, finalist range 183-30

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Publisher and Developer: Nintendo)
Blaseball (Publisher and Developer: The Game Band)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Publisher Square Enix)
Hades (Publisher and Developer: Supergiant Games)
The Last of Us: Part II (Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment / Developer: Naughty Dog)
Spiritfarer (Publisher and Developer: Thunder Lotus)

I know nothing about anything, but sure.

Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book (presented by the World Science Fiction Society)
507 votes for 172 nominees, finalist range 201-55

Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas (Swoon Reads)
A Deadly Education, Naomi Novik (Del Rey)
Elatsoe, Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
Legendborn, Tracy Deonn (Margaret K. McElderry/ Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
Raybearer, Jordan Ifueko (Amulet / Hot Key)
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T. Kingfisher (Argyll Productions)

Woo, I've read four of these! I think Elatsoe is the one to beat, although I haven't read Raybearer yet and I've heard some buzz there, and my personal first vote probably goes to Cemetery Boys at this time.

Astounding Award for Best New Writer (presented by Dell Magazines)
422 votes for 181 nominees, finalist range 99-54

Lindsay Ellis (1st year of eligibility)
Simon Jimenez (1st year of eligibility)
Micaiah Johnson (1st year of eligibility)
A.K. Larkwood (1st year of eligibility)
Jenn Lyons (2nd year of eligibility)
Emily Tesh (2nd year of eligibility)

I've read books by four of these people, meaning this is just another two novels of reading (the Jimenez and the Larkwood, both of which I have on my to-read list anyways), so, *really* not doing too badly this year on reading load!

I'm going to come back and add a comment about what's on the Nebulas that isn't here and vice versa, but, yeah! Pretty good looking ballot here!