SOCIAL
Since nothing could be more “social” than what is happening with the Hugo Awards, we present a round up of “Vote No Award” posts today, and pretty much nothing else.
Note: Others may have their own reasons for voting No Award, and others may have their own methodology for how to do so. I (which means me – Steve Davidson – and no one else associated with Amazing Stories since everyone here does their own thing) have determined to place No Award as my number one pick (placing #1 next to that option) for every category that draws all of its nominees from a slate.
For those mixed categories (ones that have both slate and non-slate works) I will read the non slate works and, if I believe one or more of them to be worthy of a Hugo, will vote them above No Award. I will then vote No Award into the next slot.
I will then read the works that were gamed onto the ballot with slate voting and, if I believe any of them worthy, I will vote them in, ranked BELOW No Award.
Just to be clear, here’s how my final ballot for the Best Novel category might look if I deem the slate works not worthy:
Best Novel
- [ 2 ] Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie (Orbit US/Orbit UK)
- [ ] The Dark Between the Stars, Kevin J. Anderson (Tor Books) (slate)
- [ 3 ] The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Sarah Monette) (Tor Books)
- [ ] Skin Game, Jim Butcher (Orbit UK/Roc Books) (slate)
- [ 1 ] The Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu, Ken Liu translator (Tor Books)
- [ 4 ] No Award
I’ve not read Goblin or either of the slate works yet. If they’re in the packet, I’ll read them. Prior to Three Body’s inclusion, I was planning on voting Sword (unless reading Goblin changed my mind) as I’ve read it and found it to be a very strong book 2 of a trilogy.
Lets suppose I read the works in the packet and find Goblin to be as good as everyone is saying, and I find Dark Between and Skin to also be fine works. Here’s what the ballot would look like:
- [ 3 ] Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie (Orbit US/Orbit UK)
- [ 5 ] The Dark Between the Stars, Kevin J. Anderson (Tor Books) (slate)
- [ 1 ] The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Sarah Monette) (Tor Books)
- [ 5 ] Skin Game, Jim Butcher (Orbit UK/Roc Books) (slate)
- [ 2 ] The Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu, Ken Liu translator (Tor Books)
- [ 4 ] No Award
The 5 next to both works indicates that either one or the other slated work will be selected for the ballot in the final slot. Which does slightly up its chance of a win over the No Award across the board option.
Novelette, Novella and Short Story are comprised of all slate nominees and will therefore have a 1 placed next to No Award. With perhaps a work or two numbered below, depending upon what a read of the packet results in.
Best Novella
- [ 1 ] NO AWARD
- [ ] Big Boys Don’t Cry, Tom Kratman (Castalia House) (slate)
- [ ] “Flow”, Arlan Andrews, Sr. (Analog, 11-2014) (slate)
- [ ] One Bright Star to Guide Them, John C. Wright (Castalia House) (slate)
- [ ] “Pale Realms of Shade”, John C. Wright (The Book of Feasts & Seasons, Castalia House) (slate)
- [ ] “The Plural of Helen of Troy”, John C. Wright (City Beyond Time: Tales of the Fall of Metachronopolis, Castalia House) (slate)
Buying Votes & Voting No Award
Freeping the Hugos (anyone else annoyed by this internet-inspired new words?)
Bringing in the Gaters & Voting No Award
How to Vote No Award (instructions, not advocacy)
The Day Fandom Ended (don’t think it will end, but it will be unhappy for a while)
Expect Strong Use of the No Award Option
For far more juvenile dog related stuff than anyone cares to read, see today’s Amazing News of Fandom. File 770 has been doing yeoman’s work all week long!
