The following two listings represent modified versions of the 2016 Hugo Awards Finalists.
The first listing shows ONLY those Finalists that were NOT on ANY puppy list. (Some will consider this harsh as they argue that finalists had no control over whether they were put on those lists or not. However, they DID have the opportunity to publicly repudiate voting slates and, while some did so, many others did not. Failing to do so leaves voters in limbo. This is not an accusation leveled at anyone (politics combined with the writing biz is tough!). However, I stated two years ago that the only effective strategy to counter the rise of slates/blocs/whatever you want to call them, was to not vote for anything appearing on such.
This first list represents the choices I, and anyone else who does not want to support or encourage this kind of thing have to select from this year. (Remember – EPH will only curtail this behavior, it will NOT eliminate it – and if anyone thinks the puppies are going to consider this a win and walk away: well – lots of people thought that with over 4,000 nominations, the handful of puppy voters working like happy mind-slaves would not be able to work their bullshit. It is now obvious that they will continue to ratchet up and little, if nothing, will change next year in Helsinki.)
The second list, which I’ll post after the waves of nausea have passed, will reflect a ballot free from Rabid Puppy taint, while still retaining the whiff of Sad Puppies.
For the Finalist List that excludes Rabid Puppy taint but includes Sad Puppy taint, visit this post on File 770
2016 HUGOS TOTALLY PUPPY-FREE NOMINATIONS
BEST NOVEL
THE FIFTH SEASON – N.K. JEMISIN
ANCILLARY MERCY – ANN LECKIE (requested removal, was ignored)
BEST NOVELLA
PENRIC’S DEMON – LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD (requested removal, was ignored)
SLOW BULLETS – ALASTAIR REYNOLDS (requested removal, was ignored)
BEST NOVELETTE
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST SHORT STORY
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST RELATED WORK
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST GRAPHIC STORY
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – LONG FORM
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – SHORT FORM
JESSICA JONES: AKA SMILE
BEST EDITOR – LONG FORM
SHIELA GILBERT
LIZ GORINSKY
BEST EDITOR – SHORT FORM
NEIL CLARKE
ELLEN DATLOW
SHEILA WILLIAMS
BEST SEMIPROZINE
UNCANNY MAGAZINE
BEST FANZINE
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST FANCAST
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST FAN WRITER
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
BEST FAN ARTIST
STEVE STILES
CAMPBELL AWARD FOR BEST NEW WRITER
NO UNTAINTED NOMINATIONS
My general comment on all of the above? I sure hope N.K. Jemisin wins for Best Novel and delivers a jeremiad at the convention to sets hair on fire as far away as Melbourne – and beyond!

Steve Davidson is the publisher of Amazing Stories.
Steve has been a passionate fan of science fiction since the mid-60s, before he even knew what it was called.
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