2008 Hugo Award Winners

[DMcCunney]

Since a number of MobileRead participants are SF fans, I thought the winners of the 2008 Hugo Awards, just announced by Denvention, might be of interest:
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The 2008 Hugo Awards were given out at Denvention on Saturday, August 9, 2008. The Master of Ceremony was Wil McCarthy.


Novel: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins; Fourth Estate)

Novella: "All Seated on the Ground" by Connie Willis (Asimov's Dec. 2007; Subterranean Press)

Novelette: "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang (Subterranean Press; F&SF Sept. 2007)

Short Story: "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear (Asimov's June 2007)

Non-fiction Book: Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction by Jeff Prucher (Oxford University Press)

Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Stardust Written by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Charles Vess Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Paramount Pictures)

Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Who "Blink" Written by Steven Moffat Directed by Hettie Macdonald (BBC)

Professional Editor, Long Form: David Hartwell

Professional Editor, Short Form: Gordon Van Gelder (F&SF)

Professional Artist: Stephan Martiniere

Semiprozine: Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong, & Liza Groen Trombi

Fanzine: File 770

Fan Writer: John Scalzi

Fan Artist: Brad Foster

Campbell Award: Mary Robinette Kowal


Photo of Statue: http://www.denvention3.org/images/08hugophoto.small.jpg

Full Voting Breakdown: http://www.denvention3.org/hugos/Final-Report.pdf

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Dennis

[HarryT]

I'm delighted to see that "Blink" won a Hugo; it's one of my all-time favourite episodes of "Dr Who". Even better, its author, Steven Moffet, is taking over as Executive Producer of the show from next year.

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm delighted to see that "Blink" won a Hugo; it's one of my all-time favourite episodes of "Dr Who". Even better, its author, Steven Moffet, is taking over as Executive Producer of the show from next year.

Haven't seen the last Dr. Who season yet... Is it good overall ?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm delighted to see that "Blink" won a Hugo; it's one of my all-time favourite episodes of "Dr Who". Even better, its author, Steven Moffet, is taking over as Executive Producer of the show from next year.

I'm delighted to see Dave Hartwell get Best Professional Editor, Long Form. I've known David and respected his work for many years, and it's good to see him get the recognition. (David is currently a Senior Editor at Tor Books, and Tor is the only house I can think of that notes who the editor of a particular book was on the Copyright page. It took some genteel arm-twisting before Editor-in-Chief Beth Meachum agreed to be listed - she felt it was the author's book. I felt that vastly underestimated her own contributions to the process. A good editor can help make a good book into a great one, and Beth is a very good editor indeed.)

The whole Short Form/Long Form breakout is recent. Best Professional Editor used to rotate among the editors of the top magazines -- Analog, Asimov's, F&SF -- until fans began to realize the folks who bought and edited novels deserved recognition.

I'm also amused to see John Scalzi get an award as Best Fan Writer.

Incidentally, the Campbell Award isn't a Hugo. It's a separate award -- The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, sponsored by Dell Publications -- but it is presented at the Hugo Ceremonies.
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Dennis

[Elsi]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Haven't seen the last Dr. Who season yet... Is it good overall ?

Love it. The final episode of Season 4 was quite poignant.

Blink is from Season 3 (2007 in the UK). The episode information is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/310.shtml The episode was based upon an original short story which can be read at http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/310.shtml

[llasram]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Since a number of MobileRead participants are SF fans, I thought the winners of the 2008 Hugo Awards, just announced by Denvention, might be of interest:

And for science, I've checked to see which of the work-specific-award–winners are available in electronic editions. I’ve re-arranged and cut a few of the items for my convenience.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Novel: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins; Fourth Estate)

None of Chabon's books seem to be available as e-books. Is he anti–e-book?

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Novella: "All Seated on the Ground" by Connie Willis (Asimov's Dec. 2007; Subterranean Press)

Short Story: "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear (Asimov's June 2007)

Asimov’s has an electronic edition (through Fictionwise), but only has the most recent few issues available for sale – I’m not sure if this a policy they’ve settled on or because they’ve just started doing an electronic edition. They do however have all the Hugo-nominees (and Nebula winners) they ran available for free from their web site.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Novelette: "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang (Subterranean Press; F&SF Sept. 2007)

F&SF also has an electronic edition (again through Fictionwise), and appears to have every issue they’ve done electronically available for sale, running several years back.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Non-fiction Book: Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction by Jeff Prucher (Oxford University Press)

Not available as an e-book. OUP seems to be starting to do the e-book thing, although so far I’ve only seen their books as PDFs and for the Kindle.

This has me wondering how SF-award e-book coverage over the past few years compares with that of general literary awards. I’d have thought it would be higher, but looking at this, perhaps not.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by llasram

None of Chabon's books seem to be available as e-books. Is he anti–e-book?

When a book isn't available in an electronic edition, I normally point the finger of blame at the publisher first. I don't recall hearing Chabon had an opinion one way of the other.

Asimov’s has an electronic edition (through Fictionwise), but only has the most recent few issues available for sale – I’m not sure if this a policy they’ve settled on or because they’ve just started doing an electronic edition. They do however have all the Hugo-nominees (and Nebula winners) they ran available for free from their web site.

And Fictionwise also makes them available, in plain text and Mobi formats.

F&SF also has an electronic edition (again through Fictionwise), and appears to have every issue they’ve done electronically available for sale, running several years back.

What's the earliest edition they carry?

Best Short Form Editor Gordon Van Gelder edits F&SF, and bought it from the former publisher a few years back. Gordon is a very sharp guy, and I suspect he saw that part of the future would be digital. I wouldn't be surprised if F&SF appearing in digital format on Fictionwise didn't coincide with his taking ownership.

This has me wondering how SF-award e-book coverage over the past few years compares with that of general literary awards. I’d have thought it would be higher, but looking at this, perhaps not.

You mean, expecting more SF in ebook form than general literature?

I wouldn't. For most publishers, SF is simply a fiction genre they publish, along with mysteries, horror, romance, et al. Whether ebook versions are available will depend upon the publisher, not the genre. Baen is a notable exception, both as a specialist in SF/Fantasy, and in commitment to electronic books.
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Dennis

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I'm also amused to see John Scalzi get an award as Best Fan Writer.

I'd have liked to se David Langford get it - but he's won 24 Hugos so far, so I imagine he won't be too disappointed.

[carld]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I'd have liked to se David Langford get it - but he's won 24 Hugos so far, so I imagine he won't be too disappointed.

What do they mean exactly by "Fan Writer"?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by carld

What do they mean exactly by "Fan Writer"?

http://www.wsfs.org/bm/const-2006.html#hugo

"3.3.13: Best Fan Writer. Any person whose writing has appeared in semiprozines or fanzines or in generally available electronic media during the previous calendar year."

[llasram]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

When a book isn't available in an electronic edition, I normally point the finger of blame at the publisher first. I don't recall hearing Chabon had an opinion one way of the other.

Looks like most of his books are currently published by HarperCollins, which certainly does have an e-book presence. I haven't him express an opinion about e-books either -- I was mostly just pondering off the fact that none of his novels or collections appear to be available as e-books, including TYPU and an essay collection also published this year. There's a new paperback edition of his first novel (The Mysteries of Pittsburgh) due out next month, so maybe we'll see then...

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

What's the earliest edition they carry?

Best Short Form Editor Gordon Van Gelder edits F&SF, and bought it from the former publisher a few years back. Gordon is a very sharp guy, and I suspect he saw that part of the future would be digital. I wouldn't be surprised if F&SF appearing in digital format on Fictionwise didn't coincide with his taking ownership.

Looks like January 2002. Is that about the right time-frame?

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

You mean, expecting more SF in ebook form than general literature?

I wouldn't. For most publishers, SF is simply a fiction genre they publish, along with mysteries, horror, romance, et al. Whether ebook versions are available will depend upon the publisher, not the genre. Baen is a notable exception, both as a specialist in SF/Fantasy, and in commitment to electronic books.

You're probably right... My logic was that SF-reader would probably be more e-book-friendly, and thus market pressure would put more SF in e-book form, but it probably doesn't work that way for major general presses.

[carld]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

http://www.wsfs.org/bm/const-2006.html#hugo

"3.3.13: Best Fan Writer. Any person whose writing has appeared in semiprozines or fanzines or in generally available electronic media during the previous calendar year."

I see, thank you. I was puzzled somewhat, as I assumed being a published author disqualified one for such an award. Also, and showing my ignorance here , I was conflating "Fan Writer" with "Fan Fiction Writer", which is apparently not what they're talking about.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by llasram

Looks like most of his books are currently published by HarperCollins, which certainly does have an e-book presence. I haven't him express an opinion about e-books either -- I was mostly just pondering off the fact that none of his novels or collections appear to be available as e-books, including TYPU and an essay collection also published this year. There's a new paperback edition of his first novel (The Mysteries of Pittsburgh) due out next month, so maybe we'll see then...

We can hope. As mentioned, I haven't heard that Chabon is anti-ebook.

Looks like January 2002. Is that about the right time-frame?

I'd have to Look Stuff Up, but sounds about right. Gordon had been an editor at St. Martins, and took over when Kristine Kathryn Rusch stepped down as F&SF editor, after disagreements with the then publisher (over rights issues, among other things - Kristine is a writer, and tends to take the author's side on such things.) When the publisher decided he wanted to drop F&SF and move to Florida, Gordon bought the title. It seems to be working out for him thus far.

(Gordon is also notable for a damn near eidetic memory about submissions he's read. He can still give detailed critiques of stories he read and rejected for F&SF several years after the fact. It would be unlikely that another editor remembered a submission at all.)

You're probably right... My logic was that SF-reader would probably be more e-book-friendly, and thus market pressure would put more SF in e-book form, but it probably doesn't work that way for major general presses.

You'd like to think so, but a major press is unlikely to treat one genre significantly different from the rest. From their point of view, it will be about business model and process, and whether they want to be in ebooks at all.

Producing ebooks requires changes to the existing workflow and procedures, and also raises the question of how they sell them. Most publishers aren't set up to deal with individual customers. I think that's a reason for Amazon having as much content for the Kindle store. They already have the developed infrastructure to sell to the consumer, and offer a secure DRM format. The publisher can treat them like they do any other wholesaler or big retail chain.
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Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I'd have liked to see David Langford get it - but he's won 24 Hugos so far, so I imagine he won't be too disappointed.

I don't think so either. If I recall correctly, he's been known to comment that there are other deserving fan writers who sho0uld be given attention. And I suspect Martin Hoare was relieved. David usually can't make Worldcon, and Martin, who does, gets deputized to accept for him. One year Martin read the acceptance speech backwards, simply as a change of pace.
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Dennis

[Hadrien]

BTW I've compiled a list with older Hugo awards and nominees: http://www.feedbooks.com/list/140

Elsi will be happy to use our new feature to browse lists: http://www.feedbooks.com/lists