2008 Hugo Award Winners

Thanks Larry for the list (and to David Anthony Durham for the heads up about MRK's Campbell!):

Best Novel:
The Yiddish Policeman's Union, by Michael Chabon

Best Novella:
"All Seated on the Ground", by Connie Willis

Best Novelette:
"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate", by Ted Chiang

Best Short Story:
"Tideline", by Elizabeth Bear

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Mary Robinette Kowal


Excitement!!! Seriously, I couldn't be happier for Mary Robinette Kowal right now. I love her short fiction and I've had the opportunity to advance read some of her stories and she's just awesome (and rather nice over e-mail, I might add). I want to see pictures of the official Campbell Tiara. I believe both Bear and John Scalzi have previously worn it. :)

Further Excitement! Elizabeth Bear wins a Hugo! Bear's fiction is also awesome, and rather nice in person. That this isn't the story of Bear's I would have chosen for a Hugo does nothing to lessen my happiness that Bear's getting to put "Hugo Winner" next to her name.

Can't say I'm too surprised about Ted Chiang's win. Great story, as one would expect from Chiang.

Some folks don't like Connie Willis, but obviously the Hugo voters do. I thought the story was delightful.

Never finished the Chabon novel, but not surprised about that one. It's been winning everything else, so why not this one, too?

Oh, and John Scalzi beat some chap named Langford for Fan Writer. I read an Ansible column once and didn't see what the big deal was.

Folks I like won, that makes me happy. A couple of stories I liked one, that makes me almost as happy as seeing people I like win.

D. A., by Connie Willis

D. A.
Connie Willis
Subterranean Press: 2007

One thing that I like about Subterranean Press is that they take short stories and novellas from certain talented authors and publish them in special limited edition volumes so that a shorter work that may only have appeared in Asimov’s or F&SF will be available to more readers than before. Like me. D. A. is an example of this. It was published in 2006 and is available as its own book. The story is on the short size for a standalone, 60 pages, but the sixty pages are collectively delightful.

Theodora Baumgarten has just been selected as an IASA space cadet, and therein lies the problem. She didn't apply for the ultra-coveted posting, and doesn't relish spending years aboard the ship to which she's been assigned.

But the plucky young heroine, in true Heinlein fashion, has no plans to go along with the program. Aided by her hacker best friend Kimkim, in a screwball comedy that has become Connie Wills' hallmark, Theodora will stop at nothing to uncover the conspiracy that has her shanghaied.

While I would question the “screwball comedy” label from the publisher, everything else is spot on and I think gives a good overview of what this story is about. But, what D. A. is about is less important than how it is told. Damn well, I should say. D. A. is a romp and between Theodora and Kimkim, our “plucky young heroine” has all the makings of a character who could headline a collection of stories or a novel set in this milieu. One can hope, but it could also be enough just to have a really good story left alone. The fact that Theodora absolutely does not want to join the IASA is what sets the story apart. Everyone wants it, but she doesn’t.

A wonderful, delightful story and if the opportunity arises – read it!

Asimov's

I subscribed to Asimov’s last night. Other than having read all the Hugo nominations from last year, I haven’t read anything from Asimov’s, but I know its reputation. A six issue subscription for $10 is a good deal, so why not?

I kind of hope they start me with the December issue. There is a novella by Connie Willis in the issue (excerpt) which will be published by Subterranean Press this winter and I’d like to get the chance to read it.