tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post6963664309434885033..comments2024-01-31T01:40:57.553-06:00Comments on Adventures in Reading: Thoughts on the Hugo Awards: Part FourJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-46444586482908566482015-05-07T00:51:22.927-05:002015-05-07T00:51:22.927-05:00Oh wait if I'm signed in, there's an '...Oh wait if I'm signed in, there's an 'email foliow-up comments'.... (checking box...)Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127409362906807882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-186189036538662422015-05-07T00:50:56.351-05:002015-05-07T00:50:56.351-05:00Thanks for the response - sorry for the short foll...Thanks for the response - sorry for the short follow-up (after my long ramble). BTW I'm all for rewording 3.2.6! ;-)Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127409362906807882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-88577695716358482992015-04-28T14:06:01.889-05:002015-04-28T14:06:01.889-05:00Huh, I did not know that, but to be fair I have ne...Huh, I did not know that, but to be fair I have never read Butcher's work (a character flaw, I understand). I've been known to start things late, sometimes only after everyone else in the world has known about it and the series (television or book) has been completed.<br /><br />Good on him for sticking to the plan. Heck, Robert Jordan planned for three or six books and look how that turned out!Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-54259139592717340342015-04-28T12:41:24.472-05:002015-04-28T12:41:24.472-05:00Just to point out, Butcher has repeatedly made sta...Just to point out, Butcher has repeatedly made statements to the effect that his 'Dresden Files' series will not be open ended, but will feature eight more novels.<br /><br />Mr Butcher has stated at multiple interviews and signings that his plan, from the time he first laid out the overall plan for his world, during the writing of his first novel, was for a total of twenty 'case-file' books, each dealing with a bit less than a week from the main character's life, followed by an "Epic Apocalyptic Trilogy (because who doesn't love Apocalyptic Trilogies?)".<br /><br />This would clearly categorize the work as an ongoing series --but not an open-ended one-- by your definition, and, I think would serve as a solid example in favor of your proposed scheme.That Guy Melvinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-969544981613456392015-04-28T09:36:34.668-05:002015-04-28T09:36:34.668-05:00Part of that is why I didn't go with Mr. Flint...Part of that is why I didn't go with Mr. Flint's categories. Novel in Many Parts vs Series? That can be questionable. <br /><br />Best Ongoing was my way to capture Mr. Flint's idea for series - which is stuff like Dresden Files, Anita Blake, Kitty Norville, Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire - individual books more or less following a single character over time. <br /><br />Those are a series that will never be done until the author just decides to write The Last Sookie Stackhouse novel. You know it's the end when the author says it is the end. If the author changes their mind later, it's not eligible for Completed twice. <br /><br />But, I don't know how to award Ongoing for that sort of work and not include an incomplete "Novel in Many Parts" series like Mistborn or Wheel of Time. So even though I don't want to include an incomplete series with an intended fixed ending, you never know. Maybe it'll never end. How do you reward Discworld in a way that does not also include A Song of Ice and Fire prior to completion?<br /><br />I'm less concerned about how voters will read all of the works. I expect voters to give all of it the old college try, with or without the voters packet (which is by no means guaranteed to happen in any given year).<br /><br />Re: 3.2.6: I could go either way. Either no longer include serialized novels until they are collected into a single volume or just reword 3.2.6 to reflect that multi-volume "series" is significantly different than a serialized novel. I'm good either way. <br /><br />I would like to see Series recognized somehow. But you're right, we don't need a category for everything. So let's get rid of Novelette! :)Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-12880841639560828852015-04-28T00:17:42.012-05:002015-04-28T00:17:42.012-05:00Interesting thoughts, but IMHO way too many proble...Interesting thoughts, but IMHO way too many problems, e.g., differences in how author, publisher, and any two readers may see a work (series! novel in many parts! OMG you just don't know how to edit; it should've been one book but now it's a series, tough! etc.) . . . putting way too much decision-making on the Hugo Admin's hands . . . plus you never know when a series is really over. ;-) Also, I have a problem with any category designed to award an incomplete work ("best ongoing series").<br /><br />But the biggest problem is that most won't read a huge series (WoT! Dresden!) for an award. People vote their current favorite or one they heard was good - there wouldn't even be ATTEMPTS to read the works nominated because there wouldn't be time. It just isn't practical, IMHO. Yes, not everyone reads all nominated works now - but many, with the advent of the Hugo voteer packet, give it the old college try, at least.<br /><br />Anyway, IMHO the Hugos do not need an award for everything, and not everything deserves a Hugo category. This doesn't mean I feel the current awards are perfect and must never change! But the Hugos can't cover everything, and coming up with an awards for series feels like a real stretch to me.<br /><br />BTW you can't strike 3.2.6; this would leave out legitimate novels published serially (which does still happen). I feel like using this category to pretend a huge series was one novel was absurd (IIRC, I left WoT off my ballot for this reason, and put No Award last) - but I don't feel series therefore should have its own Hugo category.<br /><br />Sorry if I'm not being very coherent here....Kendallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-55316873088295882212015-04-27T11:50:19.227-05:002015-04-27T11:50:19.227-05:00I thought I covered that, but maybe it was just in...I thought I covered that, but maybe it was just in my head. I thought about it, anyway.<br /><br />Any individual work would always be eligible for Novel. <br /><br />City of Stairs: eligible for novel<br />City of Blades: eligible for novel<br /><br />If we have any inkling if Bennett is writing a series or just two novels, the publication of City of Blades would render "The Cities of RJB" eligible for Ongoing or Completed, depending on what RJB has to say about his plans. Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-37517634319861134392015-04-27T11:39:34.756-05:002015-04-27T11:39:34.756-05:00How would novel work for a book the likes of '...How would novel work for a book the likes of 'City of Stairs?' Originally a stand alone but by the time awards season came around a sequel was announced. <br /><br />I like the idea of an award for series but I feel that book one of most series would also fit the novel category. Nathan (@reviewbarn)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11708244950988794601noreply@blogger.com