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Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder9.news.weretis.net!panix!.POSTED.panix2.panix.com!panix2.panix.com!not-for-mail From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written,rec.arts.sf.fandom Subject: Kludge's Hugo Picks Date: 17 Jul 2024 14:35:55 -0000 Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000) Lines: 222 Message-ID: <v78ksb$4tb$1@panix2.panix.com> Injection-Info: reader1.panix.com; posting-host="panix2.panix.com:166.84.1.2"; logging-data="5521"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@panix.com" Bytes: 10908 Best Novel - The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager UK) 6. This is a fantasy taking place in the 13th century Islamic world and it reads like something that Sir Richard Burton might have enjoyed even if not written. It's clearly well-researched and the characters are good ones but it doesn't really seem to me like a world-changing novel. I liked it enough and I enjoyed reading it and it's almost certainly designed to turn into a series. - The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom) 5. I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book, setting up a world of conflicting religious cults, the ability to change the past, and mysterious doors that may or may not lead to another world if they could be opened. But then I got to the end of the book and half of my questions were never answered. This really feels to me like a setup for a longer series and as such I felt kind of disappointed. Great premise, great world, great worldbuilding but I don't think it stands alone. - Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom, Orbit UK) 2. This is a galactic empire story that starts out in a space station containing the last remnant of the human race holding out against... no... wait, things turn out not to be what they looked like at first and now there's a machine that can change the past and place us into parallel presents. This could have been a Heinlein story for a while but then it goes off into new directions Heinlein would never have considered. I like this, and I think it's worthy of a Hugo. - Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Tor, Tor UK) 4. This is silly fluff but top grade silly fluff. It's about a man suddenly inheriting a seat on a SMERSH-like conspiracy of villains from his uncle, hyperintelligent cats, the hidden hand of evil controlling the world, and it's done with a great sense of humour. I am not sure this will be remembered a decade from now but if it is it will be remembered fondly, I think. - Translation State by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK) 1. The Sad Puppies complained about the lack of traditional space opera with galactic empires and they don't have that to complain about here. Three characters from two empires meet together in a search for an alien person who disappeared two centuries ago. A beautiful look into diplomacy between empires of different species, this could have been written by Asimov (although it would have been a bit different had he done so). There is a running gag about gender pronouns which is likely calculated to piss off the Puppies but which is utterly hilarious. This book has characters I can believe in, a story that gets more and more strange as it goes, and a sense of humor. It needs a Hugo. - Witch King by Martha Wells (Tordotcom) 3. This is an epic fantasy with two different story lines at different times with the same lead chracter, a demon prince whose family had an agreement with the Saredi civilization to host them, except that years ago the Saredi were wiped out by invaders called the Heiararchs and since then nothing has been the same. This is a solid and well-written fantasy story of new societies, old societies, betrayal and unlikely allies. This isn't normally my kind of thing, but I couldn't put it down until it ended. Unfortunately it ended with an ending specifically designed to start a series of books and I give it points off for that. Why does everyone need to start a series now? But it was a good book that I think will last. Best Novella - Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet, He Xi / translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers) NO - I found this excruciating to read. The writing was incredibly clumsy and it spent too much time telling instead of describing. I can't help but think this is the fault of the translation because the translated version is not only not Hugo-worthy but not really publication-worthy. This is kind of a shame because the idea it plays with about humans settling other planets might make some interesting points about what it means to be human. But overall this just seems a complete failure, sadly. - Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom) 2 - This is the fourth book in the Singing Hills cycle and although it is an enjoyable book in itself, I think it is the least strong of the set and it is dependant on a gimmick which I think spoils some of the effect. It was a pleasant read but less deserving of a Hugo than the others in the set. - The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Tordotcom) 3 - This is written in the form of a mystery on a colony around a gas giant in a world where the earth has become uninhabitable. It's only in the form of a mystery because you aren't given enough background to figure it out, and while most of the enjoyment in the story comes from working out that background it breaks any chance of it being a mystery. I liked this, but when I got to the end I was really pissed because I hadn't been given the clues needed until it was already solved. - Rose/House by Arkady Martine (Subterranean) NO. Actually, I would probably give this number one because it is a great, great story. It is a muystery with a detective, a reporter, and an AI-powered house, and it is a real mystery with an interesting ending. However, this book does not appear to be available on paper or online.... hardcover editions are selling for over $300 on ebay, amazon, and alibris... it is only available in the Hugo packet to Hugo voters, and given that I am unwilling to vote for it. - Seeds of Mercury, Wang Jinkang / translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers) NO. This is a story of humans creating life and how the religion of that life evolves. The concept is a great one, the actual writing is kind of dreadful. This may be the result of the translation but unfortunately this is all I, as an English-speaker, have to go on. - Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK) 1 - This is a reversed retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story and it's definitely light fluff, but I am a sucker for this kind of light fluff and I enjoyed every minutes of it. Also I like toads. Best Novelette - I AM AI by Ai Jiang (Shortwave) 6. Ai is a human being in a world dominated by artificial intelligences, trying to survive without selling too many of her body parts. It's not a bad story, it's just a little heavy-handed and while I enjoyed it I don't think it is Hugo material. - Introduction to 2181 Overture, Second Edition translated by Emily Jen (Clarkesworld, February 2023) 5. A story in the form of the introduction to a documentary volume on the mass time migration through cryosleep that took place in the 22nd century. I'm not sure if this is Hugo material but it's well-written and done in a form that was once popular in American SF but which has become almost nonexistent today. I think this story deserves some attention but I am not sure if it deserves a Hugo. - Ivy, Angelica, Bay by C.L. Polk (Tor.com 8 December 2023) 3. A world with small magic, a child who isn't what she seems to be, and an evil corporation taking over real estate. This is a lovely and well-crafted fantasy story that could be in any city neighborhood with magic. - On the Fox Roads by Nghi Vo (Tor.com 31 October 2023) 1. Asian bank robbers, roads that don't go through the land we know, and a curious relationship. I really liked this story. - One Mans Treasure by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023) 2. In a land with powerful magic, trash collection becomes hazardous. Some make it more so. An interesting story with a new set of premises. - The Year Without Sunshine by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine, November-December 2023) 4. A neighborhood bonds together in a time of crisis. A good fantasy about good people in a bad situation. I liked the story even if I didn't think it was all that realistic. I'd like to think people were this good, even if I don't really. Best Short Story - Answerless Journey, Han Song / , translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers) NO. This isn't really a story, it's a description of a situation in space, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Again, I suspect the translation is severely limiting what we see, but I think there's just something missing here. - Better Living Through Algorithms by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023) 3. An application to make people's lives better works even after it is discontinued. ========== REMAINDER OF ARTICLE TRUNCATED ==========