The Hugo Winners, This Year and Next

I'd say that the most deserving novel won. On the whole I am satisfied with this year's winners---I think Leviathan Wakes was an excellent novel, fun and exciting, but Among Others had more substance. A true classic.

Now we have the better part of a year to anticipate next year's nominees.

Possible 2013 nominees

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Deeply enjoyable: I read it all in a day. Scalzi deserves a Hugo for his fiction, and will win one at some point. For this novel? If competition is stiff enough, likely not, but if anything Redshirts proves he has the chops.

Isles of the Forsaken by Carolyn Ives Gilman

Haven't read it yet, but it has got a lot of good press. Probably the best recieved novel that has been published by Chizine. When I'm next at Chiarscuro I'll pick it up and make up my mind for myself. I do hope that Chizine Press gets wider attention.

Blackout by Mira Grant

Feels like its inevitable. A much stronger book than its predecessor: this has been a strong series, but I don't think that its as worthy of the Hugo award than others. Deserves an audience more than an award.

2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson

I'm not a big Kim Stanley Robinson fan, so I'm not going to run out and get this book. I'll read it at some point to be fair. Still, he's a talent too prestigious and established to ignore, and hopefully the book will be worth it too.

Existence by David Brin

Ditto. Kiln People was the only novel by Brin I loved (Startide Rising and the Uplift War were good, though I didn't find them exceptional; the less said of Sundiver the better) and would have been a worthy Hugo winner. Will give it a chance at some point to make up my mind.

Colder War by Ian Tregillis

Curse me for not buying this book yet! Bitter Seeds was excellent and its abscence from the award ballot is obscene. Tregillis has potential to be a major talent, even if Tor has bungled the handling of the Milkweed Triptych. Want this book so badly. I've been assured its worth it.

Caliban's War by James SA Corey

Solid novel but, like its predecessor, dosen't have the larger picture stuff that a good winner would have. Great to read, a strong nominee though it will be up to its competition to decide whether its a winner.

The Mirage by Matt Ruff

Again, haven't read it yet, so I cannot fairly comment on it. A unique and interesting perspective, that much I can say, which at least might be enough to get it on the ballot.