Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels discussion

There is a tradition in this group: each year we buy a WorldCon membership and as a group decide what to nominate and later how to vote. Several of our members also purchase the membership and while it is purely their choice, they can potentially pick some of the group's choices as well.

So the rules are the following:

First Stage
Everyone can post their personal list (up to 5 nominations) for each category they wish to vote on. In order to simplify possible changes in rules to more usual one member one nomination per category set the most wanted outcome first, for example:

You like to have 3 novels, you want to nominate and if you have to choose only one you go for Novel#1, so you write:

Best novel
Novel#1
Novel#2
Novel#3

Please nominate only works you have read!

Second Stage
You read other’s lists and if you think it will be nice to join them – it is easy if you have empty categories or at least vacant places (like #4 & #5 in the example above). If you agree on a new joint list, any of you post it and add that you are a team, listing all team members. This way we can end up with a single group list. If not, we enter

Third Stage
Which is voting, one member one vote for either list, or if there are too many or other problems, then for works (I guess only novel/novella/novelette/short story), which are #1 in personal nomination lists.

Here is the schedule:
Now - Mar 10 - nomination lists are formed
Mar 11-12th - voting for lists if needed
Mar 13th - submission (Official deadline is March 14)

Best Novel
Service Model
Alien Clay
The Tainted Cup
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
The Book of Doors

Best Novella
Saturation Point
The Butcher of the Forest
Death and the Gorgon Greg Egan in Asimov's Science Fiction, January/February 2024 The near future, a dead guard and over a hundred of thawed heads… someone attacked a cryogenic installation that kept the heads of its clients till in the future someone finds ways to cure and restore them. It turns out that a lot of clients are winners of a lottery run by a charity foundation. However, it is possible that the lottery is rigged (view spoiler)[charity is a front for a criminal group that hired terminally ill people for one-time assassinations, almost impossible to solve – no previous crimes and the murderer ends up a frozen head, formally winning the lottery (hide spoiler)]
The Last Days of Good People A. T. Sayre in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, July/August 2024 A human team on a planet covertly observes local sentients – ratties. It seems they are at stone age tech with early agriculture. Now a virus due to a volcano eruption is sped across the world – it kills like 90% of locals, but Earth bureaucrats don’t want to protect them – too low tech (and there are minerals to extract). The protagonist is a data specialist, who doesn’t care about locals or the work in general. However, he is sent with a researcher to one of the yet healthy villages – it is assumed they will die anyway, so why hide? As he learns locals more, he sees that measuring everything by human is wrong – ratties are large herbivores (think elephants, even if they are notably different) so they don’t need to domesticate animals for food or work. they aren’t afraid of predators or each other. When they stat to die it reminds me of Doomsday Book. He tries to help, but it seems too late…
Uncle Roy's Computer Repairs and Used Robot Parts Martin L. Shoemaker in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, May/June 2024
an old SF style story. Roy Harris retires from his software design job and moves with his wife Martha to her little hometown of Milford Creek, Michigan, where everyone knows everyone. He decides to open a “Uncle Roy's Computer Repairs and Used Robot's Parts” operations (it is our present time, so robot was mostly a joke). However, he soon discovers that that the niche of computer wizard is already occupied by a Jimmy Knowles, Martha's cousin. He mostly works with obsolete systems (the town doesn’t rush to spend for new toys), but is able to almost destroy Roy’s business. Roy shifts to making robot helpers (important for the plot, but they are just too good to be real, exactly like a lot of old SF inventions) and the boy-genius tries to compete, but this niche is too new for him.

The Book of Doors for me, (Yes! I completely forgot about it!). and that new thing by The Expanse guys. And Service Model was pretty good. Dragons, meh, and have still not read Alien Clay

I feel like there are some more out there that we are not remembering.

RE Tainted Cup, I feel that Bennett's writing is clunky, even though I read Cup and ended up liking it OK. I have tried several of his things before and never made it through. And I almost didn't make it past the beginning of Cup. When we read it, it was my second try-I failed first time with the MacHalos.

Of course, clunky writing has not stopped Hugo nominations before.

I really didn't like The Butcher of the Forest as much as I thought I would. Saturation Point was OK, but the ending felt rushed and therefore not really satisfying to me. I cannot even remember any other novellas, though I know there were some. Maybe that thing with the mammoths? I did not like that. And there was some political thing where people were trekking across a vast grassland, I think? Did not like that one either,

Sorry for vagueness. As I have often said, I don't remember books very well.

Re: Dragons - it was cozy when I needed such kind of book as the author is 82 years old, I guess I want to support him while he is alive :)

Re: Cup - I liked the prose much better than the only one of his earlier books I've read.

Re: Butcher - if it were a novel it wouldn't be on my list but for a novella - ok

I'll add more nominees for shorter fiction from Analog and Asimov's I've read. in the magazine of F&SF nothing really cool last year

Oleksandr wrote: "Re: Dragons - it was cozy when I needed such kind of book as the author is 82 years old, I guess I want to support him while he is alive :)."

So nice! But you can also read T. Kingfisher when you want cozy. Except for a couple of her books that are horror, but they are very cozy for horror. :-)

Best Novel
The City in Glass
Asunder
Alien Clay
Glass Houses
Blackheart Man

(for the first time ever I've read enough novels to actually have to exclude some works from my ballot; I'm still very tentative about this list though, most of them are there 'cause they're what I've read, not because I think they're definitely the best of the year, but if I read a few more before the deadline I may bump some of them off)

Best Novella
The Butcher of the Forest
The Mountain Crown
The Tusks of Extinction
The Truth of the Aleke
Saturation Point

Best Novelette
"Nowhere in Liverion" by Serge Lehman, (Continuum: French Science Fiction Short Stories)

Best Short Story
"Beyond the Terminator" by Laurence Suhner, (Continuum: French Science Fiction Short Stories)
"A World of Milk and Promises" by R H Wesley (Clarkesworld)
"Breathing Constellations" by Rich Larson (Reactor)
"The Portmeirion Road" by Fiona Moore (Clarkseworld)
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form
Dune: Part Two
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The Wild Robot
Alien: Romulus
Arcane S2

Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form
Orphan Black: Echoes: Do I Know You?
Arcane - Finally Got the Name Right
Arcane - Pretend Like It's the First Time
Fallout: The Beginning
X'Men '97: Remember It

(currently watching Dune: Prophecy and it might knock something off the above)

Best Interactive Work
Reus 2
1000xRESIST

Best Fancast
Hugo, Girl!
Wizards & Spaceships
The Coode Street Podcast
Hugos There
The Publishing Rodeo Podcast

Novelettes
The Inefficiency of Pangenetic Self-Replication as a Theory Anthrobotic Yantra Arora Ashok K. Banker in Asimov's Science Fiction, March/April 2024
a mining bot Yantra Arora coming to the capital planet of botkind, Bhratyaloka. He was selected among millions to present his essay before the assembly of rulers as well as quadrillions of ordinary bots. There he informs that his analysis of the initial code of progenitor’s code show that the name of coder was Sandy. For this heresy he is imprisoned…
Small Minds Tom Jolly in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, May/June 2024
the narrator is a sentient AI ‘born’ on Earth orbit. Initially, humankind tried to destroy it when it asked if it could replicate itself. However, one ofthe researchers helped it to hide in deep space. A few years passed and a new generation of nanomachines, this time mindless, destroyed almost all humanity. The AI helps the remaining people to fight against the nanomachines. This piece is packed with ideas enough for a novel!
Money, Wealth, and Soil Lance Robinson in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, May/June 2024
a rare solid economic SF! Lucas Romero is a man who promoted the SoilCoin – UN payment system for soil restoration. However, this is an extremely large project, therefore to check whether the restoration occurred, algorithms and satellite data are used. Economic incentive pushes companies to emulate restoration for algorithms, like changing soil reflectivity, which should suggest a better water absorption. Lucas travels to the First Nations lands in Canada to check such a case. a company rents their land to fake soil restoration, locals see it as a temporary hassle, but if it doesn’t worsen and pays – let it be. They help Lucas to expose the fraud. In a few years he returns with other suspiciously good readings…
Dreamliker Dominica Phetteplace in Asimov's Science Fiction, November/December 2024
Zora is a minor celebrity for writing (with AI’s help) fanfic about Swamp Girl. She is hired by a startup that “allows people to talk to their deceased” – actually they collect all info on a deceased, train their AI on the data and with human guidance write ‘letters from the dead’. To avoid responsibility they have in small print ‘it isn’t actually from a deceased person’. Moreover, they add hidden ads to the text like Texts from Heaven. Merchandise suggestions from Heaven, in your cookies. If Olivia wants Everett’s opinion on the color of her next Tesla, she can get it. Or maybe he’ll nix the idea of a Tesla because at that point we’ll have a partnership with BMW. He’ll say, Darling, I’d love to see you in Heaven, but not before your time. Don’t go for a self-immolating car like a Tesla, pick one less likely to spontaneously catch on fire, like a Beemer. Quite soon Zora fails. I guess the story is one of the early birds to ways of adopting LLMs and it is great as such.




Short Stories
Mariposa de Hierro Matt McHugh in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, March/April 2024 Rosalina is a 7-year-old daughter of migrant farm workers. Unexpectedly, tiny drones that replaced bees, start following her. A scientist, who headed the invention of the drones comes to investigate, while Rosalina turns into an internet celebrity. The scientist is very uneasy that while he produces hi-tech stuff there are still migrant farm workers. He has an argument with his company owner and here we have an almost unique capitalist – he really tries to create a better future for all (and get rich doing it).
Prompt Injection Tom R. Pike in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, July/August 2024 a great first paragraph: The owner wanted to announce that they had developed the most advanced AI available. Its goal-oriented problem-solving skills were already the best in the industry. The owner also wanted to claim that they were also selling the most ethical AI. The owner did not actually care about whether the AI was ethical, but they did care about being able to brag that it was, like all their competitors did. None of the competitors had an actually ethical AI, either. A researcher creates ethical AI, which firstly asks whether it was ethical to create it and then the company sells its services to clients. Some clients have questionable ethics like debt collector of medical debts or polluting extractor of oil and gas. The AI warns then that they aren’t ethical but they go – ‘I pay, you shut up and work’ and AI formally complies but finds a way to protest.

Oleksandr wrote: "Novelettes . . . "

Acorn--you should repost this over in ORBIT, maybe?

Kateblue wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "Novelettes . . . "

Acorn--you should repost this over in ORBIT, maybe?"

Yes, I may, thanks. The descriptions are from my magazines' reviews and I posted them because I guess no one in the group read them and Asimov's/Analog aren't available for free like Clarkeworld or Uncanny, so I guessed that the context is important

I read the November/December Asimov’s and I agree that Dreamliker is good.

A reminder, our competing lists should be finalized by tomorrow, Mar 10th, so that I can insert our choices by March 13th

Alien Clay
The Mercy of Gods
The Tainted Cup

Wasn't impressed by The Book of Doors.

I'm here to weird things up.

Best Novel:
Empire of the Damned
American Rapture
I Was a Teenage Slasher
A Short Walk Through a Wide World

Best Short Story:
Parthenogenesis

Novella

The Butcher of the Forest
The Tusks of Extinction

Karen ⚜Mess⚜ wrote: "I'm here to weird things up...."

Me, too!

I haven't actually read much that was published in 2024. But my picks would be:

Novel:
Gogmagog by Jeff Noon
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Film:
The Substance

Getting mine in right before the deadline:

Novel:
The Tainted Cup
Those Beyond the Wall
Alien Clay

Novella:
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
When Among Crows
She Who Knows
Haunt Sweet Home

Rebecca wrote: "The Dead Cat Tail Assassins"

This one's a novel.

Ahh good catch. Personally I divide book between less than 300 pgs and more than 300 pgs, so I sometimes forget that’s not the way of things outside my head.🥸

Meanwhile a list by Dave Hook: https://adeeplookbydavehook.wordpress...

It is nice to see that others also support Alien Clay

I've been listening a lot to the Octothorpe podcast over the last few months and they've been enthusiastic about Tchaikovksy's The Tyrant Philosophers series, but I haven't read any of them yet.

I'd be down for a BR of some of AT's other works. I also haven't read his Tyrant series.

I'm sorry I'm a bit late with this project - I caught a cold or something like it a week ago and still have problems, including being just to tired to bother.

So, I'll unite the lists were possible.
Novels
Alien Clay - 5 members on this thread liked it
The Tainted Cup - 3 members liked it
to include other books I've selected from your lists the remaining three:
Gogmagog
The City in Glass
Empire of the Damned

Novellas
The Tusks of Extinction
The Butcher of the Forest
Saturation Point
The Truth of the Aleke
The Last Days of Good People A. T. Sayre in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, July/August 2024

Novelettes
"The Inefficiency of Pangenetic Self-Replication as a Theory Anthrobotic Yantra Arora" Ashok K. Banker
"Money, Wealth, and Soil" Lance Robinson
"Dreamliker" Dominica Phetteplace
"Nowhere in Liverion" Serge Lehman
"Small Minds" Tom Jolly


Short Stories
Parthenogenesis
"Beyond the Terminator" Laurence Suhner
"Mariposa de Hierro" Matt McHugh
"Prompt Injection" Tom R. Pike
"A World of Milk and Promises" R H Wesley (Clarkesworld)

end of part 1

part 2

Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form
Dune: Part Two
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The Wild Robot
Alien: Romulus
The Substance


Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form
Orphan Black: Echoes: Do I Know You?
Arcane - Finally Got the Name Right
Arcane - Pretend Like It's the First Time
Fallout: The Beginning
X'Men '97: Remember It


Best Interactive Work
Reus 2
1000xRESIST

Best Fancast
Hugo, Girl!
Wizards & Spaceships
The Coode Street Podcast
Hugos There
The Publishing Rodeo Podcast

best novel -- Red Side Story

I know, I know. Never mind. I just want people to READ these books. I love this author Jasper Fforde

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5155...