Oh! I just read Babel - it's astonishingly insightful & a joy . I love how its so thought provoking whilst still having a gripping plot & stand out characters
How can this not be eligible?
Millions of readers already give you their vote, so sod Hugo!
I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. Babel is a brilliant book. Thank you for writing it. Coincidentally, I'd watched a 3 part docuseries about China and silver right before I read it, so I had at least part of the context you were working with.
I don't--it was on Curiosity Stream and annual subs are relatively cheap--I think I pay $12/year for it. It has a lot of documentaries translated from French into English for some reason.
I haven’t read the book yet, but plan to. What was the significance of silver re: China?
Re: translated (French) documentaries, the one that lives rent-free in my mind is The Gleaners and I, which has a follow-up sequel two years later à la Seven Up! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gleaners_and_I
3.2.1: Unless otherwise specified, Hugo Awards are given for work in the field of science fiction or fantasy appearing for the first time during the previous calendar year.
The Nebulas are a different award. They're chosen by American SF writers, more exactly members of the SFWA, and you only get to be a member if you're a professional writer.
The Hugo's are chosen by this year's members of WSFA and all you have to do to join is pay at the right time.
Fantasy wins in the Nebula Awards, too (I was a nominee for a fantasy story 20 years ago); it's been the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for a while now
An acclaimed artist writes a heartfelt post about a harm she suffered, and you, despite obviously knowing NOTHING about the subject, decide she's— what, lying? And you just invent an alternate reality where it's OK?
Oh hon'. It is a harm to not be nominated for an award (when she's already won two others)? I was simply attempting to find an answer from her & accused her of nada. I wish you release from whatever trauma my comment seems to've triggered in you 💗
Though I will say, just blithely asserting based on zero knowledge about the issue that being denied a nomination causes no "harm"?
That's on-brand for someone who also just blithely asserted based on zero knowledge about the issue that an act of gross corruption was actually not, in fact corrupt.
Of course it's a harm. Hugo nominations improve sales, and authors don't make a lot of money.
And to claim you were "simply attempting" anything it bullshit. You asserted, based on zero knowledge, an alternative reality where no one did anything wrong rather than acknowledge an injustice.
"Intelligent" people don't try to hide their lack of justification for just making up nonsense by pretending to cite a source in hopes no one actually goes to read it and find out it's completely irrelevant.
Not only has that ship sailed many years ago, a fantasy work won best novella so if that were the rule the administrator was basing this on (he refuses to explain) he was doing so inconsistently.
I hadn't heard of you before this (I'm not up to date on contemporary SF/F) but but the comparison of Babel to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (A book I checked out because it won the Hugo) has me interested. I hope this controversy at least brings a lot of positive attention to you and your work.
I hope you won't take this as a reflection of your work. Other awards valued it, and Babel was the first spec fiction in ages that I enjoyed enough to think critically about. I really look forward to your next work 😄
God. A very classy statement, but not one you should have to make. Fuck. I both hope that you get some answers, however unsatisfying we can already strongly suspect that they'll be, and that this doesn't turn into too much of a shitshow for you personally.
I just want to say that I finished Babel a few days ago and it has taken up residence in my mind. Will be hard to top for my favorite novel I read this year and it's only February.
And not to suggest that whether or not this was acceptable is dependent on the quality of your work, but I read "Babel" last year and was blown away by how good it was.
So sorry you have to deal with this, Babel was one of my favorite reads last year, and it deserved the award. But in the end it makes more sense to focus on the future than dwell in the drama like June does in Yellowface. Good luck with your future projects.
Babel is one of my very favorite books from 2023. I yelled about it so much I got several other people to read it. This is bullshit and I hope you thrive. ❤️
Jokes on them. I hadn’t heard about your book until now (sorry I live under a rock sometimes) but it sounds great and I’ll be buying it. Only heard about it due to your unfair exclusion. Sorry for the disrespect you’re receiving from the Hugos.
As a fan I am disgusted by the harm done to you and many others by the Hugo administration. I hope that good will come of this in the long run by weeding out the rot in the organization. There isn’t much I can do to make things better, but at least I went out and bought Babel today. Best of luck.
Thats an absolute bummer usually I try to buy and read through all the nominees. I’ve been putting off reading Babel for no good reason. This was the kick I needed to buy it.
Comments
How can this not be eligible?
Millions of readers already give you their vote, so sod Hugo!
Re: translated (French) documentaries, the one that lives rent-free in my mind is The Gleaners and I, which has a follow-up sequel two years later à la Seven Up!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gleaners_and_I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_Through_the_Gift_Shop
The Hugo's are chosen by this year's members of WSFA and all you have to do to join is pay at the right time.
An acclaimed artist writes a heartfelt post about a harm she suffered, and you, despite obviously knowing NOTHING about the subject, decide she's— what, lying? And you just invent an alternate reality where it's OK?
Do you realize how offensive that is?
That's on-brand for someone who also just blithely asserted based on zero knowledge about the issue that an act of gross corruption was actually not, in fact corrupt.
And to claim you were "simply attempting" anything it bullshit. You asserted, based on zero knowledge, an alternative reality where no one did anything wrong rather than acknowledge an injustice.
Most authors make very little money from their work. The little they do get in royalties goes up when prestigious award nominations increases sales.
Once again, you've shown you don't know what you're talking about.
Next time, you presume to dismiss someone else's story (ie, call them a liar), check you facts at the ACTUAL home page.
Google is your friend: https://www.google.com/search?q=world+science+fiction+society+awards
The only place mention of the Hugos was saying the Hugos were voted on by SF fans... as opposed to _authors_.
The article said nothing about genre boundaries.
"Intelligent" people don't try to hide their lack of justification for just making up nonsense by pretending to cite a source in hopes no one actually goes to read it and find out it's completely irrelevant.
The word you're looking for is "deceptive".
This is some bullshit.
I love reading work from new authors. Your post moved me to find your book Babel this afternoon. 😁
I found it! And I just started reading now. 👓📖
Your others books look interesting too!! 👍👍
And not to suggest that whether or not this was acceptable is dependent on the quality of your work, but I read "Babel" last year and was blown away by how good it was.
Screw 'em. You're better than they are.
Humbly, a reader.
I'm glad you're not letting the snub affect you.
Chris M. Barkley
2023 Hugo Award Winner for Best Fan Writer
Also the Hugos are a sh*tshow.
On a positive note- yay, more books from you! Can't wait to read what you put out next
I'm so sorry for your book being excluded, though. So gross that they won't even answer "why"!!!