Hugo Ballot

My votes for the works categories (i.e. not editors, fanzines etc). My strategy for voting was outlined here.

For several categories I have also mentioned a comparison work as part of my voting strategy. The named work was a non-nominated work (or works) used to judge the relative quality of works on a slate or non-slated works in a category dominated by slate nominees. The comparison work may not have been technically eligible and is not intended to be an example of what should have been nominated – just an extra point of comparison unaffected by the influence of slates. Several were drawn from the comparable Nebula category for 2015.

Works voted below ‘No Award’ were not as competitive for my vote as the comparison work(s).

Best Novel: a tough category for the top three and I’d be happy with any of them winning. However, The Three Body Problem was unique. It had flaws but it is the one that people are most likely to still be talking about in 10 years time.

1. Three Body Problem
2. Ancillary Sword
3. The Goblin Emperor
4. No Award

Comparison works: Annihilation, Station Eleven.

Best Novella: Easy to vote for No Award. Here is the first sentence of the comparison work “As dawn approached, the snow outside Mara’s window slowed, spiky white stars melting into streaks on the pane.” – isn’t that great?
No Award

Comparison works: Grand Jeté (The Great Leap) by Rachel Swirsky https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/summer_2014/grand_jet_the_great_leap_by_rachel_swirsky

Best Novelette: Another easy vote.
No Award

Comparison works: A Guide to the Fruits of Hawai’i by Alaya Dawn Johnson, The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado http://granta.com/the-husband-stitch/

Best Short Story: An interesting addendum to the comparison works was Soft Casualty by Michael Z Williamson – which I found surprisingly enjoyable and which, while not Hugo Worthy was about as good as Totaled.
No Award

Comparison works: Jackalope Wives by Ursula Vernon http://www.apex-magazine.com/jackalope-wives/, Soft Casualty by Michael Z Williamson

Best Related Work: Ha, ha, ha, ha, yeah but no, seriously? Puppies – you embarrassed yourselves so badly in this category. Hot Equations was the only thing that caused me to Pause. Antonelli was OK. The rest? Let’s all pretend that never happened.
No Award

Comparison works: The Last War in Albion (various chapters) El Sandifer

Best Graphic Work: Tough choices. Ms Marvel and Saga are personal favourites.
1. Ms Marvel Volume 1
2. Saga Volume 3
3. Sex Criminals Volume 1
4. Rat Queens Volume 1
No Award

Comparison works: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson.

Best Dramatic – Long: Actually any of these will do. All good.
1. Edge of Tomorrow
2. Captain America: Winter Soldier
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. The Lego Movie
5. Interstellar

Comparison works: none. Still haven’t seen Predestination

Best Dramatic – Short. Too predictable that I’d vote for Listen?
1. Doctor Who: Listen
2. Orphan Black: By Means Which Have Never Yet Been Tried
3. No Award

Comparison works: Adventure Time (various episodes)

I won’t be posting my votes in other categories because they tend to be about people rather than works.