I have not read all of the posts about\u00a0the current Hugo kerfuffle, but I’ve read many. \u00a0One of the posts I read, the writer said something along the lines of silence on this issues is cowardice. \u00a0Well, I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m a coward.<\/p>\n
Another article\u00a0I read said that “any writer that tells you that they do not want a Hugo is lying.” I’m not going to lie. \u00a0I’d love to win a Hugo. \u00a0My first priority is finishing\u00a0something good, but Heinlein was my hero years ago. \u00a0To be a Hugo winner like him? \u00a0I don’t have words to describe what that would be like.<\/p>\n
Honestly, I don’t know if I’m a strong enough writer to ever win such an honor. \u00a0But dreams don’t have to be realistic.<\/p>\n
This whole fiasco with the Hugos bothers me for another reason. \u00a0My writing resurgence is due, in part, to the Hugos. \u00a0As I’ve told many people, going to WorldCon in Reno a few years ago reminded me of this part of my life that I’d neglected. \u00a0What I have not mentioned often is that I almost didn’t go to Reno. \u00a0I knew what the Hugos were at the time, but I didn’t know that they were given out at WorldCon. \u00a0When I found out, that made up my mind. \u00a0I thought back to all of those paperbacks I’d read with the words “Hugo nominated” or “Hugo award winning” on them, and I knew that I wanted to be there when the next awards were given out. \u00a0I had no idea that in going to WorldCon,\u00a0I’d find\u00a0my people.<\/p>\n
So, for a myriad of sentimental reasons, the Hugos are important to me. \u00a0And that’s why I’m writing this post.<\/p>\n
As of this writing, two people have withdrawn from their nominations. \u00a0Connie Willis won’t be a presenter<\/a>. \u00a0People have said that they should hand out asterisks with the awards. \u00a0George R. R. Martin has been quoted as describing the Hugos as irreparably broken.<\/p>\n Before going on, let me be clear about one thing: I am not on the side of the Sad Puppies or the Rabid Puppies. \u00a0In an effort to be fair, I’ve read some of their posts and I’ve tried to keep an open mind. \u00a0And, I’ve found flaws with their most reasonable points.<\/p>\n Torgersen wrote about what he called “unreliable packaging<\/a>.” His assertion is that you used to be able to pick up a science fiction or fantasy story and know that it was about adventure, and not social commentary. \u00a0He wrote a long post going into great detail on this, but it doesn’t hold true. \u00a0Heinlein and Asimov layered meaning beneath their adventures. \u00a0That’s one of the reasons they were so good.<\/p>\n One of the best articles I’ve read was all about data analysis<\/a>. \u00a0One of the things I like the post is that it\u00a0provides disambiguation between the Sad Puppies and the Rabid Puppies. \u00a0It also provides some interesting data about male\/female ratios of Hugo winners over the years, as well as point out correlations between Good Reads ratings and Hugo winners and nominees.<\/p>\n Let’s be real, though. \u00a0Cold, data analysis is excellent for keeping conversations grounded, but we are way past that point now. \u00a0Good writers, innocent in all of this, have been hurt. \u00a0At least two have withdrawn from consideration for something that I dream about.<\/p>\n And then there’s that asshole that is saying that if he doesn’t win a Hugo, he’ll just keep doing this, year after year. \u00a0I’m not going to type his name. \u00a0I don’t think anyone should. \u00a0If you want someone out of the spotlight, then quit shining it on them.<\/p>\n I want the Hugos to keep going. \u00a0I have a couple of friends that were nominated this year. \u00a0I want them to have the night of their life. \u00a0I want them to win, and enjoy it, and not have to worry about their award being less than it was. \u00a0I want the tradition to continue.<\/p>\n I don’t have much culture to draw from. \u00a0There are no traditions that my family holds to with any conviction. \u00a0WorldCon is the culture I identify with. \u00a0I like the people that show up. \u00a0I like the celebration of science fiction and fantasy. \u00a0And I like the Hugos.<\/p>\n I hope\u00a0George R. R. Martin is\u00a0wrong about the Hugos. \u00a0I don’t want them to be forever broken. \u00a0How will I ever win one if they’re gone?<\/p>\n To the people that have been nominated this year:\u00a0I feel for you. \u00a0Whether you withdraw or stay on, I appreciate how difficult this must be for you, and I hope for the best.<\/p>\n To the people that are raging about the Sad Puppies: What they did with the nominations is cheating in spirit, if not specifically against the rules. \u00a0That said, please try to keep your vitriol in check. \u00a0I’ve seen some\u00a0hyperbole about feeling physically threatened by\u00a0the Sad Puppies. \u00a0Don’t get this group mixed with the Rabid Puppies. \u00a0The Sad Puppies are misguided jerks, but I really don’t think they’re sociopaths.<\/p>\n To the people that are raging about the Rabid Puppies: I hear you. \u00a0Please try to stay civil, and not drop to the level of their leader. \u00a0I don’t expect the Rabid Puppies to be adults, so the rest of us must step up and be better people.<\/p>\n To everyone that loves WorldCon: Let’s learn from this. \u00a0The nomination rules can’t be changed in time for 2016, so we may have another year of this garbage, but that doesn’t mean this has to be the end. \u00a0Let’s come up with a way to fix the nomination process, so this doesn’t happen again. \u00a0My suggestion: insert an additional\u00a0step to the process, at the beginning. \u00a0This first step would be open to anyone with supporting WorldCon membership, much like it is now. \u00a0Everyone can submit selections for nomination. \u00a0Then, ALL submissions would be open for vote, to move on to the next round. \u00a0Puppies could submit their slates all they want, but they would no longer be guaranteed spots the way they currently are.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’ve linked to some of the articles I’ve read above. \u00a0Here are some others:<\/p>\n On The Hugo Awards and Dysfunctional Politics<\/a><\/p>\n The Hugo Awards: GamerGate Edition, 2015<\/a><\/p>\n Hugo Award Nominations spark Criticism over Diversity in Sci-Fi<\/a><\/p>\n The Hugo Awards were Always Political. \u00a0Now they’re Only Political<\/a><\/p>\n George R. R. Martin and others Speak Out Over Hugo Awards Controversy<\/a><\/p>\n Asking the Wrong Questions<\/a><\/p>\n