tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679440735100620164.post3707665570927340371..comments2023-07-13T05:22:27.645-05:00Comments on CiaraCat Sci-Fi: Nominations are Open for the 2016 Hugo Awards!ciaracathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314237117499417274noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679440735100620164.post-80422134604161338232016-02-11T15:33:58.305-06:002016-02-11T15:33:58.305-06:00Oh also here are my 2016 Hugo Award categories tha...Oh also here are my 2016 Hugo Award categories that I've completed and am decided on:<br /><br />BEST NOVEL<br />The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin<br />Golden Son by Pierce Brown<br />The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. Boroson <br />The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin<br />Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie<br /><br />BEST NOVELLA<br />The Visible Filth by Nathan Ballingrud<br />What Has Passed Shall in Kinder Light Appear by Bao Shu<br />The Two Paupers by C.S.E. Cooney<br />Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold<br />In Midnight's Silence by T. Frohock<br /><br />BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION LONG<br />Mad Max: Fury Road (if this misses the ballot I'll just give up)<br />Ex Machina<br />Inside Out<br />The Martian<br />Undertale (that indie RPG)<br /><br />...Well, I mean, Star Wars was OKAY, but it didn't really seem substantial to me outside the performances. It was just well-made nostalgia; I was just too put off by its flaws. FWIW, I'm more excited for the second one, because of Rian Johnson.<br /><br />BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION SHORT<br />Hardhome (Game of Thrones)<br />If-Then-Else (Person of Interest)<br />International Assassin (The Leftovers)<br />Not What He Seems (Gravity Falls)<br />Total Rickall (Rick and Morty)<br /><br />You didn't care for "Heaven Sent"? I'm a Doctor Who agnostic, and that season felt like the best in a while, and that EPISODE felt like one of the show's best. Heck, I was about to nominate it when I realized that I liked that one episode of Rick and Morty better.<br />qwertsquirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17364662609100562948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679440735100620164.post-54797910219681475522016-02-11T15:19:24.713-06:002016-02-11T15:19:24.713-06:00Uhh, this isn't about the 2016 Hugos, but rath...Uhh, this isn't about the 2016 Hugos, but rather the 1941 Hugos, regarding Best Graphic Story. 1940 was a great year for comics, but I feel like none of them will get represented, since a category needs 5 ballots to count. So I decided to research and find the best SFF comics of 1940:<br /><br />Captain America Comics #1<br />Written by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby<br />Illustrated by Jack Kirby<br />Timely Publications (Timely Comics?)<br /><br />It's the one with Cap punching Hitler on the cover. It says March 1941 but the comic came out in December of 1940. One of the finest of the Golden Age, and quite possibly one of the most important. It publicly denounced the Nazis BEFORE the US entered WWII, and while there was still some strong pro-Nazi sentiment in the states. Simon and Kirby's creation, for all its Golden Age goofiness, still stands out as a work of bravery.<br /><br />The Spectre!/The Spectre Strikes! (More Fun Comics #52/#53)<br />Written by Jerry Siegel<br />Illustrated by Bernard Baily<br />National Allied Publications<br /><br />A shockingly mature story for the 40'a that holds up pretty damn well. Joe Corrigan being denied heaven after his death and being forced to eradicate all evil is an excellent backstory, and makes all his actions understandable.<br /><br />Batman #1<br />Written by Bill Finger<br />Illustrated by Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff, and Jerry Robinson<br />National Allied Publications<br /><br />There's a reason historians call this the best single issue of the Golden Age...well, two reasons, actually: the Prince Clown of Darkness and the Princess of Plunder. Not only was this Batman's first solo comic, it also had the first appearances of The Joker and Catwoman, in stories that perfectly demonstrate why they've had lasting appeal. There's also a pretty good Hugo Strange story here. <br /><br />Introducing Captain Marvel! (Whiz Comics #2)<br />Written by Bill Parker<br />Illustrated by C.C. Beck<br />Fawcett Comics<br /><br />The first appearance of Billy Batson and his older Captain Marvel alter-ego. It's an engaging, simple story executed really well, with underpinnings of mysticism that only reveal themselves upon re-reading. It just works.<br /><br />The Origin of the Spirit<br />Written by Will Eisner<br />Illustrated by Will Eisner and Joe Kubert<br /><br />Why would I forget Eisner? This is probably the one that's aged the best, with the art looking strikingly modern, even well into the 21st century. While not at the height of its post-war years, The Spirit still came swinging from day one, with its chronicling of Denny Colt's rebirth as the titular character that gradually became a superhero. Extremely influential to the medium. (Also, Ebony White's only in it for one panel. So there's that.)<br /><br />All it needs is 5 ballots. Even if you're not voting for anything else at the Retros, it'd be a massive help.<br /><br />Also, welcome back!qwertsquirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17364662609100562948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679440735100620164.post-25691197374837820492016-01-31T14:26:04.270-06:002016-01-31T14:26:04.270-06:00I did not have as much time to read as I had hoped...I did not have as much time to read as I had hoped since August, so so far I have read very little from 2015. But this year I will probably include at least one German story, even though I am fully aware that it has Not Chance of making the ballot or the extended long list even... And like last year, I am reading a lot at the moment ��Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com