pic by Kevin Standlee
Thanks everyone for your congratulations via Twitter, Facebook and email. There were so many of them, I’m just not going to be able to respond individually. But it meant a lot to see so much enthusiasm and support for my win.
Then I got a squeeful phone call from renowned feminist critic Helen Merrick (who is also a new neighbour of mine!) pointing out that I was the first Australian woman to win a Hugo. Like, ever. I am also, as it happens, the fifth Australian ever to join the Hugo club.
Which is… gobsmacking, really. I look around me at the incredibly rich history of SF & fantasy writing and fandom in this country, and so few of us have made it across that fence to receive international recognition. Time for more! I was particularly excited when looking at the comprehensive Hugo Stats (one of the best things about this award) to see who almost made the ballots.
Thanks to everyone who worked to make the Hugo Ceremony happen – the ever-crashing video feed was very frustrating to those of us stuck in our living rooms with hot cups of tea but I imagine that’s nothing compared to the frustration of those on the ground, trying to fix the problem with the hotel’s wi-fi. (not U-stream this time) But thanks also to Kevin, Cheryl and Mur who were working the live-text commentary, to the members of the audience who stopped clapping long enough to tweet the results (it’s harder than you think), to the committee who put the event together, and to Paul Cornell who did a cheerful job of MC-ing the ceremony – must have been nervewracking!
Massive, huge thanks to Deborah Stanish, my good friend and fellow Verity who stood up for me to collect the rocket in person. Thanks also to my partner Andrew Finch who made the excellent e-book sampler of my fan writing for the Hugo packet.
This is what Deb said for me today/last night in the ceremony. I was very glad that the stream held on long enough for me to see her accept the (FRANKLY ENORMOUS) shiny silver rocket on my behalf:
This makes me happy, because writing about fannish things makes me happy, and it’s still a surprise to me that people all around the world actually read my flailings about gender and costume and superheroes and feminism and Doctor Who. Thanks to the volunteers who make the Hugos happen every year – and I wish I was there with you all!
2013 HUGO AWARDS WINNERS
Best Novel:
Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi (Tor)
Best Novella:
“The Emperor’s Soul” by Brandon Sanderson (Tachyon Publications)
Best Novelette:
“The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi” by Pat Cadigan (Edge of Infinity, Solaris)
Best Short Story:
“Mono no aware” by Ken Liu (The Future is Japanese, VIZ Media LLC)
Best Related Work:
Writing Excuses, Season 7 by Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Taylor and Jordan Sanderson
Best Graphic Story:
Saga, Volume 1 written by Brian K. Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form):
The Avengers
Screenplay & Directed by Joss Whedon (Marvel Studios, Disney, Paramount)
Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form):
Game of Thrones: “Blackwater” Written by George R.R. Martin, Directed by Neil Marshall. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (HBO)
Best Editor – Short Form:
Stanley Schmidt
Best Editor – Long Form:
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Best Professional Artist:
John Picacio
Best Semiprozine:
Clarkesworld edited by Neil Clarke, Jason Heller, Sean Wallace and Kate Baker
Best Fanzine:
SF Signal edited by John DeNardo, JP Frantz, and Patrick Hester
Best Fancast:
SF Squeecast, Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. Thomas, Catherynne M. Valente (Presenters) and David McHone-Chase (Technical Producer)
Best Fan Writer:
Tansy Rayner Roberts
Best Fan Artist:
Galen Dara
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer:
Mur Lafferty