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The 3002 Hugo Nominees

by Thomas R.

Let’s take a look at the five major categories and then look at some of the joke categories which have survived. The five main categories are book fiction, short fiction, song, simulation, and dream.

Book Fiction

At one time this had been called “novel.” This had been before “novel” returned to its appropriate meaning as something new and interesting as in “What a novel idea”; “He designed that novel station”; “She bought that novel hat” and other sayings people are taught on learning the language.

The nominees:

Red Lady Mars, by writing unit 4387

This is a historical fantasy set in the period of the Martian Civil War. It involves the legend of a woman in red who swooped down and sprayed the wounded with a novel regenerative virus. She then vanished never to be seen again. The book tries to simultaneously keep her mysterious and explain her motives. This worked up to a point, but the battle scene and resultant action which made her legend are portrayed in a confused sloppy fashion. 4387 has stated a system error occurred during the last pages and intends to fix the book next year. This admission may kill the book’s chances but is refreshing honesty for a writing unit.

Andromeda: a Secret History, by writing unit 4783

Another Fantasy, although this is of a more futuristic bent. At core the story is a Fantasy as it denies scientific reality by having matter travel at FTL speeds and biological species that are capable of telepathy. As for the content there are no human characters in most of it and likely the book is beyond understanding to most humans. This is because the writer seemed to want to create a secret history in minute detail. This meant the book runs approximately 1024 words long, taking the unit almost a month to complete. This is well beyond the ability of even heavily engineered human brains to download safely, but the AIs I have contacted say “99% of it is fecal material, but 1021 words of it is the most amazing read we have ever found.” I’m indebted to them for their brief million-word summary of those portions.

Panacea Planet Plutocracy, by Juan Toure

An actual science fiction book. That it had been written by a human raises some suspicion in some circles. Current estimates indicate only twelve humans understand the underlying theory of the Universe, and none of them write fiction if you discount song lyrics. Nevertheless, as biological science is within human understanding, the skepticism is likely unfair, especially as the author has valid credentials in virology for writing this book. It involves a future Mars where disease has been cured leading to rule by the wealthy elite who know the secret. Although this sounds rather hack, and often is, the book does well at exposing the current scientific disinterest in humanity that could cause such an information monopoly.

U.S.S Carthage, by writing unit 3142

An alternate history that imagines the United States of the Americas sending a generation starship to the nearest inhabitable extra-solar planet. Although not economically plausible, as an alternate history the story does not require the same level of such feasibility. The future prediction units have declared its winning a virtual certainty. So much so that only one other nominee is attending “Interplanetary” Con this year at Phobos. Is the book’s winning really so obvious? In fact it is. It is the funniest and most accurate presentation of the Americas in years, with great characters. The Suriname curling team is especially worth paying attention to, with their comments about their state’s failed attempts at climate control. Yet at the same time the humor has done surprisingly well with those from the other worlds and non-humans.

What I Actually Thus Spoke, by Zarathustra

When the Prophet Zoroaster returned in the year 3000 his surviving followers had been perplexed but supportive. Many of them concede he is likely a clone with downloaded memories from the time viewer. That has yet to be confirmed, but whatever his origins the SF community has been very pleased to have him. After his beloved series of children’s animal fable he returns, or perhaps starts depending on your perspective, to his writing of philosophical works. This one concerned what happens after Titan’s Civil War and how the people cope with their new reality. The title is something of a self deprecating joke, but ancient German philosophy and historical misquotes do play an important role in their various quests. He has stated he will attend the Con this year, even though he feels winning to be unlikely.

Short Fiction

Once there were approximately 500 separate short fiction categories. However the Simplification Regime reduced this to one — 12,546 words — and put the writers who wrote in other lengths in suspended animation. Now short fiction describes any story under 80,000 words. As such the nominees will merit shorter comments.

“Democracy in a Cloud,” by Sevre Mot (Magazine of Futuristic Realism)

Story of a direct democracy in a Dyson Cloud. It is good, but not great. The problems of a direct democracy involving a population that numbers in the quadrillions are dealt with, but not in an entirely convincing manner. This turns out to be a worse failing than it might as the story is mostly concerned with describing what the society is, rather than what happens to it. Many elements of the constructed society are interesting enough the lack of action almost makes up for these problems. I should stress almost.

Even this will be nominated by August Anthony (Worlds within World). Thirty-thousand word story about what the author ate for dinner since his fourth birthday. Every story this author ever wrote has been nominated, and half of those have won. Sadly I must report parts of this one are indeed good as he has great taste in food and a good sense of humor. However the genre content is less than minimal and hopefully the voters will reject it.

“Marlowe the Obscure,” by Stephen Finnson (The Magazine of History and Alternate History)

Interestingly, centuries ago an obscure playwright named Shakespeare had been more popular than his near-contemporary Christopher Marlowe. That all changed starting in the 24th century, but this AH imagines that change never occurring. A brilliant work, deserving of the award.

“Sheol in Summer,” by writing unit 243 (Analog)

Writing units had largely been shut out of this category this year. Sad to report this one is not great. It’s a short humor piece about a vacation that literally goes to Hell. An unusual nominee for Analog.

“Ice, Moon, Town, Indigo,” by Sister Falun Qi Xing

One of the odder entries. Essentially it is a long poem in the trans-realism school of writing. A bit difficult to describe. It seemed to be about the end of the Universe as told to a Neanderthal. Or not, make up your own judgement on this one.

Song

“Jovial Sax” is almost certain to win. The song is fun, memorable, and contains some intriguing ideas about altering Jupiter’s climate.

Interestingly, Moira Bose, one of the few humans to understand the Theory of the Universe, wrote the lyrics to the Lone Mariachis’ song. Her long-standing interest in the folk music of Venus might be a factor.

Still the most interesting nominee might be the Amish song. The Amish Robots reject all technology to live a life like their ancestors of the 25th century. They even avoid the word “AI” or “Cybernetic Citizen” and reject upgrades beyond human intelligence levels as “prideful excesses.” They lead simple, quiet lives based on building toys and analyzing Martian soil as they believe their ancestors intended. Hence the song imagines Mars returning to a Red Planet and abandoning the complexities that came from having a biosphere and femto-tech. Not exactly a popular message with an SF crowd, and the group may not even attend for fear the awards seem “idolatrous.” Still it would be a shame if the convention misses the chance to hear the fiddle work of Jeremiah 24-9X live.

Simulation

Miranda seems likely to win this year. She, as the Collective refers to herself, has done remarkable work with a somewhat traditional idea. Imagining new species then merging with their consciousness is not especially new, but the creatures she created are marvels. Her avatar this year will be in the form of one of her more popular species.

“Eternal House” may be one of the oddest as the simulation simply appeared in several systems without any explanation. “Infinite House” might be a better name as the simulation seems to have an infinite amount of rooms, each designed according to a different decade starting 1,000 decades ago and never ending as far as can be told. Authorities are investigating the source of the simulation.

Dream

“O Cosmos” seems likely to win. It has managed to become popular with those not familiar with genre dreaming. In part this might be due to its being surprisingly moving and humane, especially considering previous efforts in its sub-genre. These positive qualities have even made certain ascetic sects accept it for married couples. It also has facets that appeal to non-biological beings as well, and is credited with getting more people interested in astronomy.

“Skiing and Nothingness” is the other significant contender, but has been hurt by recent suicides linked to it.

Joke Categories

Now for two of the joke categories. A proliferation of these have accumulated over the years. The Simplification reduced the number to ten, but it has recently shot back up to ninety. Here are two of the more long-standing ones. These two have stood long enough that some feel they should be taken seriously and the nominees sometimes even attend.

Best Use of Soft Drink in a Book or Story

“Sodacracy,” by Bok Endif

Set on a Post-Apocalyptic Earth quarantined from the rest of humanity because of the Plague that destroyed it. It described how after centuries of quarantine this world’s remaining humans came to live under the tyranny of talking soda cans that run on carbonation. Interestingly this is not a comedy or satire and takes the premise with deadly earnestness. Not surprisingly, that makes the story much funnier than it might have been. Some are comparing it with the 2984 Hugo Winner for Fiction book fiction The Cola Theocracy; however, that book had been intended as satire and also had rule by worshippers of Cola, not Cola itself.

Solitaire Satellite, by Zebba Andrice

A very impressive debut novel by a nominee for the Kali Ferngrove Best Newly-Created Author award. She came out of the vat and had writing templates downloaded into her just last year. The book concerns a place close to my heart, Charon. She projects the increasing decline in human interaction and family structure on the planet to a chilling and all too real extent. The book has almost nothing to do with soft drinks, but a critical chapter involved a father and son so estranged that liking the same brand is all they have left to talk about. As writing, then, it is the best nominee, but for soft drink content it is unlikely to win this category.

A Concise History of the Cola Wars, by Ramaputra Devi

This seemed to be just a history book on the Cola Wars of late twenty-first century Earth. In fact, that’s just what it is; it has been put out by the University of Mumbai History Department. Perhaps someone who did not know the history well or had been confused by the book’s ad campaign thought it was fiction. In any event, the Cola Wars in reality had little to do with Cola, being instead a general trading dispute on the Indian subcontinent that led to the last war where nuclear bombs had been used. The nomination is puzzling.

Be Unmade, by R. E. Venge

A chilling futuristic thriller about a human going rogue because he decided all reality had become a simulation run by a malevolent AI. His brutal killing spree of AIs may be a bit too graphically described for some readers, but the story ends well. “Spoiler”: at the end he is stopped and the AIs are magnanimous enough to allow those humans that liked simulated life to return to it. Despite that, some AIs have stated they find the book disturbing. Soft drinks play a role in his delusion in that he believed they gave messages to him from “the real reality.”

The Ultimate Moment, by Jessica 234

At first I was not sure why this had been nominated. Its a far-future story about the period when our Galaxy will collide with Andromeda. The characters have transcended the need for any liquid, let alone soda. However, on reading again, there is one line — “This caused carbon bubbles, like those of ancient beverages, to form” — which justified it, I suppose. Still it should be mentioned the line has no real significance to the story whatsoever.

Most Rejected by its Author

Although a joke at times this category has lead to the discovery of some rather sad stories. Here are the nominees:

Humanist Unlimited, by Marie La Dove

As the title indicates this had been a book promoting the racist philosophy of Humanism which has become more popularly known as Human Supremacy. In its future, all non-humans are purged and a Humanist government is extolled. The author has since rejected this philosophy in the extreme. She has even gone so far as to undergo radical alteration in her brain design and chemistry to “Kill the hateful woman I once was.” After this statement it is believed she began a new life under a different name and appearance.

The Tale of the Galactic Library, by Michael Josryn

This is a charming book about a Library that uses a time viewer to collect every written work throughout history. That the author rejects it so violently may therefore seem surprising. However he has become a member of “The Brotherhood of the New Abecedarians.” The group teaches that people have become closed off to emotion, real space, and oral story telling. They blame reading and education which they feel had been created by Literati, a kind of demon. The author has therefore had the ability to read and write removed from his brain, and also states those who read his works shall be damned. Since then, sales have jumped 500%.

Absolute Freedom, by Vin Marma

This author had more a political conversion then a religious one. While writing her book on this ideal, Balanced Anarchy, she began to have doubts about the idea. As is well known, these doubts have become a good deal more extreme. She has now been declared Empress Vin I and rules much of the Asteroid Belt. Her extreme authoritarian rule has caused the book to be banned outright on the larger Asteroids and she has conquered several smaller ones in the Belt for refusing to pull the book.

Quantum Fighter XIV: The Toast is Burned, by George Benson

This Book version of a moderately popular series of unreality games turned out to be a surprising disaster for the Hugo- and Pulsar-winning author. The gaming community hated it, and it caused a series of events that lead him to be banned from every major writing group and convention in the Western Spiral Arm of the Galaxy. As he is a simulation, he has hopes to move to another Spiral Arm as soon as they open up to immigration. In the meantime he has joined in the chorus of hatred for the book, but tends to blame the fact he lives in a Scarcity economy for forcing him to writing it.

The Reckoning Time, by Cybernetic Catherine

That is not her real name. However, from the one surviving letter of hers she appears to have been a Cyber named Catherine. Soon after publishing this, she erased almost all trace of this book as well as almost all trace of herself. Her existence seems confirmed by her suicide letter and a dog whose memory of her had not been entirely erased. All he can state, though, is that she existed and “smelled kind, yet forlorn.” Her book’s existence is mostly known because, on a minor island in the data stream devoted to Jainist cuisine, recipes in it are quoted. These include fruits and grasses on an imagined alien world. Also, she mentions the book as the reason for her suicide in her letter. Nothing found so far would justify her reaction or explain how she accomplished such a complete obliteration of her work and existence.

This sad story unfortunately ends my discussion of the nominees. Congrats to all nominees in categories not mentioned.

End transmission.


Copyright © 2003 by Thomas R.