Hugo Roundup: Best Fan Artist

I still think some of the best work falls into this category.

• Iain Clark
• Sara Felix
• Grace P. Fong
• Meg Frank
• Ariela Housman
• Elise Matthesen

My pick: Iain Clark

My prediction: Who knows, they're very hard to separate

Hugo Roundup: Best Professional Artist

The art categories (both of them) are always gorgeous, although I would like to see more different mediums in the professional category. It appears economics are such that jewelers and the like always end up in fan artist.

• Tommy Arnold
• Rovina Cai
• Galen Dara
• John Picacio
• Yuko Shimizu
• Alyssa Winans

My pick: Tommy Arnold

My prediction: John Picacio

(Picacio has popularity and fame other than as an artist that will likely put him over the edge).

Hugo Roundup: Best Dramatic Presentation Short Form

This is becoming harder every year. I can't afford to subscribe to a dozen streaming services to watch shows, and the stuff I am watching isn't necessarily "Hugo" material.

• The Good Place: “The Answer”, written by Daniel Schofield, directed by Valeria Migliassi Collins (Fremulon/3 Arts Entertainment/Universal Television)
• The Expanse: “Cibola Burn”, written by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck and Naren Shankar, directed by Breck Eisner (Amazon Prime Video)
• Watchmen: “A God Walks into Abar”, written by Jeff Jensen and Damon Lindelof, directed by Nicole Kassell (HBO)
• The Mandalorian: “Redemption”, written by Jon Favreau, directed by Taika Waititi (Disney+)
• Doctor Who: “Resolution”, written by Chris Chibnall, directed by Wayne Yip (BBC)
• Watchmen: “This Extraordinary Being”, written by Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson, directed by Stephen Williams (HBO)

My pick: Doctor Who of course.

My prediction: Probably one of the Watchmen episodes, although splitting the fandom isn't a great idea.

And the Doctor Who episode has one advantage, namely the fact that the BBC became the first company, to my knowledge, to actually provide the full episode in the Hugo package. Amazon sent out a trailer for "Cibola Burn," but not the full episode.

If this becomes more common then it may change how this category works in the future.

Hugo Roundup: Best Dramatic Presentation Long Form

Like the Bradbury, this one was over the second somebody realized the rules allow you to nominate an entire TV series...

• Avengers: Endgame, screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Marvel Studios)
• Captain Marvel, screenplay by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel Studios/Animal Logic (Australia))
• Good Omens, written by Neil Gaiman, directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Amazon Studios/BBC Studios/Narrativia/The Blank Corporation)
• Russian Doll (Season One), created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, directed by Leslye Headland, Jamie Babbit and Natasha Lyonne (3 Arts Entertainment/Jax Media/Netflix/Paper Kite Productions/Universal Television)
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, screenplay by Chris Terrio and J.J. Abrams, directed by J.J. Abrams (Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm/Bad Robot)
• Us, written and directed by Jordan Peele (Monkeypaw Productions/Universal Pictures)

My pick: Captain Marvel

But only because I haven't had the chance/ability to see the winner yet.

My prediction: Good Omens

If it doesn't win, I will drink a glass of Hypnotiq next time I'm at a convention and the bar has it. That is how sure I am on this one.

Friday Update

Not much in the way of new news. I'm hoping to have things soon, but things are plugging along.

Kyx may take slightly longer than anticipated because, well, writers mess up. And sometimes we mess up badly and have to throw out thousands of words in order to make a better story.

Trust me, it's going to be a much better story.

Hugo Roundup: Best Fan Writer

I never know quite what to do with this category so I always just end up reading the stuff and making guesses.

Nominees are:

• Cora Buhlert
• James Davis Nicoll
• Alasdair Stuart
• Bogi Takács
• Paul Weimer
• Adam Whitehead

My pick: Cora Buhlert

My prediction: Probably Bogi Takács

Hugo Roundup: Best Fanzine

I don't generally read fanzines, so I wouldn't call myself an expert. This year's offerings are:

• The Book Smugglers, editors Ana Grilo and Thea James - a review mag
• Galactic Journey, founder Gideon Marcus, editor Janice Marcus, senior writers Rosemary Benton, Lorelei Marcus and Victoria Silverwolf - I LOVE the concept of this. They pretend they're in the Golden Age, and they do it so well.
• Journey Planet, editors James Bacon, Christopher J Garcia, Alissa McKersie, Ann Gry, Chuck Serface, John Coxon and Steven H Silver - Always interesting analysis and discussion.
• nerds of a feather, flock together, editors Adri Joy, Joe Sherry, Vance Kotrla, and The G - Same note.
• Quick Sip Reviews, editor Charles Payseur - I'm not entirely convinced this belongs in this category rather than Best Fan Writer
• The Rec Center, editors Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-Whitelaw - Rec as in recommendation. So another review blog.

My pick: Galactic Journey. I love the conceit.

My prediction: Probably Journey Planet.