Transfer Orbit

Here are the winners of the 2024 Hugo Awards

Andrew Liptak -

This year's World Science Fiction Convention was held over the weekend in Glasgow, Scotland, and from all accounts, it was a really excellent time. I've been having some serious FOMO with conventions this year: San Diego Comic Con, WorldCon, and the upcoming DragonCon are all events that I wish I had the time to head off to.

WorldCon has endured some ups and downs in the last decade, part of an ongoing saga over how Fandom as a whole is working to define itself, with last year's convention marred by corruption in the voting process for the Hugo Awards, leaving a handful of nominees out in the cold after they were deemed "ineligible" to be nominated. (George R.R. Martin stepped in to present the four, R.F. Kuang, Xiran Jay Zhao, Sandman, and Paul Weimer, with a special Alfie Award)

This year's convention staff not only seem to have learned from those mistakes (each WorldCon is organized by a different group of people), but served as excellent examples in how to deal with potential issues: they set expectations for transparency for the awards from the onset, and when issues did arise, they put them out into the open in a clear way. And, as my buddy Aidan Moher pointed out, they released the long-list of voting statistics within hours of the awards being handed out, rather than burying them with excuses to delay and hide the issues that had arisen.

What a concept!

The result is a positive one for Fandom at large: WorldCon attendees that can see that the process can be trusted, especially when you have a capable group of people running the show. And while the mechanics of the awards and conventions might seem like inside baseball to a small group of devoted fans, the Hugos have some real weight behind them: they're a long-standing award that has honored some of the best works in the genre: it rewards creativity and exemplary work, and raises the profile of said winners and nominees, and by and large, helps the rest of the genre.

Here are the winners of this year's Hugo Awards:

Best Novel

  • The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
  • The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
  • Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
  • Starter Villain by John Scalzi
  • Translation State by Ann Leckie
  • Witch King by Martha Wells

Best Novella

  • “Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
  • Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
  • The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
  • Rose/House by Arkady Martine
  • “Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
  • Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Best Novelette

Best Short Story

  • “Answerless Journey”, Han Song / 没有答案的航程, 韩松, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
  • “Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023) 
  • “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)
  • “The Mausoleum’s Children” by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, May-June 2023)
  • “The Sound of Children Screaming” by Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare Magazine, October 2023)
  • 美食三品 (“Tasting the Future Delicacy Three Times”), 宝树 / Baoshu (银河边缘013：黑域密室 / Galaxy’s Edge Vol. 13: Secret Room in the Black Domain) 

Best Series

  • The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie
  • The Last Binding by Freya Marske
  • The Laundry Files by Charles Stross
  • October Daye by Seanan McGuire
  • The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard

Best Graphic Story or Comic

  • Bea Wolf, written by Zach Weinersmith, art by Boulet
  • Saga, Vol. 11 written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples
  • Shubeik Lubeik, Deena Mohamed (Pantheon); as Your Wish Is My Command
  • 三体漫画：第一部 / The Three Body Problem, Part One, adapted from the novels by 刘慈欣 (Liu Cixin), written by 蔡劲 (Cai Jin),戈闻頔 (Ge Wendi), and 薄暮 (Bo Mu), art by 草祭九日东 (Caojijiuridong)
  • The Witches of World War II written by Paul Cornell, art by Valeria Burzo
  • Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott
  • All These Worlds: Reviews & Essays by Niall Harrison
  • 中国科幻口述史, 第二卷, 第三卷，(Chinese Science Fiction: An Oral History, vols 2 and 3) ed. 杨枫 / Yang Feng
  • A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith
  • The Culture: The Drawings, by Iain M. Banks
  • 雨果X访谈 (Discover X), presented by 王雅婷
  • A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, by Maureen Kincaid Speller, edited by Nina Allan

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

  • Barbie, screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, directed by Greta Gerwig
  • Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, screenplay by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Michael Gilio, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
  • Nimona, screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
  • Poor Things, screenplay by Tony McNamara, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson
  • 流浪地球2 / The Wandering Earth II, based on the novel by 刘慈欣 Liu Cixin, screenplay by 杨治学 Yang Zhixue, 郭帆 / Frant Gwo, 龚格尔 Gong Geer, and 叶濡畅 Ye Ruchang, script consultant 王红卫 Wang Hongwei, directed by 郭帆 / Frant Gwo

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

  • Doctor Who: “The Giggle”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Chanya Button
  • Loki: “Glorious Purpose”, screenplay by Eric Martin, Michael Waldron and Katharyn Blair, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
  • The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”, written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, directed by Peter Hoar
  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Those Old Scientists”, written by Kathryn Lyn and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Jonathan Frakes
  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Subspace Rhapsody”, written by Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Dermott Downs
  • Doctor Who: “Wild Blue Yonder”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Tom Kingsley

Best Game or Interactive Work

  • Alan Wake 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment
  • Baldur’s Gate 3, produced by Larian Studios
  • Chants of Sennaar, developed by Rundisc
  • DREDGE, developed by Black Salt Games
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, developed by Respawn Entertainment

Best Editor Short Form

  • Scott H. Andrews
  • Neil Clarke
  • 刘维佳 (Liu Weijia)
  • Jonathan Strahan 
  • Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas
  • 杨枫 (Yang Feng)

Best Editor Long Form

  • Ruoxi Chen
  • Lindsey Hall
  • Lee Harris
  • Kelly Lonesome
  • David Thomas Moore
  • 姚海军 (Yao Haijun)

Best Professional Artist

  • Micaela Alcaino
  • Rovina Cai
  • Galen Dara
  • Dan Dos Santos
  • Tristan Elwell
  • Alyssa Winans

Best Semiprozine

  • Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and Valerie Valdes; assistant editors Benjamin C. Kinney, Premee Mohamed and Kevin Wabaunsee; hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart; producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht; and the entire Escape Pod team 
  • FIYAH Literary Magazine, publisher and executive editor DaVaun Sanders, poetry editor B. Sharise Moore, special projects manager L. D. Lewis, art director Christian Ivey, acquiring editors Rebecca McGee, Kerine Wint, Joshua Morley, Emmalia Harrington, Genine Tyson, Tonya R. Moore, sponsor coordinator Nelson Rolon
  • GigaNotoSaurus, editor LaShawn M. Wanak, associate editors Mia Tsai and Edgard Wentz, along with the GNS Slushreaders Team
  • khōréō, produced by Aleksandra Hill, Zhui Ning Chang, Kanika Agrawal, Isabella Kestermann, Rowan Morrison, Sachiko Ragosta, Lian Xia Rose, Jenelle DeCosta, Melissa Ren, Elaine Ho, Lilivette Domínguez, Jei D. Marcade, Jeané Ridges, Isaree Thatchaichawalit, Danai Christopoulou, M. L. Krishnan, Ysabella Maglanque, Aaron Voigt, Adil Mian, Alexandra Millatmal, E. Broderick, K. S. Walker, Katarzyna Nowacka, Katie McIvor, Kelsea Yu, Marie Croke, Osahon Ize-Iyamu, Phoebe Low, S. R. Westvik, Sara S. Messenger
  • Strange Horizons, by the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective 
  • Uncanny Magazine, publishers and editors-in-chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; nonfiction editor Meg Elison; podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Best Fanzine

  • Black Nerd Problems, editors Omar Holmon and William Evans 
  • The Full Lid, written by Alasdair Stuart and edited by Marguerite Kenner
  • Idea, editor Geri Sullivan
  • Journey Planet, edited by Michael Carroll, Vincent Docherty, Sara Felix, Ann Gry, Sarah Gulde, Allison Hartman Adams, Arthur Liu, Jean Martin, Helena Nash, Pádraig Ó Méalóid, Yen Ooi, Chuck Serface, Alan Stewart, Regina Kanyu Wang, James Bacon and Christopher J. Garcia 
  • Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together, editors Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer; senior editors Joe Sherry, Adri Joy, G. Brown, Vance Kotrla. 
  • Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog, editors Olav Rokne and Amanda Wakaruk

Best Fancast

  • The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
  • Hugos There, presented by Seth Heasley
  • Octothorpe, by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty 
  • Publishing Rodeo, presented by Sunyi Dean and Scott Drakeford
  • 科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma), production team 布玛（Buma)，刘路（Liu Lu)，刘倡（Liu Chang)
  • Worldbuilding for Masochists, presented by Marshall Ryan Maresca, Rowenna Miller, Cass Morris and Natania Barron

Best Fan Writer

  • Bitter Karella
  • James Davis Nicoll
  • Jason Sanford
  • Alasdair Stuart
  • Paul Weimer
  • Örjan Westin

Best Fan Artist

  • ​​Iain J. Clark
  • Sara Felix
  • Dante Luiz
  • Laya Rose
  • Alison Scott
  • España Sheriff

Lodestar Award for Best YA Book

  • Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark
  • Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer
  • Promises Stronger than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders
  • The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
  • To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
  • Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

Astounding Award for Best New Writer (sponsored by Dell Magazines)

  • Moniquill Blackgoose (1st year of eligibility)
  • Sunyi Dean (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Ai Jiang (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Hannah Kaner (1st year of eligibility)
  • Em X. Liu (1st year of eligibility)
  • Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)

So, what did you think of the recipients of the awards?