Other Hugo Award news
by
In other Hugo Award news… Perhaps you’ve heard about the motion by
to split the Best Editor Hugo into two categories: Best Magazine Editor and Best Book Editor.
(After proposing this revision, Barkley recruited
Patrick Nielsen Hayden to
co-sponsor it; so, though it has often been referred to as "PNH’s" proposal, it
was not, in fact, put forth by him.)
At the Worldcon business meeting, the motion passed, though with some revised language, resulting in two Best Editor Hugos: Best Editor (Short Fiction) and Best Editor (Long Fiction). I think it’s a good move; as Lou Anders pointed out, it’s kind of a shame that Hugo voters demanded a change in the Dramatic Presentation category before demanding this change, but at least it’s come to pass–or at least, it will come to pass assuming it’s ratified at the 2006 Worldcon, in which case next year we will get to nominate and vote in those two editorial categories.
Of course, this doesn’t solve the problem of a certain lack of symmetry between the magazine categories–there are awards for Best Fanzine and Best Semiprozine, but no award for Best Professional Magazine. Also, one could point out that well, the Best Professional Editor category usually goes to a magazine editor; well, that’s true, but it is a bit different, and it allows other factors to come into play. For instance, whenever Gardner Dozois or Ellen Datlow
win, it’s likely voters took into account all the anthologies both of them edit
in addition to their magazine work (of course with Gardner stepping down from
Asimov’s, it won’t be an issue with him anymore). Both of them edit Year’s Best
volumes, and Ellen usually has a few new original anthologies every year (as she
did this year). Which is not to say neither of them deserve to win strictly for
their magazine work–they certainly do, but the fact remains that their
extracurricular activities result in them having more in their favor.
Still no word on my proposal to add a Best Professional Assistant Editor
category.
