There’s been a great deal of noise about this year’s Hugo nominees.  Larry Correia suggested a slate of candidates, writers who were conservative, and all of them made the ballot.  The howls of outrage reached nigh unto Heaven.  The howls coming, of course, from those who are anything but conservative.

Both sides have been talking about voting for their preferred candidates and then “No Award” ahead of the other side’s nominees.

In order to vote, one must buy a membership to the World Science Fiction Convention, either attending or supporting.  This year’s convention is in London, with the cost of a supporting membership being about $42, give or take a little depending on the exchange rate.

For the last several year’s I’ve bought a supporting membership.  Well, last year I didn’t because Worldcon was (barely) within driving distance, so I actually attended.  (Con report here and here.)  In the last few years, part of what you get for your membership is copies of the written nominees, plus samples of the editorial nominees’ work, and at least some of the graphic nominees.  This year Orbit refused to release the full text of three of the novels, providing only excerpts.

Looking at the slate of this year’s nominees, here’s what I see.  Continue reading →