by Gideon Marcus
This year's Worldcon will be in London this year, and they've already released the names of the nominees for the 1965 Hugo Award (for the best science fiction of 1964):
Since the Journey has covered virtually everything on the list, we've created a little crib sheet so you can vote in an educated fashion.
Also, we'll be talking about this ballot on May 23rd at 1PM PDT on a special broadcast of KGJ Channel 9 — so please tune in and join us in the discussion!
Best Novel:
Davy — It made Honorable Mention last year (I've only read the two novelettes that comprise the bulk of the story). Cora's reviewed it.
The Planet Buyer — Really just a slightly expanded version of The Boy Who Bought Old Earth, which really shouldn't be judged alone, finished as it is by The Store of Heart's Desire. Anyway, it got the Star, and I reviewed both.
The Wanderer — It, pointedly, did not get a Star. Jason reviewed it.
The Whole Man — It got honorable mention. Victoria Silverwolf reviewed it.
Best short story:
Little Dog Gone — VS reviewed it. She gave it 4 stars, and I think that's fair. It's fine, but no one nominated it for a Star.
Once a Cop — I reviewed it and I did nominate this one for the Star.
Soldier, Ask Not — I reviewed it. It got nominated for the Star (not by me, but enough others did, and it was good enough not to merit argument).
Best Pro Magazine:
Your mileage may vary! However, we did meticulously rank them when we awarded the Stars last year.
Best Fanzine:
Double Bill A quarterly of news, articles, fanzine reviews, some poetry (genzine), and some big names slumming. Two years old.
Yandro A venerable monthly that has been nommed for the Hugo a zillion times. Another genzine.
Zenith A new genzine, probably a monthly (I haven't read this one)
[I should probably read all of the genzines more regularly, but my — 'zine plate is full with the news 'zines: Science Fiction Times, Ratatosk, and Fecal Pint…er Focal Point.]
Best Artist:
Frank Frazetta — he's pretty much escaped my ken this year, but here's a recent book cover:
Best Publisher:
Ace Plenty of good stuff there including Delany's Towers of Toron, a lot of Andre Norton, and Purdom's excellent I Want the Stars.
Ballantine They did Davy, Martian Time Slip, but also The Wanderer and The Reefs of Space (in itself not bad, but the sequel was awful). Also, lots of Burroughs reprints.
Gollancz Not quite so busy as the first two, and no titles that got the Star, but some decent ones in there.
Pyramid The weakest of them, to my mind, and the one (aside from Ace) I read the most from last year.
Best Dramatic Presentation:
Seven Faces of Dr. Lao, reviewed by Vicki Lucas, nominated for the Star.
Dr. Strangelove, reviewed by Rosemary Benton, awarded the Star.
Y'all Come
We want your opinion at our upcoming show, so please register — it's free, and it'll ensure you are promptly notified of our upcoming shows.
See you there!
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/34/3q3prsl6
I can't argue with any of the fiction nominees; all the ones I read I enjoyed. Both films, too, although Dr. Strangelove is clearly the superior.
"Fecal Pint", eh? That's even an improvement over the rude nickname I though of when I was a subscriber to the zine (under a later set of editors).
I wonder if the con being in London will skew the results. Travel is expensive, so the majority of voters may come from the UK this year. That's undoubtedly how Gollancz, virtually unknown in the US, got on the ballot.