So, a general thought on the Hugos.
It’s really cool to see what the powers that be grade out as the best, but I’ve long been aware that there are many factors that influence how a book, editor, artist, or magazine is chosen. That doesn’t mean that the award winner is unworthy or less worthy, but it does mean that one should not view an award as the end of a conversation.
The best thing about art is that it is subjective. What is best for me is not best for you. Couple that with the hundreds or thousands of books, short stories, or illustrations that slip under the nominators’ radars and the ability to discover the absolute “Best Book” of 2018 is unlikely.
In my own year end reviews, I like to talk about my favorites. If I read forty books in a year I certainly can talk about which ones had a greater impact or provided me more joy, catharsis, introspection, etc.
All that said, awards can be very useful and it’s worth celebrating stories that have earned admiration across a wide spectrum of readers. Getting a Hugo is a big deal and the awards are almost always given to worthy contenders. So, let’s crack open the champagne and the pages of today’s winners, but remember, if your favorite did not win it doesn’t mean it wasn’t the best book.
