2019 Hugo Award Thoughts

There’s a new Hugo Award category this year. It’s called “Best Art Book” — not to be confused with “Best Graphic Story”.

And yet, I suspect some will confuse the two, so I’ll offer how I’m clarifying my own ballot selections, choosing from works released in 2018.

If a book tells a story with pictures carrying the narrative (with or without words) — whether that be comics, big illustration / word spreads, pictures and words as call-and-response, or pictures alone — then consider it under “Graphic Story”.

If a book is a folio of pictures without story, and the words are nothing more than museum text stating the title of the picture and not much more — then consider it under “Best Art Book”.

So for instance, Shaun Tan’s Tales from the Inner City (published by Scholastic / Arthur A. Levine Books) and Jeffrey Alan Love’s The Thousand Demon Tree (published by Flesk) both tell complete visual stories. Tan’s features more prose, but the interplay with his pictures is essential to the storytelling. Remove either, and you have a very different animal. On the other hand, Love’s story is wordless and builds a dynamic, evocative tale. Both works belong under “Best Graphic Story”.

Meanwhile, illustration annuals such as Infected By Art, Volume 6 (edited by Todd Spoor and Bill Cox / published by Art Order) fit perfectly in the Best Art Book category. So do single artist folios such as Beyond Science Fiction: The Alternative Realism of Michael Whelan (published by Baby Tattoo Books), which is essentially a ‘greatest hits collection’ of the one of sf/f’s most influential visual artists. These books are not works of storytelling, so much as essential visual showcases. So go with “Best Art Book” for selections like these.

Hopefully that helps!

I’ve got a couple of other Hugo-related suggestions, in other categories.

THE JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARD FOR BEST NEW WRITER: Remember that there is a growing wave of creators who are both artist and author, debuting with dynamic and deserving story works. Gregory Manchess’ Above The Timberline released in 2017, but because it’s his debut as a writer, that would mean 2019 is his final year of eligibility for this award because new writers have two years of eligibility for this recognition. Same goes for Armand Baltazar’s Timeless, a 600-page(!!) graphic epic. Both stories required years in the making, and are singular works poised to stand the test of time. Both writers are deserving of consideration in the John W. Campbell category and shouldn’t be forgotten because they wrote stories that weave pictures with words.
The Mexicanx Initiative / Founded by John Picacio / Worldcon 76
BEST RELATED WORK: Finally, I will humbly offer that on the morning after Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio became only the second Mexican woman to ever be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, the 2019 Hugo Awards have a chance to make history as well. Editor Julia Rios has curated an amazing website: www.mexicaninitiative.com / The Mexicanx Initiative Experience at Worldcon 76. It crystallizes the groundbreaking Mexicanx Initiative that brought 42 all-star creators together for the first time, opening the door to a new wave of Mexicanx sf/f. That website grants (free of charge) access to exclusive words and images from these creators, as well as Libia Brenda’s stunning anthology A Larger Reality / Una Realidad Más Amplia, which debuted at Worldcon 76.

THE OFFICIAL ENTRY BEING OFFERED FOR HUGO AWARD CONSIDERATION IN THE BEST RELATED WORK CATEGORY IS:
www.mexicanxinitiative.com / The Mexicanx Initiative Experience at Worldcon 76
(Julia Rios, Libia Brenda Castro, Pablo Defendini, John Picacio)

Full disclosure: Julia and Libia have asked that Pablo and I be included in the entry because Pablo created the site, and I founded the M.I.

If nominated, Libia would become the first Mexican woman ever nominated for a Hugo Award in its 77-year history — a ceiling long overdue to be shattered.

BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST: And yes — in case you’re wondering if I’m eligible for Best Professional Artist — I am! But I’m curious who else you’re considering in this category. I’m wondering if I should do a blog post down the road on this.

On that note — any suggestions in the Best Art Book and Best Graphic Story categories? Any other artist / authors that should be considered for the Campbell? Let me know. Happy Nominating! 🙂

INFINITE WORLDS RECEPTION / AUSTIN, TX

ASFA President Sara Felix has done what many thought impossible — created and curated a successful science fiction / fantasy gallery event that’s not located on a coast. The show is called Infinite Worlds and the reception was this past Saturday, November 10th at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, TX (sponsored by The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA)).

It will continue to run until Saturday, December 1st, so if you haven’t experienced it yet — SEE IT.

10% of the featured artworks were sold before the reception even opened its doors! And YES, COLLECTORS — almost all of the art on display is for sale. The Dougherty’s receptionists will be happy to direct you to the price list. 🙂 The reception’s attendance was robust. The artist roster is a who’s who of major sf/f artists from rising stars to masters of the field, and many of them attended the reception including Mariana Palova, Vincent Villafranca, Gary Villarreal, Tehani Farr, Priscilla Kim, Lauren Raye Snow, Dianita, Cody Jimenez, Kiri Østergaard Leonard, Mariya Prytula, Melissa Gay, Sara Felix, and yours truly.

My original art for the Wild Cards story ‘Evernight’ by Victor Milán (pictured right) is available for purchase during this show (graphite, 16″x20″, $1200), and my original Loteria art for ‘La Campana’ is also on display, although not for sale at this time.

It’s sometimes said that the middle of the US doesn’t have a big enough population of major artists and hungry collectors to support exhibitions of this caliber. Sara’s Infinite Worlds exhibition might end up being a gamechanger in that regard, especially if this becomes the first of a tradition in one of the most pop-culture savvy cities in America.

Art fans and collectors descend upon ASFA’s Infinite Worlds show in Austin, TX.

ASFA President Sara Felix delivers the opening welcome, with an assist from her daughter Eva.

Art by Tehani Farr, Vanessa Lemen, Francis Vallejo, Lauren Raye Snow, John Jude Palencar, Vincent Villafranca, and the Shiflett Brothers.

Art by Cody Jimenez, Sam Flegal, Ingrid Kallick, Eric Wilkerson, Greg Ruth, Vincent Villafranca, and the Shiflett Brothers.

Artist Cody Jimenez and his daughter. (Cody’s painting sold at the show before the Reception even opened its doors!)

Artist Dianita Ceron.

Detail of Vanessa Lemen’s ‘Time Will Tell’.

Detail of Eric Wilkerson’s ‘Alien Lives Matter’.

Detail of Tehani Farr’s ‘Ayla’.

Detail of Sara Felix’s ‘Geodes In Space’. (Sara’s piece also sold at the show before the Reception even began.)

Artist Priscilla Kim in a staring contest with my original Loteria art for ‘La Campana’.

Check out Sara Felix’s photo gallery for more views of the exhibition!

2015 LOCUS AWARD FINALIST!

2015 LOCUS AWARD FINALISTS (Artist). Clockwise from top left: Charles Vess, Shaun Tan, Jim Burns, John Picacio, Michael Whelan.

2015 LOCUS AWARD FINALISTS. Clockwise, top left: Charles Vess, Shaun Tan, Jim Burns, John Picacio, Michael Whelan.

Congratulations to this year’s Locus Award Finalists! And wow, what an amazing list it is, across all categories. In a year marked by heated controversy for sf/f awards, this nominations list is especially notable and remarkable.

Hugely grateful and honored to be amongst the five finalists in the Artist category, along with the stellar talents of Jim Burns, Shaun Tan, Charles Vess, and Michael Whelan. I admire all four of these artists and where they’ve taken their careers lately, so thank you, Locus Magazine voters. Very appreciated.

Good luck to all! 🙂

Here’s the rundown:

The Locus Science Fiction Foundation has announced the top five finalists in each category of the 2015 Locus Awards.

Winners will be announced during the Locus Awards Weekend in Seattle WA, June 26-28, 2015; Connie Willis will MC the awards ceremony. Additional weekend events include author readings with Willis and Daryl Gregory; a kickoff Clarion West party honoring first week instructor Andy Duncan, Clarion West supporters, awards weekend ticket holders, and special guests; panels with leading authors; an autograph session with books available for sale thanks to University Book Store; and a lunch banquet with the annual Hawai’ian shirt contest, all followed by a Locus party on Saturday night.

SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

FANTASY NOVEL

YOUNG ADULT BOOK

FIRST NOVEL

NOVELLA

NOVELETTE

  • “Tough Times All Over”, Joe Abercrombie (Rogues)
  • “The Hand Is Quicker”, Elizabeth Bear (The Book of Silverberg)
  • “Memorials”, Aliette de Bodard (Asimov’s 1/14)
  • “The Jar of Water”, Ursula K. Le Guin (Tin House #62)
  • “A Year and a Day in Old Theradane”, Scott Lynch (Rogues)

SHORT STORY

ANTHOLOGY

COLLECTION

MAGAZINE

  • Asimov’s
  • Clarkesworld
  • F&SF
  • Lightspeed
  • Tor.com

PUBLISHER

  • Angry Robot
  • Orbit
  • Small Beer
  • Subterranean
  • Tor

EDITOR

  • John Joseph Adams
  • Ellen Datlow
  • Gardner Dozois
  • Jonathan Strahan
  • Ann & Jeff VanderMeer

ARTIST

  • Jim Burns
  • John Picacio
  • Shaun Tan
  • Charles Vess
  • Michael Whelan

NON-FICTION

ART BOOK

For more information about the Seattle event and for Locus Awards and Locus Workshop ticketing, please visit the 2015 Locus Awards Information Page.