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Over the last couple of years, a sea-change has come over the fan Hugos. It isn't just that new technologies and new formats have appeared and have displaced old ones on the ballot. The problem is more fundamental that that. The actual meaning of the categories is under assault by the internet, and apples are being nominated instead of oranges. The worst of it, a professional writer was awarded a Hugo meant for fanactivity.
Although I've tried to explain everything the reader needs to know, be warned that it's possible that this entire piece will go over the casual reader's head. If your first thought reading this description is "Hugo who," this may be a good time to download a different file.
Although I've tried to explain everything the reader needs to know, be warned that it's possible that this entire piece will go over the casual reader's head. If your first thought reading this description is "Hugo who," this may be a good time to download a different file.
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 72 x 120px
File Size 83.5 kB
*sigh*
Perhaps Pohl decided that his 'advertising and rough draft blog' competing in the fanzine category would lead to more publicity and exposure.
I'm reminded of that hoax the Sci-Fi channel did with M. night Shamalamadingdong to increase publicity for Smama's new movie.
Hopefully the Hugo awards will properly sort everything out again, by realizing that they are supposed to be looking at 'fan WRITING,' excluding anything that is not words on paper (or text on a monitor), and excluding anything that even APPEARS to be a pre-commercial release of a professional work. Perhaps it's time to categorically exclude anyone who has achieved 'professional' status. After all, the 'pros' have already shown themselves to be of the caliber to attract the attention of REAL publishers, and there are awards already for the 'pros' to compete against each other for.
The 'pros' don't NEED to compete in the 'opens,' they're already on the list for the 'invitationals,' to plagiarize some gold tournament terms.
Perhaps Pohl decided that his 'advertising and rough draft blog' competing in the fanzine category would lead to more publicity and exposure.
I'm reminded of that hoax the Sci-Fi channel did with M. night Shamalamadingdong to increase publicity for Smama's new movie.
Hopefully the Hugo awards will properly sort everything out again, by realizing that they are supposed to be looking at 'fan WRITING,' excluding anything that is not words on paper (or text on a monitor), and excluding anything that even APPEARS to be a pre-commercial release of a professional work. Perhaps it's time to categorically exclude anyone who has achieved 'professional' status. After all, the 'pros' have already shown themselves to be of the caliber to attract the attention of REAL publishers, and there are awards already for the 'pros' to compete against each other for.
The 'pros' don't NEED to compete in the 'opens,' they're already on the list for the 'invitationals,' to plagiarize some gold tournament terms.
The reason pros were never excluded in the past was because some well known names did, in fact, still write for and even publish fanzines after becomming pros. As long as nobody had trouble telling a fanzine apart from a pulp magazine, it wasn't a problem.
I doubt the worldcon committee's are likley to side with excluding *any* voters. Increasingly they have had little connection with fanzines and far more sympathy with media. But, it would only take a new category or two and the rules could be written to satisfy everyone, so you never know.
As for Pohl, I doubt he felt he needed to enhance his profile. He's won Hugos before, in the appropriate professional categories. But he's also about 90 years old - I suspect he's gone a little soft in the head.
I doubt the worldcon committee's are likley to side with excluding *any* voters. Increasingly they have had little connection with fanzines and far more sympathy with media. But, it would only take a new category or two and the rules could be written to satisfy everyone, so you never know.
As for Pohl, I doubt he felt he needed to enhance his profile. He's won Hugos before, in the appropriate professional categories. But he's also about 90 years old - I suspect he's gone a little soft in the head.
Ahh, there is that. I have been out of the loop a bit and surprised hes still alive. 90 - FOOOK! hes old but still kicking...
I so wanted to meet Asimov. He was to be at a SciFi con i was going to, and could not wait. He got ill before the con and could not make it, then I recall the announcement during the con he had passed away - Damn...
In school, I would pull out these old musty huge hardbacks called "the Hugo awards" for some specified year... and check them out and read them from cover to cover. My name was the only one ever that I can recall, on the "checkout" slip in the pocket glued in the back cover.
Everyone elses loss. I found hope, wonder, and thought in the great works of what isnt, but could be that lied therein.
I so wanted to meet Asimov. He was to be at a SciFi con i was going to, and could not wait. He got ill before the con and could not make it, then I recall the announcement during the con he had passed away - Damn...
In school, I would pull out these old musty huge hardbacks called "the Hugo awards" for some specified year... and check them out and read them from cover to cover. My name was the only one ever that I can recall, on the "checkout" slip in the pocket glued in the back cover.
Everyone elses loss. I found hope, wonder, and thought in the great works of what isnt, but could be that lied therein.
I saw Asimove a couple of times at cons, but couldn't say that I ever met him. I did get a note from him once -- I had sent him a very old fanzine that he had a short piece in that wasn't in his collection. I might still have the note, but I'm not sure.
Asimov was born in 1920 that I recall. And he was one of the youngest Futurians. (They used to tease him!) So that makes Pohl born *at least* 90 years ago!
Asimov was born in 1920 that I recall. And he was one of the youngest Futurians. (They used to tease him!) So that makes Pohl born *at least* 90 years ago!
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