on awards

So I submitted my ballot for the Hugo awards this year, and it is never an easy thing. I realise for some people it is a glorified attaboy sort of award. There are fan writing, fanzines semi this that the other categories. In fairness perhaps some of them do want to be more than fans but some people are content to be the driving force of the genre. Imagine that.

On the other hand though, there are some people for which these awards are very important. They could help pay the mortgage or a child's dental bills etc from the blurbs on the jacket. Winner of best novel, or the John Campbell Award, etc. I am not sure that being an award winner has given me the incentive to read a book, but I do know people who have picked one up and said..wow..Hugo/Campbell/ABA/Nebula what have you.

SO I feel bad a bit, and am ever so glad I am just one person out of hundreds..so it is the other guys fault if the nice person loses to ...well...a nice person. Although one of the writers has exposed himself as being an anti-semite. Alas, he was also arguably the best writer in his category. Sometimes it is just so confusing.

--
Beware of mail postmarked infinity