The Hugo Awards 2009

The 2009 Hugo Awards are announced, and the winning novel will be a popular one among the group, though a controversial choice for a science-fiction award: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I loved the book and the kids are all working they way through it (in fact one bought it for me just so that she could read it!). Neil's previous Hugo winner was American Gods, but you can be assured that The Graveyard Book is family friendly. If you thought that a ghost story involving murder and the undead could not be charming and suitable for pre-teens, you are in for a pleasant surprise.

For the shorter stories, it shows the advantage of subscribing to the Asimov journal, as their stories have once again won the best novella and novelette.
WALL-E deservedly won the film award and I am looking forward to seeing Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Joss Whedon's sci-fi musical comedy has been causing a stir on t’interweb for a while. For those who think that Joss Whedon's name sounds familiar, he was behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly/Serenity.
Here is the full list of the winners:

• Best Novel: The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury UK)
• Best Novella: “The Erdmann Nexus”, Nancy Kress (Asimov’s Oct/Nov 2008)
• Best Novelette: “Shoggoths in Bloom”, Elizabeth Bear (Asimov’s Mar 2008)
• Best Short Story: “Exhalation”, Ted Chiang (Eclipse Two)
• Best Related Book: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever, 1998-2008, John Scalzi (Subterranean Press)
• Best Graphic Story: Girl Genius, Volume 8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones, Written by Kaja & Phil Foglio, art by Phil Foglio, colours by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
• Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: WALL-E Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter, story; Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon, screenplay; Andrew Stanton, director (Pixar/Walt Disney)
• Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon, & Zack Whedon, & Jed Whedon, & Maurissa Tancharoen, writers; Joss Whedon, director (Mutant Enemy)
• Best Editor Short Form: Ellen Datlow
• Best Editor Long Form: David G. Hartwell
• Best Professional Artist: Donato Giancola
• Best Semiprozine: Weird Tales, edited by Ann VanderMeer & Stephen H. Segal
• Best Fan Writer: Cheryl Morgan
• Best Fanzine: Electric Velocipede edited by John Klima
• Best Fan Artist: Frank Wu

And the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (presented by Dell Magazines): David Anthony Durham
http://www.thehugoawards.org/2009/08/2009-hugo-award-winners/